One Phone Will Rule Them All!

Back in the day mobile phones were rare. Only the rich and important people had them.

People left their phones out on tables in public just to demonstrate their status to others. If you saw a phone on their table at the café – steer clear – they’re far too busy for you.

Despite that at this time mobile phones weighed a tonne and you probably needed a second handbag just to carry them, it was a social status. It separated the men from the boys.

A lot has changed since then. In the 21st century if you don’t own a mobile, you’re probably a little on the weird side. From your nine year old kid to your ninety year old gramps – they’ve got em!

Not only do they call people – they now allow us access to the internet, they let us take photos, send emails, record videos and download applications. And that’s not even the half of it.
It has gotten to the point where we feel we need our mobiles. I know I speak for many others when I say without my phone I feel lost and somewhat naked.

So will the mobile phone screen become the dominant screen of the 21st century? From the looks of things it’s already on its way. Screens are getting bigger and bigger making them perfect for watching movies and browsing the web. Being portable means accessibility is easy. Anywhere any time. It makes ‘useless places useful’ (Levinson 2009).

We certainly don’t need this other screen to view movies – we have television and cinema for that. We don’t need it to take photos – that’s what our cameras are for. We don’t need it to design art – we have paint. And as for access to the internet? Home computers will do the job. So why have a mobile phone when we’ve already got all these things? Because its all-in-one! We love our phones because we have everything we need in a pocket-sized little gadget. Some people disagree completely with mobiles and technology all together. But there really is no harm in being so attached to our phones. We are staying up-to-date with society and they are merely making our lives easier!

It is inevitable that mobile phones will have a greater part in our lives as time goes on. As they become more up-to-date, they also become more useful. In turn, people subsequently become more and more reliant on them.

Vote for Youtube!

Youtube, Facebook and Myspace. Now days its all you hear about.
Every kid on the block has got a Myspace account, your grandma probably has Facebook and everyone Youtubes for entertainment.

These forms of social media have changed our lives. It has altered and enhanced the way we communicate to others, and has become a popular reference for finding videos and entertainment.

Being so cool and all, its no wonder politicians have given it a shot. Anything to engage with, and impress a younger audience.

That’s right, whilst you were happily avoiding anything to do with politics, bam! – there it is on the ‘recently watched’ tab on Youtube.

So what’s the deal with people like Obama, Rudd and Gillard using mediums such as Youtube? Well, it happens to be advantageous in many ways:

Youtube reaches a massive audience – hundreds, thousands, millions of people. Plus, it reaches countries all over the world.

Youtube is also predominantly used by a younger generation enabling political leaders to persuade them. Finding out about a politician on Youtube whilst searching for entertainment is sure to be more persuasive to a young adult, than seeing it on the news.

Another upside is that it allows the maker to be creative. World leaders and authorities have a chance to show a side of themselves that we don’t get to see on the news.

Not to mention – its free. Much cheaper than sending out letters and making billboards.


It can be argued that using social media is now essential for any politician during a political campaign. True or False?

Although there is no real way of telling, it certainly seems this way.

The internet and social media sites rule the lives of young people – so it is in politicians’ best interests to relate to them. Changing the way politics and campaigns are presented and the mediums they use by being creative and using Youtube is a sure way to achieve the goal of attracting a younger audience.

Produsers overcome Producers

Prod-USERS

Youtube, the internet, cameras and phones are everywhere. Thanks to mediums of technology, we can now create and distribute our own ‘goods’.

This can be referred to as ‘produsage’ and ‘produsers’

Produsage occurs when people alter work of another person and redistribute it. For example, the link below is to a Youtube video of a trailer for the film Fight club. However someone has altered the trailer and chosen different clips to completely change the direction of the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phcbqQu5Exk&feature=related

There are thousands of examples of this all over the web – especially Youtube. People make their own ‘home videos’ and within hours they have thousands of hits from people all over the world. People become famous because of their Youtube clips – a recent example being Justin Bieber who was otherwise unheard of.

There are other examples of produsage such as Wikipedia – where anyone can publish their own information for the rest of the world to use. Second Life is also another primary example.

With the ability to create peoples' own work, as well as distribute already existing media - there is a decline in real producers, distributors and consumers. What does this mean for the future?

There could come a day where films no longer sell because people can illegally download them.

A day where people become famous without even knowing it because someone filmed them on their camera phone and posted it on YouTube.

A day where all information on the internet is unreliable because anyone can alter the information.