Print And Electronic Media Essay Research Paper

Print And Electronic Media Essay, Research Paper

It is an undisputed fact that technology has changed nearly every facet of our lives. Technology and electronics have altered the ways in which we live, communicate and think. Most of the globe’s current population could not revert back to functioning without their pagers, cellular phones and now even e-mail. These technological upsurges have managed to injected societies everywhere with hopes for unimaginable developments in every field possible. There are supporters and demurs of this evolution focusing on most every aspect, from the growing prevalence of the Internet to the affects of television on children. Among these considerations is the idea of whether or not print will be completely eradicated by the effects of electronic media. However, adapting such a deterministic perspective seems much too harsh. As electronic media impinges upon the roles of print media, it is unnecessary to predict the disappearance of the medium itself, as print culture is clearly alive and well. This is especially palpable when observing the properties of print media, the economic affects as well as the influence of convergence linking those same technologies.

Since the development of paper in the 12th century, books were created, and teaching and businesses have never been the same. (Seminar 7: 1999) As with every new technology, a huge revolution was shaped creating a uniformity of language, de-emphasizing the dominant oral culture. (Seminar 7: 1999) Mindsets were altered and the ways in which members of that society communicated, lived and thought were changed forever. As a result of print, experience was translated into a different form, where it became a new way of viewing reality. (Seminar 7: 1999) Print communication became a fundamental act of translation where symbols were turned into their verbal references and in turn understood in terms of their universal meanings. (Birkerts; 122) Since reading became a critical skill in education, pamphlets, books then magazines all aided in the process of teaching and obliterating the monopoly of knowledge. Through print, uniformity among language and people was formed that still exists today.

The various media that exist with respect to print include everything from textbooks to travel brochures. There are many properties that these items and only these items possess – characteristics that are lacking in any other medium. When compared to computer technology and monitor capabilities, print rises above. Electronic texts could never incorporate many of the benefits offered by print media – specifically books. These features include portability, durability, affordability, readability and it’s ability to be personalized. (Fidler: 1998) When looking at each of these more closely, we can see that books prevail over monitors or any concept that could possibly replace text of any sort.

The portability offered by books allows us to read anywhere; subways, in the car, sitting on a park bench or even laying in the bathtub. Curling up in bed with a computer is not what one would call cozy. When attempting to incorporate features and characteristics of print media into a computer, it currently seems impossible. To get a computer to weigh less than 2 pounds, not larger than a magazine at the most, to be waterproof, and convenient would be very difficult to accomplish. (Fidler: 1998) To find a computer that would be wouldn’t break when dropped, or require moving parts would also be hard to achieve and to think of the cost of replacement – endless. Now as technology evolves on a consistent basis, newer and better products are developed, leaving a current purchaser of such merchandise with a feeling of uncertainty – is this the best time to buy. Should I wait for the next model. Even when we acquire these magical products, bigger and improved supersede months later. With a book there exists a consistency, where it may tatter and tear, but essentially the essence of what it is – something that can be held and felt, lingers forever. Print media are inexpensive and can be replaced almost always – for a trace of what it would cost to replace electronic goods. How can anyone go wrong. For someone to suggest that a computer can replace the standing of books and other print media in our society, they must truly rethink their argument. The physical nature of books and periodicals allow us to throw them around, tear articles out that are of interest to us, and discard them as we wish; printing out screens is not nearly as versatile.

The most important factor when comparing the characteristics possessed by print media versus electronic is the aspect of readability. Paper is still the best display medium for reading textual documents. (Fidler: 1998) It provides ideal reflection and resolution that is easily adjusted with tools we almost all possess – eyes. Soft copy, which includes liquid crystal displays and computer monitors, rely on cathode ray tubes, which for some, actually inhibits reading. Despite the remarkable progress of monitors these days, the majority of people, like myself, still prefer hard copy to soft. What would a mansion be without an enormous library. Is seeing an image on a screen of ancient scripture the same as the real thing. Nothing can mimic or reproduce that. Books also allow readers an expression of individuality throughout their reading experience(s). Students ofte