Not all of the first movies were as good as we expected sahitya sahay, and neither was television. Cinema in the late 1800s was just a primitive simulation of reality, with blurred lines and shabby backgrounds. Television sets were also quite primitive; before color TV there was black-and-white television with low frame rates that could cause nausea. But thanks to technology, we now have HD screens for both TV and cinema — the picture is clear, it’s sharp, it’s beautiful.
The media has been influenced by new technologies to show us life cocooned from all its ills: a technological utopia that is perfect in every way.
1. Better sound reproduction
The first broadcasts, especially radio, lacked quality because the first broadcasting stations were not very advanced, and did not require a license for operation. The result was that anyone could operate a radio station — and anyone did. In the early days of radio, most of these stations lacked quality control and good programming; just like TV in the 80s.
In the early 1930s, however, radio improved with new technology. Radio stations now require a license to operate. They had to go through rigorous screening and tests to ensure they were providing high-quality programming. This narrowed down the number of radio stations significantly; there were now only around 1 500 licensed commercial stations in America (Hallin 364).
2. Better images
The first television broadcasts were monochrome, grainy images. This came from the technology of the time. Television sets needed to be equipped with small screens. The pictures were combined into a single stream, which was then broadcast to homes with black-and-white antennae. Prior to this, there had been many attempts before this to broadcast in color television; however, all of them failed due to their low quality.
Today’s televisions are 3D and HD — using new technology (the first HDTVs came out around 1998). Each year the technology improves and leads us closer to a crystal clear image of reality — instead of a distorted version that has been distorted by ancient broadcasting methods.
3. Smaller, more portable
The first televisions were large, bulky and expensive. Then came the VHS tape, which was smaller and much easier to handle than the console TV. Then came DVD; then Blu-ray; then 3D; and so on. The trend is towards smaller and more convenient media that everyone can handle — unlike in the past when only wealthy elites could afford it.
4. More portability
The television giant has evolved over time from a bulky device located in the lounge to a small electronic device that fits in your pocket or bag. With this evolution of technology comes greater portability of media — less clutter for us to deal with at home or elsewhere.
5. Interactive
TV is no longer a passive activity where we have to sit and stare at the screen while information is being fed to us. This has led to a paradigm shift in the media, especially TV advertising — which is now not just one-way communication but interaction between the viewer, who is able to send a message and vice versa (Brown 26).
6. More channels, more choice
At first, television only had three stations in New York City but over time has grown into thousands of channels. It is now one of the biggest mediums of entertainment, education and news. The media has certainly been influenced by new technologies; in fact, the first use of television was a war by the Greeks against the Persians. This technology grew from strength to strength until it became what it is today — a beautiful, crystal clear thing that shows us life as we want it to be with much less misery.
7. Enhanced programming
The media has evolved to show us things beyond news or sitcoms; it’s helping us see our world in different ways. With its increased interactivity, we can share experiences and connect with each other through the sharing of media — just like watching TV shows or movies together (Brown 26).
8. Computers and social media
If you can’t connect with people at a face-to-face level anymore, then the use of computers and social media platforms are becoming increasingly important for communication.
9. Entertainment
The media has evolved from being a way to educate or inform us — or even just to entertain us — to be a way to not just entertain us but also teach us (Brown 20). We experience this constantly in our modern media: when we watch there is at least one lesson that we can take away from it. This also shows how much the media has evolved over time — because traditionally, entertainment was less than educational.
10. Information
The media has become a bigger source of information than ever before. Instead of just a bunch of people telling us what they think, it’s now more informative and encompasses more subject areas. This is true for all forms of media, not just television — it’s this way for newspapers, online magazines and books too.
11. Interactive advertising
Today the technology exists to make the relationship between brands and consumers one where there is a good exchange: instead of buying products or services, we are able to shop through our media devices in order to get what we want — which is precisely what has happened with television (Brown 27).
