Amusing Ourselves to Death was published in 1985, but it is still relevant in the modern age. Neil Postman brings up the fact that television has changed the values of society and taken control of society. America has witnessed "the decline of the Age of Typography and the ascendance of the Age of Television" (8). This would be true...if it was the 1980s or 1990s. Television continues to be watched by people all over the world who are informed of news or entertained by cartoons. Nevertheless, the smartphone has become a more important source of entertainment and is used daily by smartphone owners.
Nowadays, a smartphone is the most precious item of an individual. It has much more value than its initial function of communication. As shown by the Sidekick situation of Clay Shirky's Here Comes Everybody, it can hold important information such as marriage plans and contact information. It can inform people about the daily news. Also, the average smartphone can download applications such as games and social media networks to entertain users, not to mention it can be used to watch videos/movies just like television by downloading YouTube or Netflix. The feature that makes a smartphone surpass a television is its portability. Unlike a television, smartphones allows people to communicate with others and provide entertainment on the go. If someone needs to call 911, wants to play Pokémon Go, or wants to finish watching Season 6 of Gossip Girl, they can reach into their pockets and do as they please.
Due to the recent explosion of Pokémon Go, I thought it was time to bring this to attention. People have become more attached to their phones rather than a television screen. Is America transforming into an Age of Smartphones? Or is television equally important as smartphones? Honestly, I believe the television can't be more valuable than smartphones in the present.
We could very well be in the IPhone age; but , technology has been moving so fast other means of communication, physically and virtually, could change in an instant. You could like in a cave for a year and come back to see we all have microchips in our brains and are able to use telekinesis at the blink of an eye. The world is changing rapidly and it's only the beginning of what's to come.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what I think too. Smartphones aren't going anywhere that quickly, but the term "age" refers to a longer length of time in my opinion. Personally, I think we should keep it broader with the "Digital Age," so we don't have to change the name of our current technological step every time a new gadget comes out. However, smartphones are definitely more important than television now.
DeleteI would have to agree with what Javen is saying about how people in daily life care more about their smartphones than those who have flatscreen televisions. I am guilty of being attached to my phone as well but I know that I am not the only one. With technology rapidly advancing, its all about instant gratification and the need for these devices but it is all about the next best thing. Personally, I don't really care about the next best thing because I am blessed with what I have and I am thankful with what I have sitting in front of me. Although, sometimes I do indulge in the fact that I want the next best thing from time to time but it wares off. I would have to say, YES, we are in the age of smartphones because with the numerous uses for your smartphone, its no surprise people cannot put them down. I am guilty of it as well, but with the use of social media, music, games(Pokémon Go), youtube, and so on. It is sad that most people don't even use the phone for its intended purpose anymore, instead of calling, some people, especially teens, would rather text than call. If you look back to the 1980's and look at how fast technology has advanced it is insane. I would say that social media has it's benefits and its disadvantages but it all depends on how people use it. Between Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, it allows people to communicate with friends and family online which has beneficial outcomes. I am guilty of tweeting, but I love it. I just don't like to see everyone in public on their smartphones, at the movies, restaurants, the airport, etc. My point is that with technology rapidly advancing, the craze of the smartphone is not going to ever burn out because it will always be about the next BIG thing.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the importance of smartphones is staggeringly much greater than that of a television in modern times. This is because of the "conveniency factor" that takes part in a person's decision making. For example, "Why should I get a Television if my phone can let me watch the same things AND do more?" However, this does not only apply to phones, as other, portable gadgets (such as laptops or even the experimental virtual glasses) have become more prominent. In the end, it all depends on a person's preference, whether they need or want a phone depends on their personal lives: Are they into social media? Do they love watching television? In any case, technology is only improving. From what I can see, there's not much room left for Phones to improve. Soon, there'll be some new device that will take over our daily lives.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I never thought of this while reading the book. You make a great point. I also think that we now live in a society revolved around smartphones. People can get their news, entertainment and other information just from one device: the smartphone. I honestly feel like some people nowadays only have televisions just to view the news and shows on a larger screen. For instance, I only use my television to watch Netflix when I get tired of watching from the tiny screen on my phone, and I am certain that I'm not the only one. I think that smartphones have become more important than television. The Age of Television is dying, and the Age of Smartphones is rising.
ReplyDeleteI began to notice this as I read the book as well, I'm amazed by how far smartphones have come and how important they are to the lives of everybody. Currently, I think smartphones have way more importance than television because, like you said, they allow you to do multiple tasks just by reaching into your pocket. The Age of Show Business seems to be dying as the age of Smart-devices arrives us really, since now we are getting cars that drive on their own apparently. Lets brace ourselves.
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