1. The paradox of user control
Customization is one of the key features of digital media and the digital media is becoming an obligation to suit flexible personality by contemporary capitalism. Also, it is mentioned that the way we function computer screen with various settings is like creating our identities, putting our characteristics on a mirror. Blogs, facebook, twitter profiles are some clear examples of how we can be creative create our identities via technologies screen. However, we still lack of determining positions on screen as no technologies are perfect. Is that why we keep inventing more and more super unbelievable convenient devices which are upgraded every time they are new released?
Digital media technologies are pulling television in to 2 opposing directions which are individualism and globalization. I found it true that real time screen now tend to be viewed in private situations as we have more mobile devices that we can use for private functions. For example, with an Iphone which can multifunction, we can secretly do whatever we want, everywhere, anytime...we don't necessarily need to sit down in front of the TV and watch any TV show but we can easily download them via the Internet. Therefore, the notion of family TV time together is no more popular. As i see, people tend to have more portable devices with them.
2. The age of egocasting.
Television has had a huge impact on our daily life. Then the remote control became in power with its peculiar function thats changes human viewing habits. the remote controls allow us in individual to proactively adjust channels and later on, automatically, devices such as Walkman, the video cassette recorder and portable devices like Ipods have allowed us to have our own world of individual's control over the devices. we have not only created technologies but also embraced them to be able to suit out taste and preferences.
The study of the remote control reported that "it was 1985 before more televisions were sold with remote than without" and in 2000, the average houshold contained 4 remote controls. And children are ones who can quickly master functions of remote controls. Men tend to change channels during primetime viewing than women do.
Remote control then naturally made it easierfor viewers to be choosy. By grazing and channel-surfing, users have their choices of preferences upgraded. We tend to search for something better and more interesting. the remote control affects the way we watch TV. However, it could do little to control when people watch TV. With this issue, the Digital Video Recorder( DVR), namely Tivo. In America, Tivo has become a dominant device in living room as it can multifunction all in one.
After that, Ipod was born and born and the music itself and its industry suddenly becomes so different in terms of "experience". The way we listen to music is so much changed now.
In short,
