Tutorial Ten Task

Media Tetrad

1. Old medium of communication: Television

Enhances:
Not just sound technology like Radio, also introduced visual technology. Television was more descriptive (less imagination was needed)

Retrieves:
Television is similar to radio (in retrieving information) as it is a form of entertainment e.g. – it entertains audiences with soap operas, dramas and news, similar to radio.

Reverses:
When pushed to the extreme, television becomes reality television. Television then starts to become a mirror of society instead of a means of entertainment (when pushed to the extreme, shows on television could become “just like” reality e.g. - shows which showed surveillance camera footage).

Obsolesces:
It does not make radio obsolete; however it makes other domains of radio obsolete (“video killed the radio star”).

2. New medium of communication: The Iphone

Enhances:
It enhances the older phones by combining different technologies into one (e.g.-computer and phone). The phone is not just a means of communication; it is a form of entertainment.

Retrieves:
It is still used for communication (such as calling and texting others) however, other content (being retrieved from technologies such as computers) has also been added, such as email, GPS, access to social networking sites and internet surfing.

Reverses:
When pushed to the extreme, Iphones can become a form of control of everyday devices and technologies (e.g.-controlling home appliances from your Iphone or controlling military machines). It becomes a basic devise of control, like a remote.

Obsolesces:
The Iphone can make the computer and older phones obsolete. It does this by allowing access of both technologies, in one devise- therefore cutting down time spent on these older technologies.