Media Technologies Written Assignment

There are many different media technologies available. Each technology seems to have one main purpose, but several lesser known purposes that are just as useful. This paper will highlight four of the most popular and most useful forms of media technologies.

One media technology that is relied upon in a wide variety of businesses and personal uses alike are word processors, spreadsheet and desktop publishing programs. These programs are perhaps some of the most versatile and user-friendly programs available. They can be used for so many different tasks that a simple word processor program could provide all of the printed media needs of a small business.

Programs like word processors and desktop publishing software have made creating layouts for anything from a simple flyer to a multi-page magazine easier and more streamlined. In times past, articles were typed on paper and then cut to size and glued onto the layout boards (my high school newspaper insisted on using this method to teach participants about the history of printing). Now, with desktop publishing and the wide availability of computes, articles are drafted, revised and mailed to editors and publishers, where the article is simply “dropped in” to a pre-made layout template for the publication and then printed.

The intended audiences for these products are users who are seeking to create a wide range of printed media (flyers, business cards, brochures, magazines, etc). There are software programs that range in price from free to thousands of dollars. Consumersearch.com recommends that users, who only need simple tasks accomplished or those who are looking to purchase a new program, try the free versions of desktop publishing software (Consumersearch, 2011). 

Word processors, spreadsheet programs, and desktop publishing programs all serve to streamline business processes. Any of these types of programs at any given time is considered a necessity when creating business documents.

When discussing media technologies, the most common media outlet that comes to mind is Information Media. This particular area of media technologies sees some of the most advanced programming of almost any other program. Among these technologies is the RSS feed.

RSS Feeds deliver regularly changing website content (whatisrss.com, 2012). The purpose of an RSS Feed is to deliver constant updates to users who regularly view certain websites (whatisrss.com, 2012). The audience for this type of technology would be a user who is almost constantly connected to the internet.

RSS works well with news websites because it alerts users anytime there is an update to the website’s content. Google Reader, for example, is a popular web-based feed reader (whatisrss.com, 2012). Google reader retrieves information from websites that “syndicate” (or group) information and allow the feed reader to gather this information and process it to the outside reader. It’s this syndication and information sharing process that allows users to utilize tools like RSS Feeds on their personal websites, blogs, email and other online communication outlets.

If a user adds, for example, the New York Times website to their RSS Feed, they would be alerted any time there is new material added to the New York Times website, thus, keeping the user constantly updated on news events according to this publication.

These feed readers allow users to streamline their favorite internet content, while also keeping them connected and never missing a headline, as they are alerted each time their chosen websites update their information. This type of constant connection to news and social networking sites is rapidly growing in popularity with the widespread usage of smartphones and tablets that allow us to connect to the internet virtually anywhere we are.

Another media technology that is available through online application is the usage of “apps” on smartphones and tablets. Apps are programs that you install on your smartphone or tablet that give you access to the “mobile” version of many websites (like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, eBay, etc.). One app that is growing in popularity on the iPhone and iPad is the Streamified App.

Streamified is an application that allows you to view all of the updates to your social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, LinkedIn and blogs users may subscribe to) in one place (streamified.com, 2012). Users can even post to their social media sites all at one time or individually, from one place (streamified.com, 2012).

This app would likely appeal to audiences who utilize multiple social media outlets or who are away from their computers and may not have time to log in to each site individually. This app would be very useful for a business owner (a mobile food truck, for example) who posts their daily location, or daily sales, etc. They would be able to post from one application to all of their social media pages. This would save time versus having to login to 3 or 4 different websites and retype the post each time.

Many positive points of social media and information technologies are the convenience they allow. Being able to have everything you want or need to read online in one convenient place that updates as friends make posts or news articles become available is a necessity for those who are nearly always on-the-go.

Last, but not least of media technologies is the usage of the radio. Radio can be a means of communication, a means of advertising and a way of keeping up-to-date with local, national and international news. The radio has also served as a form of entertainment in previous times, with full-length programs and segments where books were read to listeners over the airwaves. There were radio programs that went on to become television shows like Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, The Green Hornet, Dragnet and many others.

Though it seems archaic and useless, the radio is a great way to advertise to thousands of people. “Being the first communications medium that could transfer or transmit live voices over long distances, radio was and still is one of the most effective mediums,” says an article found at buzzle.com (2012).  Utilizing the radio as a way to reach users requires writing an effective script for a radio commercial. The script must use colorful language to generate excitement. It should also be informative and fit well within a 30 second or less time frame.

In times past, radio has served as a means of connection with the rest of the world (Buzzle.com, 2012). Radio is still depended on as a source of news information and upcoming local events. Though it may seem an outdated media outlet, Radio is still very effective and necessary as a media technology and a source of communication. Radio is perhaps one media technology that has stood the test of time and found a way to continue to reach audiences of many different generations.

There are many, many technologies available to all media outlets. All of these items can appeal to a wide range of users, but most seem to have a built-in appeal to businesses as they offer time-saving convenience and ease of use for experienced and inexperienced users alike.

References

Buzzle.com (2012). Types of media. Retrieved May 24, 2012 from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-media.html.

Consumersearch.com (2011). How to buy desktop publishing software. Retrieved May 24, 2012 from: http://www.consumersearch.com/desktop-publishing-software/how-to-buy-desktop-publishing-software.

Streamified.com (2012). FAQ’s. Retrieved May 24, 2012 from: http://streamified.com/index.html?sgp_redirect=http://startgoogleplus.com/.

Whatisrss.com (2012). What is RSS? RSS explained. Retrieved May 24, 2012 from: http://www.whatisrss.com/.