The Internet has overcome geographic boundaries and has been heralded as having the potential as a media based public sphere. The “convergence arises out of growing linkages between media, information technology and telecommunications� (Flew, 2004:10) hence digitisation of tradition formats such as newspapers or photos. The Internet is a valuable aid for maintaining connections between people and for forging new connections with people. Technology is making life more convenient and enjoyable. Internet is a place where you are able to order anything online. Denis Mc Quail (2000: 127), categorise the new media into four key points.
1. Interpersonal Communication media These are online communications services; the replacement of snail mail is electronic mail. Electronic mail allows access from any computer with an Internet connection, this means even when the user is overseas, he/she is still able to read mails. Electronic mail are a much faster way to send a letter compared to snail mail which takes days even weeks. Other communications services include the popular Microsoft Messenger, this service is different as messages are sent and receive in real time. The connectivity with family and friends are at a lower cost. Flew points out that when compared to other media the Internet stands out because “it is networked, interactive, enables two way communications, and allows its users to be both producers as well as consumers of content.� (Flew, 2004:1) Besides having text based communication, users are able to communicate verbally by downloading free software such as Skype, which has crystal clear voice quality.
2. Interactive play media This refers to entertainment such as online gaming where it is possible to have players from around the world to compete and communicate. Computer based games are more interactive as the development of Virtual Reality devices.
3. Information search media The Internet is a library of genre of information, and data source of unprecedented size. The biggest virtual shopping centre, widening your geographic boundaries off the waters of Australia to Asia, United Kingdom even Alaska. All you need is a good search engine like googles, yahoo or eBay. Beside shopping, Internet reduced the hassle to queue up in the bank or Queensland transport, Internet gives the power of online banking, bills payment, traffic fines. Other vehicles of media are passive whereas the internet is interactive. Programme of media are entertaining in a stale, commercialised, violent way, and the Internet are educational, virtuous, and new. (Seiter 1999:120)
4. Collective participatory media Uses of Internet, in regards to sharing and exchanging information, ideas, experience and developing active relationship. The Internet provides a new social structure called the 'network society' whereby people remain connected electronically to society (Castells, 2000, 14). People have been known to find their perfect love matches over the Internet. Ashley Donaldson reported that "the Internet is making the path of finding true love a little smoother" (Donaldson, 2003: 9) for busy professionals find romance online.
Internet also facilities disabled such as deaf or mute as they may communicate better with a person without the skill of sign language. As listed, there are many advantages of the Internet; however there is the downside of the Internet.
Related Topics
Online Dating
Online Education
ECommerce
Electronic Commerce
Ebusiness
Reference
Donaldson, A. (2003) “Love Machine,� The Australian, 11 Feb, p. 9.
Castells, M. (2000) “Materials for an exploratory theory of the network society,� British Journal of Sociology vol.51, no.1, pp. 5-24.
Flew, Terry. (2004) New Media: An Introduction, South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0195508599.
Mc Quail, Denis. (2000), “Mc Quail’s Mass Communication Theory�, SAGE Publication Ltd. ISBN 0761965467.
Seiter, Ellen and Seiter, Ellen Elizabeth. (1999), �Television and New media audience�, University of Oxford Press. ISBN 0198711417.
Kelvin Khoo 05:15, 26 Oct 2004 (EST)
