Bom Bom Bom... Introducing...

New screens for the 21st century has proven to evolve every few months. It seem to dominate the eLandscape for the future. Every mobile phone brand tries to outdo one-another by releasing a new, improved, more stylish phones each time. But there is one innovative company who smashes them all; Apple.

Apple has been the leader in innovative screens since the release of their first iPod. Sure, their Macbooks are popular and just as amazing, but the iPod really set them apart from any other company within this field. Can a company alone define the future of our technology?

It seems in today’s world the new screen is being dominated by this company alone. The newly released iPad is the latest in technology, and yep, you guessed it, it’s created by Apple. The iPad is smaller than a laptop or computer, but bigger than a mobile screen. The attributes of this screen allows the convenience of portability and the comfort of the light-weight carrying.

Another screen that is becoming more advanced are the 3D screens. As children we have known 3D to be on stickers, magazine, and other print materials, but more recently 3D has been ruling the big screens, not only with cartoon movies, but even with “real-life” movies such as the re-released Alice in Wonderland. But more significantly, 3D screens are being introduced into our homes. We may see our new digital TVs replaced with these 3D screens in the not-too-distant future.

But what does this mean for our future children? Today’s generation is finding it difficult to do any kind of math. We need calculators to add, subtract, times, or divide even the most simple equation. We use the convenience factor as our excuse, “it’s easier” and “it’s quicker”. But if we really had to do to it ourselves, how long will it take us? Can we do it at all? The more screens being introduced to us, the more it seems to “help” us. Soon enough, we won’t know how to do anything ourselves “Will somebody PLEASE think of the children!?” (Helen Lovejoy, The Simpsons).

With such unthinkable technology being introduced to us almost every day, it has proven that anything is impossible. The next big screen for our homes, affordable virtual reality?
There is no limit where technology can take us. We look forward o to seeing you... new screen.

Three Sides to Every Story...

Over the years, documentaries have become more and more popular and mainstream. In the past, it has struggled to find it’s platform, but now, documentaries are almost going through a “boom” with movies such as Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine, and Sicko, directed by controversial producer and director, Michael Moore, and the infamous Supersize Me by Morgan Spurlock hitting the big screens.

For most documentaries, it is hard for them to be established through traditional distribution systems due to the length, budget and how amateur these films can be. Now, the online world provides an easier way for the would-be filmmakers, particularly social activists.

It provides a ground for people to express their opinions, for their voices to be heard, freedom of speech. Sometimes, the online world is a little bit too free. With no laws or regulations it is difficult to know what will be posted up next. Explicit, even traumatising events may be captured and put online, and no matter how many get deleted, that many more will be added within seconds.

T.Austin and W.Jong’s Rethinking Documentary – The Online Documentary, talks about a very interesting and controversial topic – the Iraq War, and how soldiers have access to camera equipment and post what they video up online during their time there. Even more frightening, videos of live executions by the Iraqis. It would be traumatising to watch but how can this sort of stuff be monitored and deleted before anyone could see it? This is the age-long question about the internet.

The internet can be a scary place. Expect the unexpected. If would-be filmmakers are hoping to break into the business of creating a successful documentary online or through traditional distribution systems, I think, although documentaries can be controversial they need to be respectful about what they show.

“...successful documentary seen only on the internet exemplify the issues of production and distribution for such filmmakers...Dylan Avery’s ‘Loose Change’” T.Austin and W.Jong’s Rethinking Documentary – The Online Documentary.

‘Loose Change is about a large and rather improbable US government conspiracy that was responsible for the events which happened on 9/11. The film uses news footage, talking heads and an insistent, provocative voice-over inviting viewers to question the ‘official’ version of events.’ T.Austin and W.Jong’s Rethinking Documentary – The Online Documentary.

No matter what topic it is or where it is distributed, there will always be three sides to one story. Your side, the opposition. And the truth.

Let's Line Up for the Next iPhone?

Ten years ago, the mobile phone was a seen as status symbol, only for rich and successful “yuppies”. If you look around today, I think you will see almost every Tom, Dick, and Harry holding a mobile phone. Even children as young nine has been known to own a mobile phone, “for emergencies”. I think parents give the perception that they want to ensure the safety for their children, but maybe subconsciously, or even purposely, they give their children mobile phones as a means of tracking their every move. At this point in time, I think it may be the dominant screen of the 21^st century. It’s compact, it’s portable, and it’s fits in pockets and hand-bags, (and for some females, in the bra!) and it is always with you...if you want it to be “... one mobile device more than any othe ignited and ow typifies new new media in everyone’s hands and pockets: iPhone.” Paul Levinson’s New New Media.

With such convenience and benefits from the mobile phone, do we need another screen to view movies, take photos, design art and access the internet? I think it is a matter of want over need. It’s like the saying “I have nothing to wear!” when you have a wardrobe bursting out with clothes (am I right ladies?). In today’s world, we are busier, greedier, and lazier. Technology provides the opportunity to “overcome” these issues by improving or creating something that will help us in our busy, daily lives. The mobile phone is no different, and a new screen will be no different. If something is created that makes our life easier, of course it is going to be accepted.

The new age mobile phones are known as smart phones. Is this what is meant by another screen? If it combines mode of communication, function of the camera, use of the internet, and can contain memory like a hard-drive, then it would most definitely be desirable within the market. Nowadays, we all rely on so much more than our initiative and intuition. We use technology like the smart phone to get to our destination, to retain information, and to find information. What are we to do if this technology didn’t exist? Use our brains? Heaven forbid!

It seems that as technology grows, the less we interact with each other face-to-face. Young teens have been known to text or Facebook chat each other even they are in the same room. Organising events is as easy at a click of a button, unlike, ten years ago when social events and meetings had to be confirmed days before with a certain meet up point and a certain time. Now, it is simple to organise or cancel last minute.

If we define the simple life, is anything really needed? Or just wanted?