Media: My Connection to the World

I think society is at a point where the question to be posed is no longer if you use the technology available but rather how you use it and to what ends. Like many others, I am highly involved with media on a regular basis. In my pocket I have my smart phone which keeps me connected to the rest of the world at all times. I do everything from constantly checking my e-mail in order to correspond with my boss to keeping up with distant friends through Facebook to searching for information via the web. Honestly, without my cell phone I'd feel as if I were missing a vital limb without which I could not possibly function and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

I would disagree with those that think we are becoming a society "too reliant" on technology such as computers and cell phones. I believe that these different forms of media are there for us to use, not to abuse, but to utilize to progress. From grassroot campaigns to artists trying to get their work out to the world, there have been countless numbers of people whose ideas have shattered the boundaries set by older technologies thanks to the media that is available today. Media today is defined by its ability to help us connect with one another.

To think of all the technological advancements that have taken place over the last two decades amazes me. This is nowhere truer than in one of my favorite forms of media, video gaming. It's impossible not to be astonished when you compare where we are today in terms of video gaming and where we were just a few decades ago. The evolution of media as a whole is reflected through the evolution of gaming: from the humble beginnings of the Atari all the way through the Playstation 3, XBOX 360 and Wii. Despite the huge success of the PS3 and 360, the console that most impresses me is the Wii for how it has redefined the way we interact with our gaming systems. The Wii reflects the ideals of all new technology: revolutionizing the way we think of and use our media. It has stepped outside the boundaries set by remote controllers and has completely redifined the conventional style of play by directly correlating human movements with video game character's movements.

Another aspect of today's media that is reflected through video gaming systems is the idea that technology today has made the world "a smaller place." Its incredible that I can turn on my PS3 or XBOX 360 connect to the PS Network or XBOX Live and play/chat/interact with millions of other players from all over the globe. I play on the PS Network with my nephews all the time and its a comforting notion to know that you can keep in touch with distant friends or relatives through a gaming platform!

We may be living on the same planet as in decades past, but the world has become a much smaller place thanks to the advent of all the media out there that lets us connect with one another.