Electronic Media Essay Richard Tanski

I received my first cell phone while I was a middle school student. During that time, my cell phone was, according to my mom, for emergency use only. Now, I use my cell phone everyday to speak with my family and with my friends. I call my mom everyday to let her know I got to school in one piece (her idea-not mine!) and I receive numerous calls on a regular basis from fellow students seeking help with a lab or with questions about physics or calculus. I am also able to play games on my phone, something I do when I get bored, usually while waiting for an appointment. I anticipate many phone calls from my friends and family when I go away to college, for moral support, for advice and just to keep everyone informed about college life and to get the latest news from Guilderland. The advantage of cell phones is the ability to stay in contact with lots and lots of people. Also, cell phone users can also send pictures, send text messages, send e-mails, access the internet and even watch TV.

I watch cable TV every day. My favorite programs include sci-fi and anything on the history, discovery or science channels. I take notes on subjects whenever I feel it would be beneficial. I have learned a lot of interesting and valuable information from my TV viewing. My hi-definition big screen TV is what I will miss the most when I go away to college.

My Ipod is another favorite electronic device of mine. Again, I use this every day to listen to my favorite tunes. It is great for stress relief. At least I can take this with me to college!

The Internet is like a life line for me. I can, via e-mail, converse with anyone that I choose. I can research topics quickly and thoroughly and I can read/view interesting articles/sites that appeal to me.

I am not a fan of social networking sites, such a Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. However, I have utilized YouTube to watch interesting video clips.

Overall, electronic media/communications have had a positive impact on my life. The ability to stay connected with family and friends is a big plus. The ease with which information can be accessed is also extremely handy and advantageous. It has enhanced my ability to explore and learn about interesting subjects and by doing so, my skills as a reader and writer have also improved and developed. I have increased my vocabulary and the scope of my knowledge through use of electronic media, including cable TV and the Internet. Al Gore, in 1978, coined the term information highway, and he envisioned a high speed communications system. "Building and Rescuing the Information Superhighway," an article written in 1993, spoke about this new information highway concept and even compared it to the changes that came about as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The article predicted that within the next ten years (after 1993), "... computers, communications and entertainment will be merged. Scientists, doctors, business people and school children will be connected not only to their peers but to everyone else. The way we learn and interact is about to be revolutionized." http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/information-superhighway.html Gore was right, high speed communications have become an integral part of everyone's daily life. Communications with anyone is possible and can be almost instantaneous. Knowledge about any subject is out there for anyone willing to look for it. Now is the age of the information highway, and I am enjoying my ride on it via many different vehicles.
This is a picture of the “Time” magazine cover that depicts the information highway. The picture is showing that you will be able to have unlimited access to information directly from your TV.

This picture is another depiction of the information highway that allows all of us, with the proper technology, to have unlimited access to information. The only trick to this is that you have to be able to understand how to use the technology in an appropriate and productive way.