Lecture:
In the lecture today the topics Electronic Civil Liberties, Creative Commons, Free and Open Source Software. It was interesting to learn about and lecturer Adam went through and discussed each topic in detail and asking the lecture group questions.
Tutorial:
In the tutorial there was a choice of what could be done. I chose to work on my assignment and tutor Chris came around and offered help individually.
Assignment: 'The Apple iPod'
The Apple iPod and its accessories have become a way of life and an aesthetic feature that is hard to miss through the generations. It has a never ending social impact and there is a new iPod culture that is more and more apparent as the generations pass and the technology of the iPod improves.
‘The Apple iPod is to the 2000s as the portable CD player was to the 1990s, the Song walkman was to the 1980s, and the transistor radio was to the 1960s. The iPod is a portable audio player, of course, a means of playing music while on the go; but it’s more than that. It builds in the breakthroughs of the previous technologies, and takes portable music one giant step beyond- both technologies and socially’. (Miller 2007, p3)
The iPod was 5GB, a Toshiba hard drive, a Pixo operating system, a large resolution display, a lithium polymer battery, and the still in use feature of the scroll wheel. By Apple making such a large product line and accessory line to accompany it, there is an Apple iPod and accessory to suit every individuals needs. Although the technology of the iPod and the model are constantly new and improved, Apple customers admire that Apple has made the direct decision to keep the general gist of the collection the same, making new features and improvements along the way (Apple, 2008)
Released in 2001, in the shadow of the September 11 world disaster, the Apple iPod was the first of its kind. With a huge team of people working towards the release the important features of the iPod began to fall into place with ‘Apples engineers tweaking and refining the design’ (Hart-Davis, 2006 p66) Phil Schiller was responsible for the scroll wheel, Apple leader; Steve Jobs was responsible for the sounds ‘Because Jobs is partially deaf he drove the sounds up so he could hear it’ (Biersdorfer, 2006 p28)
The engineers had to extend the battery life from three to ten hours ‘That short battery life would have been the kiss of death in the market place’ (Breen, 2005 p58)
A team of marketing consultants came up with the Moniker name, iPod. The prefix ‘I’ works with the iTunes product and the ‘Pod’ refers to small space ships, or ‘pods’ that return to the ‘mother ship’ to refuel (Biersdorfer, 2006).
The Apple iPod ranging from the original iPod in 2001to the introduction to the mini in 2004 and later the nano, is not only used for music but music downloading from Apples very own iTunes, photo storage space and now the new 2007 release of the iPhone, a mobile phone that is also your personal iPod. The Apple iPod gives an opportunity for children and even adults of all ages to have the choice in their own personal music preference and even the height of volume to listen to those songs at. The iPod is not only a music player but is far more economical and almost a fashion statement, and is now becoming a way of life.
‘More than any other single product from Apple, the iPod has changed the company and the world. Before its introduction, MP3 players were the realm of small companies with limited budgets that were unable to provide content. After the iPod the entire industry as evolved and grown to the point were the largest computer companies in the world have major interests in the digital music industry.’ (Hormby & Knight)
When discussing the negatives of the Apple iPod and co products, there are issues that are raised concerning a degree of social panic among parents and concerning social patterns that come from owning an iPod. There is also a discussion about the social impact that it has on iPod and non-iPod users. There seems to be a moral concern about the iPod and the cultural phenomenon that comes with it. The business dictionary describes ‘Social impact’ as an ‘Effect of an activity on the social fabric of the community and well being of the individuals and families.’(Business Dictionary, 2008) The iPod, although an aesthetic feature, also comes with the concern of sociability among the younger crowds. By young children using iPods on an everyday basis, it then prevents them from having social interaction with peers and family members. There is also a moral panic that accompanies the iPod generation, which is that of sub-conscious meaning through lyrics. By young children listening to iPod’s it stops parents having a choice over the music their child listens to. This panic comes from parents that are concerned with the music choices of their child and the lyrical and even subliminal messages that comes with that choice. Jeffery Brown also raises questions such as ‘Does the technology give us new freedom and opportunity to experience and shape our world or does it put us into individual bubbles and keep people from connecting, making us, as some sociologists say, alone together?’(MacNeil 1996) this is something that Apple iPod users and others have to think about. The purpose of the iPod was not to socially exclude but only to enjoy.
In conclusion the technology of the Apple iPod and accessory line has taken to world by storm. The ever changing technology market always seems to have room for all models of the iPod and the generation that are keen for purchase. Although a degree of social concern with the lack of social contact that comes with having an iPod playing constantly there is no need for a general consensus of moral panic among parents. The iPod is only an integral part of each day and with its use there needs to be balance. As with any modern device each one offers its own place in our daily life, which ultimately leads to pleasure and mental stimulation. It is not meant to become a permanent body part only just a temporary fashion accessory that happens to come with a few features called ‘music’.
Resources:
Apple, 2008, Ipod Accessories
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY- APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=MTE2OTA&node=home/shop_ipod/ipod_accessories
Accessed: 13/05/08
Biersdorfer J.D, 2006 ‘iPod & iTunes Fourth Edition’ Pogue Press O’Reilly USA
Breen C, 2005 ‘Secrets of iPod & iTunes Fifth Edition’ TechTv USA
4. Business dictionary, 2007-2008 http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/social-impact.html
Fung, D, 2007, Apple iPod Touch. CNet.com
http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/hardware/lifestyle/soa/Apple-iPod-Touch/0,2000065624,339281821,00.htm
Hart-Davis G, 2006 ‘iPod & iTunes Third Edition’ McGraw Hill Osborne USA
Hormby & Knight, 2007, The History of the ipod
http://lowendmac.com/orchard/05/ipod-history-since-2005.html
8. MacNeil 1996, ‘Apples iPod a technological, cultural phenomenon’ Lehrer Productions
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/jan-june06/ipod_05-15.html
Miller M, 2007 ‘iPod Pedia, the Ultimate iPod and iTunes Resource’, Que Indianapolis
Rossi, R, 2008, Customer review
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2AHVG5AU28K6I
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