By: Elijah Sudduth
"Old School Vs. New School (Analog Age vs. Digital Age)"
Advancements in technology have had a dramatic impact on modern society. From the invent of the printing press in 1450 to Alexander Graham Bell's 1878 telephone to the first broadcast radio of 1920 and television of 1926, the emergence of technology substantially moved society forward.
Advancing Ahead
We have come a long way since that first big printing press invention over 500 years ago. As a matter of fact, a lot has changed just in the past 40 years. It was just in 1973, digital was introduced with the invent of the mobile (handheld) phone which allowed people to stay connected on the go. Within eight years (1981), the personal computer (PC) was on the market followed by the debut of the Mac in 1984. By 1985, digital technology was in full swing as desktop publishing became available followed by the birth of the Internet in 1989, then SMS messaging (paging and texting) and satellite television in 1990. The 1990s saw substantial changes and growth in the use and application of the Internet while the initial decade of the 2000s were chiefly a period focused on social media, eCommerce, eMarketing and Augmented Reality.
Analog to Digital
Over the years and through the many inventions, the greatest changes have been the transformations occurring beneath the surface and behind the scenes - the transformation from analog to digital.
Analog, the technology that is most closely identified with antenna television, reel-to-reel tapes, vinyl records, 8-tracks, and cassettes, is fairly inexpensive to use and, until recently, the most widely available.
The trouble with analog signals though is the size limitations. Only so much data can be carried across an analog bandwidth. In contrast, digital bands not only have a greater capacity, the data transfer rate is at a higher speed which results in distortion-free conversations and clearer TV pictures.
However, among audiophiles and music enthusiasts, analog is still the preferred mode. They insist, though digital may be good for clarity, analog delivers richer sound quality. Many producers have even discovered original studio recordings can be cleaned up, re-mastered, and distributed as digital files creating new ways to make money for older artists and groups.
One issue analog technology hasn't been able to deal versus digital technology lies in media. While traditional analog media like tapes and LPs were subject to becoming worn out from play, today's digital devices - CD players, MP3 players, iPods, etc. can store and play unlimited amounts of digital music files without issue, sounding the same each time they are played. Digital media is not without its faults though. Since the digital devices like phones, answering machines, music players, etc. are constantly translating and coding and reassembling voices, you won't get the rich sound quality you would get with analog. So, while digital technology may be good for security and distortion-free conversations on a small office phone, a cordless analog phone at home will likely give you the richest sound quality.
Besides the digital phone, the introduction of digital television, with its high-definition colors and stereo-quality sound systems, significantly changed the viewing experiences of consumers.
In fact, the benefits of digital were so compelling, the U.S. Government required all states to effect the switch from analog to digital. California has lead the way to requiring this technology in broadcast television. It hasn't met with all success though as the change in time and advancement in technology has significantly impacted the way many companies now market and sell new products. Some businesses just could not make the adjustments to the digital age or compete with the new technologies at the time or refused to change their traditional ways resulting in their eminent failure (bankruptcy or corporate takeover). For example, Blockbuster was a thriving company in the early 2000's with hundreds of chains throughout the United States. It's unwillingness to change with the growing digital age and create an Internet presence resulted in significantly decreasing sales followed by large profit losses when companies decided to move from analog movies to digital movie streaming. At the same time, new brands like Netflix started to grow rapidly and succeed in the digital movie genre. Blockbuster's decision not to adapt with the changing times significantly hurt their business and led to the company's bankruptcy in 2010.
Digital Concerns
As with anything new, there are some downsides to the digital age too. With greater convenience and ready access to information, digital devices and Internet technology still requires greater security and protection from theft and fraud - something unthinkable during the analog age of technology. Our identity and personal information is more open to the public when we purchase goods online, sign up for offers, interact on social networks, exchange information via email, and/or simply browse internet sites.
Another reported negative aspect of the digital age is that people can become too dependent on it, which can often result in a use of lack of common sense. This current digital age has become a world in which the excessive use of technology for entertainment has become a social norm rather than a world of actual human interaction. Children and young adults tend to build relationships online and rely more heavily on technology to sustain them. As a result, they tend to be less able to effectively communicate (in person) and are less healthier than those who were born decades before.
New Will Become Newer
Technology continues to advance everyday and we are constantly trying to figure "stuff" out; how we can improve efficiencies, produce faster, discover phenomenons, and make life easier (i.e. do more with less in less time for the least amount of money). Even with all of its faults, the digital world still provides greater security, privacy, access, and adaptability than the analog world ever did and the newer the technology becomes, the greater value it will continue to offer.
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Comparison chart
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We are certainly becoming too connected to our technology these days. So much that people are losing personal skills. It will be interesting to see how technology continues to grow.
ReplyDeleteI want a thumb drive that gives me immediate access to every Def Jam album, Def Row single, or Jive record. I believe this innovation is a logical next step to the iTunes innovation because, with a simple jack, one could turn their beats by Dre into a continuous playlist of specific music. They could filter it, or let it play. Similar to Pandora, the music could be randomized easily, or it could be targeted to their preferences of certain artists. Likewise, the companies that own the copyrights license music to Pandora because they realized that there is a demand, so they could also realize this next phase in music licensing by authorizing entire catalogs. Costs would have to be considered per catalog, but the music must continue to be conveniently accessible through technology for their companies to remain relevant into the digitized-information age.
ReplyDeleteLike Brother Rasheed implemented, our generation is becoming way too connected with technology as time progresses. The features of technology are becoming so accessible and convenient for everyone that we have to have the newest of the newest (i.e. iPhone 6). It does everything that we need it to do and more.
ReplyDeleteI believe that over time, even though it still may produce better quality, analog is going to fade and digital is going to be the new “thing."
Interesting article man. As an music producer/Hip-hop head I will say that Analog gear does make everything sound richer and warmer, but like you said, the data limitations are definitely a drawback though. Even so, it's gonna be interesting to see where the technology goes in a few years/decades. Ultimately I think within the next 100 years we're gonna be part technology lol. It's already wearable so who's to say if that's really far-fetched?
ReplyDelete