Era of Technology

2014. One of many years in the era of technology. As a generation, we have come to accept the many new technologies that are thrown out into the world. It's hard to find people that have not grown up with a television, a computer, or video games. I feel that we are lucky. Lucky enough to have grown up in a time where technology really started to thrive and change the way we communicate and fortunate enough to experience the last of classics like writing letters and house phone calls with friends. Though there are people who still practice those ways of communication, most use email or cell phones to communicate. Too bad the kids growing up today are already missing out.

When was the last time you actually talked on a house phone to a friend? Do you even have a house phone? Earlier this year the last cordless phone in my house was disconnected. Now we just use our cell phones and hope for a good signal. Many of friends have followed the same path. Using a cell phone as a primary phone is, in my opinion, one of the most economical things to do. Why pay for two services when you can pay for one and play games too?

The mentality of giving up one piece of technology for another is very popular now. And the popularity will continue to rise. With a new iPhone coming out every 6 months and continuous research on how to make life “smarter” and “easier”, it is hard to not want the newest gadget. 

As consumers, we get a sense of gratification when we use technology. The Internet is one of the best examples when it comes to the progression of technology, gratification, and the interconnected world. Some common gratifications are social utlility, convenience,  and social presence. Computer to computer communication has greatly increased since the creeation of the World Wide Web. The progression has gone from dial-up in the late 90's and early 2000s to broadband, what we use now. Consumers were so eager to update to a much faster system. Modems are a day of the past and so having to exit the internet because a phone call is coming in. 

 Consumers have gotten used to moving on to the next thing despite small changes in how they work. We like to stay connected and up to date with the lives of friends, family, and even strangers regardless of how and through what medium the information is accessed. It doesn't matter if t's a relationship status on Facebook or a filtered Instagram photo. Just being able to see the updates.

Technology and the means by which it is accessed will continue to change. New websites that wil appear and the next craze will be started. I can see the future filled with holograms instead of actual computers and search engines in our own heads. Maybe we'll have an actual holografic book with faces inside to speak to "in person". I hope everyone is ready for the iHologram