How did the computer make the transition to everyday technology

Computers became popularized in homes primarily when the internet came in to play. Even though computers were in homes, the use was limited to single programs and maintained much the same use of a typewriter. Typing things was easier with the computer because of the ability to erase things before printing but the computer was not an exciting addition to the home. With the invention of the internet came the ability to expand what was seen and learned. I believe that this is when the computer became a must have product in the home. Everyone could use it and it became the centerpoint of the home because of its new technological uses.

Do audience members have the power to subvert messages brought to them by the mass media?

Audience members do have the power to subvert or judge messages brought by the mass media. As individuals, we have the ability to accept and dismiss anything that comes to us that we do not agree with. We can censor our minds to believe in what we hear, or we can reject the things that we hear through mass media. One of the problems is that we often rely on media and tend to believe what we hear, especially if we hear it often enough. We as listeners and viewers want what comes to us through media sources to be true so badly that we rarely check the validity of matters ourselves before running with the information. One big example of this is the social media websites. There were pictures of stars like "Morgan Freeman" and others claiming that they were deceased and wishing condolences on the families. I saw many responses to the posts saying how sad they were for the loss of these famous people but it was a hoax. This demonstrates our lack of fact checking skills and our vulnerability to mass media and what is put out there. While we have the power to filter our information, rarely do we do it.

What are the three main arguments given by advertising's critics and by its supporters?

Some of the main arguments against advertising is that it adds to the cost of the product. Because of such extreme measures that are being taken the product makers, we the consumer pay a larger price than otherwise objected. So in essence, we are paying for the advertisement that convinces us to make the purchase in the first place. The second critique is that advertising causes the consumer to purchase items that we don't otherwise need. We are suckered in to a good ad that convinces us that we just have to have a product and once we get it, we may use it once and then it sits on the shelf collecting dust. The third argument is that advertising reduces competition and and causes monopolies. One product brand has the advantage over the rest by committing to more expensive marketing tools and gets the most attention from consumers than others. Now flip this argument and the same answers can be for those supporting advertising methods. They want the consumer to believe that their item is needed. They want to be head and shoulders above the rest of the companies selling the same product and they want the consumer to pay more for the brands to make money.

How has the culture of marketig come to shape the way American's understand the world and themselves?

Marketing plays a big role in everything that we as consumers purchase. We watch television and get adds, receive adds in the newspaper, magazines and even billboards. We see advertisements everywhere we look, telling us that we need this product or that. We as consumers come to believe that we need to jump the highest, so we get a certain advertised sneaker, we need to cook the best, so we purchase a famous chef's brand of cook ware, and we need to be at our healthiest, so we look for the over the counter medications that will help us get well fastest. We are drawn in to marketing schemes that play on our insecurities as buyers and tempt us with the most colorful ads. Our children are targets of the marketing world and beg for the exciting new toy that they saw advertised during their favorite morning cartoon, or the cereal that they have to have because their favorite character eats it in a television program. Marketing strategists count on being able to get as us on all levels, from mother, father, children and even grandparents. There is always a marketing gimmick to get at us and no foreseeable solution to the issue of eliminating the hold that the marketing world has on us.

Why is it tempting to misuse power online? What positive things can social- networking sites achieve when used to their full potential?

Viral word is so important because it cannot be taken back. Once information is out there, it cannot be takcn back. It can be deleted but not erased because once posted, someone else has seen it. It leads to conversations and debates among people and eventually back to the person that it is about. This can be hurtful and embarassing to individuals who would rather their information or business be kept private. It is quite tempting to misuse your power online because of the same reasons. If someone makes you mad, you have the ability to humiliate them to the masses. When used correctly, social networks can be influential in finding people from your past, networking for jobs and social events.

What three technologies made the greatest impact on mass communications?

While there have been many technological advancements that have helped to shape our culture and how we communicate through mass means, I have to pick what I feel were the top three most influential to the way that we live today. I would say that my top three would be the telegraph, the television, and lastly the computer.

I picked the telegraph because it was the first advancement that provided us to communicate in a mass way and led to other inventions like the telephone that allowed us to communicate with words.

I picked the television; because, it gave the concept of radio an image. We were able to see and hear our entertainment without having to go to the theater and watching plays.  T.V. was also a great way to hear about what was going on in other places at a faster rate.

Lastly, I picked the internet as being one of the most influential technologies because of its ability to expand knowledge. We can simply type in a topic and receive many results and information that would have been longer to access in the matter of seconds.

Explain the concept of the digital divide. Why does the digital divide exist? List and explain three actions by government, corporations or individuals that would help eliminate the divide.

The concept of the digital divide is explainable by saying that it is the inequality of the provided technologies. For instance, the internet or some of its programs are more accessible than in other countries that may not have the privilege of having computers in their homes. There are areas on the planet that don’t have the luxury for running water or electricity either. The digital divide exists because there is a socioeconomic divide. Governments can help eliminate the divide by providing laws that govern everyone and not just certain areas. Corporations can help by providing more cost efficient methods to areas that are not financially sound as others. Individuals can help eliminate the divide by scaling down or using less. They can also help by being proactive and voicing concern regarding the subject. Alone, one voice may not be heard, but a million voices can be heard clearly.