.Gulliver's Travels is an anatomy of human nature, a sardonic looking-glass, often criticized for its apparent misanthropy.Gulliver's Travelswas unique in its day; it was not written to woo or entertain. It was an indictment, and it was most popular among those who were indicted.
On the subject of misanthropy Swift famously said, “Principally I hate and detest that animal called man" Swift called man not the "animal rationale" but only the "rationis capax”, animal capable of reason.
In a letter to Alexander Pope Swift wrote:
“I have ever hated all Nations professions and Communities and all my love is towards individuals. . .Upon this great foundation of misanthropy the whole building of my travels is erected”
He admits that the chief end of all his labour is “to vex the world rather than divert it”.Swift so violently ‘vexed’ the world that different critics from his own time to this day have bitterly criticized him.
Thackeray attacked his book claiming it to be “filthy in word, filthy in thought, furious, raging, obscene.” Walter Scott condemns Swift’s attack on mankind as“severe, unjust and degrading.”
William Hazlitt however defends Swift against these charges:
“What a libel is this upon mankind! What a convincing proof of misanthropy! What presumption and what malice prepense, to shewmen what they are, and to teach them what they ought to be!”
Gulliver’s Travel’s serves as a magnifying mirror to show us our faults so that we can see how far we have strayed from reasonable behavior.
Paul Turner writes of Gulliver’s four voyages: “The four pictures form a series, in which the view grows gradually darker; that is, they represent stages in Gulliver's disillusionment.”
In the first part of the book, Swift takes us to the land of midgets, the “human creatures not more than six inches high”. Lilliput is a miniature empire with a little monarch who entitled himself as "delight and terror of the universe".
In Lilliput, which is, quite literally, a microcosm, the vices and follies not merely of England but of all mankind are epitomized. The human race viewed in miniature, at first seems rather charming; but the tiny creatures soon turn out to be cunning, malicious, treacherous and revengeful. They are ready to sacrifice all humane feeling, whether towards Gulliver or the Blefuscudians, to their own petty ambitions.
InBrobdingnag, however, it is as if we are looking at humanity through a magnifying glass. Gulliver is often repulsed by both the size and coarseness of the physical bodies of theBrobdingnagians. But Swift throws in a nice twist with the first two parts ofGulliver's Travels.Though the Brobdingnagiansare more repulsive physically because of their size, they arecategorized by Gulliver as "the least corrupted".
When Gulliver gives brief description of the political and legal institutions of England to Brobdingnagian King, the King dismissively concludes "the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth."
Swift was certainly not one of the optimists typical of his century. He did not believe that the ‘Age of Science’ was a triumph. Science and reason needed limits, and they did not require absolute devotion. In order to satirize mankind in general and science in particular, Swift takes us to an imaginary floating island where the inhabitants were wholly engrossed in their fruitless meditation."Their heads were all reclined either to the right, or the left; one of their eyes turned inward, and the other directly up to the zenith.”The various researches that were in progress at the Academy of Projectors in Lagado were fantastic and preposterous. Experiments were being made“to extract sunbeams out of cucumbers, to convert human excrement into its original food, to build houses from the roof downwards to the foundation, to obtain silk from cobwebs”
Swift’s alleged misanthropy reaches its crescendo in the fourth voyage of Gulliver. As Gulliver reaches the land governed by philosophical horses Houyhnhnms, he is instantly confronted with a pack of Yahoos which give him such an obnoxious and disgusting treatment that he develops an intense hatred for them, owing to their vile physical appearance and their filthy and mischievous way of life. Gulliver highlights:
“Upon the whole, I never behold in all my travels so disagreeable an animal, nor one against which I naturally conceived so strong an antipathy.”
The Houyhnhnms, on the other hand, are “endued with a proportionable degree of reason” and “orderly and rational, acute and judicious”. They know neither love nor grief nor lust nor ambition for they face each of these phenomena with stoical calm. Their cardinal virtues are “friendship and benevolence”. The Houyhnhnms are“the Perfection of Nature” while “the Yahoos … were observed to be the most unteachable of all brutes”
Gulliver’s epiphany occurs he identifies himself with the detestable Yahoos:
“My horror and astonishment are not to be described, when I observed in this abominable animal, a perfect human figure.”
The theme of Gulliver’s hatred of mankind is climaxed when he told he must leave Houyhnhnmland. He exclaims “that the certain prospect of an unnatural death was the least of my evils, for…how could I think with temper of passing my days among Yahoos”. Thus Gulliver would rather die than live among his own race of Yahoos.Nonetheless, he must leave. But he plans not to go home, but to find some small uninhabited island so that he can, in solitude, “reflect with delight on the virtues of those imitable Houyhnhnms.” Yet, fate would not allow it. He is discovered by Portuguese Captain and seamen and is forcibly rescued and given passage to Lisbon. With the short-sightedness of the Houyhnhnms, Gulliver perceives only the Yahoo and is repelled by Captain Don Pedro de Mendez’s clothes, food, and odour as he remarks: “I wondered to find such civilities from a Yahoo. However, I remained silent and sullen; I was ready to faint at the very smell of him and his men.”
Gulliver’s frenzy of his extreme misanthropy has driven him into madness as can no longer bear his own wife and children:
“I began last week to permit my wife to sit at dinner with me, at the farthest end of a long table…. Yet the smell of a Yahoo continuing very offensive, I always keep my nose well stopped with rue, lavender, or tobacco leaves. “
Gulliver concludes his travels on a misanthropic note:
“When I behold a lump of deformity, and diseases both in body and mind, smitten with pride, it immediately breaks all the measures of my patience.”
While the character of Gulliver eventually reveals himself to be a misanthrope, the author Jonathan Swift does not. The reader must be conscientious to see that Gulliver’s idealized glance of Houyhnhnms’ logical approach to life is not always consistent with Swift’s. A carful denotation suggests that the author is just as satirical toward Gulliver and the Houyhnhnms as he is toward the Yahoos. Gulliver remains true to his gullible nature as he seems unable to discern the negative aspects of the Houyhnhnms’ rational philosophy. Swift, on other hand, uses these quadrupeds to show how reason untouched by love, compassion, and empathy is also inadequate to deal with the myriad aspects of the human life.
Friday, November 2, 2018
Types of Computers: Classification of Computers by SizeThe different types of computers can be grouped into six major categories according to size. Each category excels at specific functions.
Supercomputers
Mainframes
Mini-computers
Servers
Personal computers
Embedded systems
Generally, sizes of computers determine the processing abilities. Larger computers have higher processing speeds while smaller ones offer the better experience for personal computing.Supercomputers These are arguably the most powerful in terms of speed and accuracy. They are types of computers used in solving complex mathematical computations. They are capable of executing trillions of instructions per second, which is calculated in floating point operations per second (FLOPS).
The typical personal computer used at home and the office is only capable of calculating millions of instructions per second (MIPS). Supercomputers can go even faster with the rate of petaFLOPS (or PFLOPS). This could bring up their processing numbers up to the quadrillion.Supercomputers were made popular in the 1960s by Seymore Cray. They soon became the choice for complex projects. They have evolved from the grid to cluster systems of massively parallel computing.Cluster system computing means that machines use multiple processors in one system, rather than arrays of separate computers in a grid.The operating systems that run in supercomputers vary depending on the manufacturer but are generally based on the Linux Kernel. A few popular ones include,
CNK OS used in Blue Gene from IBM
Cray Linux Environment used in Titan
Sunway Raise OS in Sunway TaihuLight
These computers are the largest in terms of size. They can occupy anything from a few feet to hundreds of feet. They also don’t come cheap as they can be priced between $200,000 to over $100 million.
The Top Supercomputers Since 2008
Year
Name of Supercomputer
Manufacturer
Speed in PFLOPS
2008
Roadrunner
IBM - USA
1.105
2009
Jaguar
Cray - USA
1.759
2010
Tianhe - 1A
NUDT - China
2.566
2011
K Computer
Fugitsu - Japan
10.51
2012
Titan
Cray - USA
17.59
2013
Tianhe - 2
NUDT - China
33.86
2014
Tianhe - 2
NUDT - China
33.86
2015
Tianhe - 2
NUDT - China
33.86
2016
Sunway TaihuLight
NSC -China
93.01
2017
Sunway TaihuLight
NSC -China
93.01
Uses of Supercomputers
Because of their superiority, supercomputers are not intended for your everyday tasks. They handle exhaustive scientific applications that require complex and real-time processing.
In the field of science, researchers use these machines to compute and model properties of biological compounds like protein and human blood. They are also used to interpret new diseases and strains, and predict illness behavior and treatment.
The military use supercomputers to test new aircraft, tanks, and a host of weaponry and camouflage. They also use them to understand the effects they will have on soldiers and wars. These machines are also used to help encrypt and decrypt sensitive data.
In entertainment, supercomputers are used to help make a flawless online gaming experience. Games like World ofWarcraft demand intense processing. When thousands of gamers around the world are playing, supercomputers help stabilize the game performance.
Meteorologists use them to simulate weather behavior. They can also be used to predict earthquakes.
Scientists use them to simulate and test the effects of nuclear weapon detonation.
Scientists also use them to simulate the events of the Big Bang and other space related projects.
Hollywood uses supercomputers to create realistic animations.
The famous supercomputers Deep Blue and Watson defeated chess Grandmaster Gary Kasparov and quiz expert Ken Jennings respectively.
Mainframes
Mainframe computers are large sized computer types. They are equally powerful but fall short in terms of the computation ability in supercomputers. They are like big file servers, enabling multiple users from nearby and remote locations to access resources at the same time. Also known as big iron, these systems can handle massive amounts of data going in and out simultaneously. This makes them popular with businesses. They are also resilient as they are capable of operating for over 10 years without failing. Users access the mainframe using terminals or personal computers. This can happen within the same building or via wide area network (WAN). Most of these systems run the z/OS (operating system) on 64bit architecture
Uses of Mainframes
They are used in large organizations where thousands of clients have to access data simultaneously.
For examples:
Performing ATM cash withdrawals and deposits. During the process, communication between the mainframe and remote computer will help accomplish the financial transactions at hand.
Business transactions that use credit cards or pre-paid cards.
Online electronic transactions.
Cloud storage.
Handling of patient records in major hospitals.
Making reservations and travel schedules for airline companies.
Manipulation and tallying of data for census and electoral purposes.
Minicomputers Minicomputers are general purpose devices without the monumental expenses associated with a larger system. Their processing power is below that of mainframe systems but above the capabilities of personal computers.
Also known as mid-range computers, these became popular in the late 1960s but have become almost extinct because of the popularity of personal computers. The latter can now perform most of the tasks reserved for minis.
The first minicomputer was unveiled in 1967 by Digital Equipment Corporation and was followed later by designs from IBM and other companies.
They became popular for control related functions as opposed to computing prowess. Over the years, their usage was limited to dedicated control assignments in mid-range organizations.
Minicomputers were intended for a number of activities listed below:
Switchboard control.
Dedicated applications for graphics and computer design.
Time-sharing, to allow multiple users to interact concurrently on a single system.
Control and monitoring of manufacturing activities.
Monitoring and control of laboratory equipment ServersThese are types of computers used to provide resources, services, and functionality to client computers in a server-client network model. Resources provided are based on the functions of a particular server, which may fall under these categories:
File server
Database server
Print server
FTP servers
Application server
Web server
Their sizes will depend on purpose and tasks in the network. Of course bigger and more multitasking installations will require multiple system and storage installation.
A common errant is that desktop systems can be used as servers. Far from it, true server systems are specialized computers with abilities far beyond what personal computers can deliver.
Servers are optimized to run 24 hours and are capable of hot swapping of storage and other hardware without having to shut down the system.
Microcomputers/Personal ComputersMicrocomputers are the smallest, least expensive and the most used types of computers. They have a small memory, less processing power, are physically smaller, and permit fewer peripherals compared to super and mainframe computers. They are more commonly known as personal computers or simply PCs. The term was initially used to refer to IBM compatible computers.
They became popular in the 70s and 80s, at the dawn of the microprocessor chips. These chips meant that a machine used by one individual was now feasible.
The advent of PCs meant cheaper alternatives to more expensive and centralized systems. They were more affordable for office use and created cheaper networking environments. By the mid-1990s, they became the de facto computer of choice for offices and homes. The last 20 years have seen the proliferation of even smaller systems.
This signaled the start of the mobile age, which continued to go with the trend of smaller devices as the new century progressed. This ultimately gave birth to wearable computers and gadgets.
The operating system used in personal computers vary, but the common ones include,
Windows
Mac OS X
Linux
IOS
Android
Categories of personal computers include:
Desktop computers
Mobile computers
Wearable computers
1. Desktop Computers
Desktop computers are made up of separate components such as:
The system unit; a rectangular case that contains important parts like the motherboard, microprocessor, memory modules, disk drive, and optical drive.
The monitor.
A mouse.
A keyboard.
Single Unit Systems
Single unit computers, also known as all-in-one PCs, are a sub-type of desktop computers. They integrate the monitor and system unit within a single unit.
They also have connectivity to a mouse, keyboard, and other peripherals, usually through USB ports.
Nettop Systems
Nettop, which are sometimes called mini PCs, are small and cheap system units. They use less power and perform less processing.
Common features of Nettops include the Intel Atom microprocessor, 1-2 GB memory, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Just like any other desktop, they attach to peripheral accessories via USB ports and the monitor via VGA or DVI ports.
Single Board Computers
These are the smallest possible computers which mimic the shape and functionality of full-size desktop motherboards. They fit on miniature circuit boards, the size of an ATM card and spot numerous input/output ports for connectivity to external peripherals. Standout are USB ports for a keyboard and mouse, HDMI output to monitors, Ethernet ports, and Bluetooth/wireless capability.
A single board computer (SBC) is an integrated piece of hardware which is called so because it only spots one board, unlike the desktop computer which features additional circuitry like memory chips and processor.
It is also a low power, fan-less circuitry, low-cost system, and popular with hobbyists and developers.
An SBC can easily be confused with an embedded system because of its size but is not, because it permits general purpose functionalities synonymous with microcomputers.
Raspberry Pi3, Arduino and BeagleBone Blue are popular examples of SBC.
Thin Clients
These are low-cost computer types which rely on server systems in order to provide computing services to attached monitors. They communicate to the server via the remote desktop protocol and are part of the networking implementation setup known as client/server model.
While a thin client depends entirely on the availability of a server, a desktop based client (the typical desktop computer), sometimes called fat client, can operate independently of a server in case of transmission downtime.
A typical thin client features most input/output ports for connectivity to peripherals. Standout are VGA or DVI ports to the monitor, PS/2 or USB ports for keyboard and mouse, and audio input/output ports.
2. Mobile Computers
Mobile devices have become the norm in recent years. Most users opt for laptops and tablets due to ease of use on the go, and battery power.
Particular features that make mobile systems a favorite include:
Extended battery use.
Wi-Fi capabilities.
Mobility.
The most common types of mobile computers include:
Laptop computers.
Tablets.
Smartphones.
Personal Digital Assistants (PDA).
Laptops
Laptops are lightweight mobile PCs with a thin screen. They were initially called notebook computers because of their small size. They operate on batteries.
Unlike desktops, these systems combine the microprocessor, screen, and keyboard in a single case. The screen folds down onto the keyboard when not in use.
Ultrabooks
Ultrabooks are special laptops specifically designed to be thin and lightweight. They usually have longer lasting batteries (5 hours minimum) and have strong hardware and processing power to run any software around.
Ultrabooks also ship with the faster SSD storage in place of the slower hard disk drives that are commonly used.
Chromebooks
Chromebooks are low-end laptops that only runs the web-based Chrome operating system. After the installation of Chrome OS, additional software can only be installed via the Chrome Web Store.
The OS allows you to achieve traditional PC functionality online. You can type documents, edit them, implement group discussions, have teleconferencing, and use basic online tools like search engines and e-mail.
These devices are increasingly targeted for users that spend most of their time online for social activities. Their hardware includes the Intel Atom microprocessor, Wi-Fi and wired network connectivity, solid state disks (SSD), and an average of five hours of battery life. They usually do not have optical drives.
Source
Netbooks
Netbooks can be thought of as mini laptops. They are smaller in size, price, and processing power. Just like Chromebooks, they are primarily designed for web browsing, electronic communication, and cloud computing. They are catered to users who require less powerful client computers.
Their specs are similar to Chromebooks. The biggest difference is that they can run the lightweight Linux operating system.
Tablets
A tablet is a mobile computer equipped with a touch screen or hybrid screen, which allows the user to operate it by use of a digital pen or fingertip.
Most tablets today are both multi-touch and multi-tasking, making it possible to manipulate them using multiple fingers and accomplishing multiple tasks simultaneously.
Tablets are handy, especially when normal notebooks and laptops are simply too bulky for the mobile user.
An iPad is a mini tablet computer type
Smartphones
Back in 1996, a company called Palm Computing developed a gadget called Palm 1000. It was revolutionary in conception but did not actually build consumer excitement.
While the idea of a miniaturized computer was not new, the fact that someone had actually been able to make a device with an operating system that could work within its limitations was a huge leap forward. It was one of the biggest innovations in the tech industry.
The iPhone, released in 2007, was the first true smartphone. It became an instant hit with consumers worldwide. It started the smartphone industry that still persists today.
An iPhone 6
Most smartphones today use an operating system such as IOS and Android. They often have the ability to add applications. This is in contrast to regular cellular phones which only support sandboxed applications like Java games. In terms of features, smartphones support full email capabilities as well as multiple functions to serve as a complete personal organizer.
Depending on the manufacturer, other functions might include additional interfaces such as miniature QWERTY keyboards, touch screens, built-in cameras, contact management, built-in navigation software, ability to read office documents in PDF and Word file formats, media software for playing music, browsing photos, and viewing video clips.
Personal Digital Assistants
Personal digital assistants (PDAs), also called handheld computers, pocket PCs, or palm top computers, are battery-powered devices that are small enough to carry almost anywhere.
While weaker to larger systems, these are useful for scheduling appointments, storing addresses and phone numbers, and playing games. Some have more advanced capabilities, such as making telephone calls or accessing the Internet.
PDAs seem to have been overtaken by tablets and smartphones, almost rendering them obsolete.
3. Wearable Gadgets
Like the term suggests, wearable computers, or simply wearables, are miniature devices that are designed to be worn or attached onto your body.
Wearables are designed to function as smart devices similar to smartphones. They typically provide specific functions like health monitoring.
Whereas general purpose wearables offer a fuller computing experience that includes reading emails, the lesser systems will ship as embedded devices capable of minimal functions.
Examples of these devices include smartwatches, smartglasses, smartclothes, smartshoes.
Smartwatches
These became popular around 2013, when Samsung launched Gear, a wristwatch fitted with sensors to communicate directly with a smartphone.
Dubbed the smartphone and phablet companion, a smartwatch gives features like internet connectivity and text messaging among others.
It also provides communication between the user and other devices.
The leading tech companies in the world are all scrambling for opportunities in manufacturing smartwatches. Samsung launched Gear in 2013 and Apple has the Apple Watch. Other competitors include Sony, LG, and Google.
Head Mounted Displays
Another wearable being developed is the heads up display unit (HUD) or head mounted display unit (HMD).
This device is meant to be worn or attached to the head and uses a transparent glass display that interfaces with the human eye. It does not interfere with the users sight.
Earlier HUDs were used for military purposes. They went from using a cathode ray tube to a liquid crystal display. The technology eventually embraced laser-based projection for images and motion pictures.
The current leader in this tech is Google Glass, which permits a number of functions like voice communication and reading tweets.
Smartware
Smartshoes and smartclothes are intended for health-related functions like measuring heart rate and waveform measurement. These devices are intended to encourage the wearer to have an active lifestyle.
Smartshoes and smartclothes can also be used for competitive purposes, such helping athletes keep track of their running distance and speed.
One of the first initiatives into developing these devices was the partnership between Apple and Nike. They created the Nike+iPod Sports Kit, a device for measuring distance and pace by the user. It worked by having the iPod communicate to the Nike show via voice prompts.
Embedded SystemsThese are computer-based systems which are standalone electronic hardware designed to perform dedicated computing tasks. They are not general purpose installations like the personal computer. Actually, they are computers which may not always seem to be computers!
They include a combination of the outer hardware, microprocessor chip, and software. The core of such systems is the microprocessor or micro-controller which execute the assigned task.
The embedded software, usually firmware, is but not always fixed onto volatile memory which may not always require post-installation configurations. In any case, the hardware does repetitive assignments.
The old cell phones used well before the smartphones became a phenomenon, could easily fall under the category of embedded systems since their sole purpose was to make and receive calls. Smartphones today, however, have evolved into general purpose mobile computers.
Firmware on these systems is written in the read-only memory (ROM) or flash memory chips. Despite the seemingly persistent firmware which is deemed unaltered, they can be re-programmed to suit evolving demands.
Popular devices that may be categorized under embedded systems are listed below:
Set-top boxes
MP3 players
DVD players
Drones
Printers
Antilock braking systems
USB devices like internet dongles
Streaming players like Google Chromecast and Roku
Thermostats
Calculators
Toys
Digital cameras
ATM machines
Video game consoles
Routers and network peripherals
Computer add-on cards and peripherals
Digital watches
Uses of computers
Education : Getting the right kind of information is a major challenge as is getting information to make sense. College students spend an average of 5-6 hours a week on the Internet.Research shows that computers can significantly enhance performance in learning. Students exposed to the internet say they think the web has helped them improve the quality of their academic research and of their written work. One revolution in education is the advent of distance learning. This offers a variety of internet and video-based online courses. 2. Health and Medicine : Computer technology is radically changing the tools of medicine. All medical information can now be digitized. Software is now able to computer the risk of a disease. Mental health researchers are using computers to screen troubled teenagers in need of psychotherapy. A patient paralyzed by a stroke has received an implant that allows communication between his brain and a computer; as a result, he can move a cursor across a screen by brainpower and convey simple messages. 3. Science : Scientists have long been users of it. A new adventure among scientists is the idea of a “collaboratory”, an internet based collaborative laboratory, in which researchers all over the world can work easily together even at a distance. An example is space physics where space physicists are allowed to band together to measure the earth’s ionosphere from instruments on four parts of the world. 4. Business : Business clearly see the interest as a way to enhance productivity and competitiveness. Some areas of business that are undergoing rapid changes are sales and marketing, retailing, banking, stock trading, etc. Sales representatives not only need to be better educated and more knowledgeable about their customer’s businesses, but also must be comfortable with computer technology. The internet has become a popular marketing tool. The world of cybercash has come to banking – not only smart cards but internet banking, electronic deposit, bill paying, online stock and bond trading, etc. 5. Recreation and Entertainment: Our entertainment and pleasure-time have also been affected by computerization. For example: • In movies, computer generated graphics give freedom to designers so that special effects and even imaginary characters can play a part in making movies, videos, and commercials. • In sports, computers compile statistics, sell tickets, create training programs and diets for athletes, and suggest game plan strategies based on the competitor’s past performance. • In restaurants, almost every one has eaten food where the clerk enters an order by indicating choices on a rather unusual looking cash register; the device directly enters the actual data into a computer, and calculates the cost and then prints a receipt. 6. Government: Various departments of the Government use computer for their planning, control and law enforcement activities. To name a few – Traffic, Tourism, Information & Broadcasting, Education, Aviation and many others. 7. Deference: There are many uses computers in Deference such as: • Controlling UAV or unmanned air-crafts an example is Predator. If you have cable I would recommend watching the shows “Future Weapons" and “Modern Marvels". The show future weapon gives an entire hour to the predator. • They are also used on Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) that uses GPS and Computers to help the missile get to the target. • Computers are used to track incoming missiles and help slew weapons systems onto the incoming target to destroy them. • Computers are used in helping the military find out where all their assets are (Situational Awareness) and in Communications/Battle Management Systems. • Computers are used in the logistic and ordering functions of getting equipments to and around the battlefield. • Computers are used in tanks and planes and ships to target enemy forces, help run the platform and more recently to help diagnose any problems with the platforms. • Computers help design and test new systems. 8. Sports: In today's technologically growing society, computers are being used in nearly every activity. 9. Recording Information Official statistics keepers and some scouts use computers to record statistics, take notes and chat online while attending and working at a sports event. 10. Analyzing Movements The best athletes pay close attention to detail. Computers can slow recorded video and allow people to study their specific movements to try to improve their tendencies and repair poor habits. 11. Writers Many sports writers attend several sporting events a week, and they take their computers with them to write during the game or shortly after while their thoughts are fresh in their mind. 12. Scoreboard While some scoreboards are manually updated, most professional sports venues have very modern scoreboards that are programmed to update statistics and information immediately after the information is entered into the computer.
13. Safety
Computers have aided in the design of safety equipment in sports such as football helmets to shoes to mouth guards
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Challenges Faced by the Print Media1.changing lifestyle - People are working longer hours and the demands of todays lifestyles are causing people to get what they need quickly, whether it be food to the news. People will look up anything they need and will get what they want without having to leave their computer. Our main source of information in past decades was print media, radio and t.v, now most tv networks have their own web sites for news which are updates minute by minute causing news to travel faster. 2. Better Advertising elsewhere With the print media in total decline and fewer people picking up a news paper, this is causing many advertising companies to look else where to take their products or jobs etc to be broadcast. This as a result is casing news paper companies to loose money and as a back lash have to increase their prices for advertisement, which is doing nothing good but only making less companies use print media. ( The example I used for this is at the last article at the bottom of the blog) 3. Technology - People do not need to leave their house or office to find out instant news. With todays technology such as the computer, iPad, Facebook, twitter, phones etc. People can easily find out what ever they want and with little trouble. Many thing people do iowa days such as communicate, apply for work etc is made much easier allowing people to broaden their communication. Another problem facing print media and journalist is that with all this new technology which anyone can access, it is allowing anybody to write up news and not be a professional writer for a company. Millions of random every day people can post their own news and pictures on such web sites as twitter which is then viewed by millions.
