Rhymes of History Technology

Digital imaging for consumer grade still and video cameras has progressed quite aggressively over the last decade or so.  With this advancement, the devices continuously became smaller, a great deal cheaper, and much more advanced as far as storage and capabilities.  Evolving technologies are somewhat predictable in that new developments tend to rekindle something from the distant past (Laureate, 2009).  In the case of digital camera imaging, there is a flashback to distant and even more recent times.  With digital imaging, the camera owner instantly gets an image to view which delivers the opportunity to pick and choose images to keep or delete.  This gives instant opportunities for people to share stories with visuals.  It reminds me of the days of the Polaroid instant picture camera and even goes much further back resembling the initial use of utensils for creating imaging on cave walls.  Instant access to images certainly can help convey information about an event and create more excitement and better understandings.  This is nice for now most everyone has access to a device they can instantly grab images from in order to spread the news.  Personal or public electronic news gathering (ENG) can be accomplished by just about anyone and mainstreamed to others easily, including television stations.  Where does the realm of the digital camera go from here?  Check out the short video below about the New iPad and the improved camera features below.

In late 2007, Kevin Kelly spoke of how the Web would be transformed into in the next 5,000 days (currently more like 3,500).  He mentions three different ways the Web and other technologies will be transformed.  First, he speaks of embodiment, then restructuring, and then co-dependence (TED, 2007).  These can be applied to the realm of the consumer-grade digital camera of today.  Currently, mobile devices like smartphones and iPad series tablets are carrying two multi-purpose digital cameras for Skype and recording still and video imaging.  Consumers have barely scratched the surface of how and more importantly what to use these cameras for.  Because of this, it seems we have yet to quite complete the embodiment phase Kelly speaks of.  News gathering is good, but quality field production would be difficult to accomplish using these devices.  Will these cameras be of any value in the educational sectors of our society for anything other than news gathering?  Restructuring of mobile devices may include relatively the same digital camera technologies, but also some video stabilization and even a place to attach a tri-pod.  Innovative improvements in production values make for better quality presentations.  Eventually, a co-dependence should evolve to where people will consider their mobile cameras as necessity for their private lives, school, and work.  Similar to what Kelly expressed about us all becoming much more personal to the Web and actually being a part of it (TED, 2007), so to should digital cameras on Internet accessible mobile devices.  It by then looks as if these cameras we carry will be more of a constant for more significant productions as well as a common extension of our perceptions of prior events.         

References

Laureate Education, Inc., (Executive Producer). (2009). Rhymes of history [Video webcast]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_967488_1%26url%3D

TED. (Producer). (2007). Kevin Kelly on the next 5,000 days of the Web [Video webcast]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html