Sample essay 2

New Media Technologies «(Grade A sample essay answer)



What benefits to audiences do digital technologies appear to offer?



Digital technologies can offer a number of benefits to audiences; the type of benefit will depend upon the technology used. In recent years developments have meant that there are a number of new medic technologies available to the public, all have benefits but most if not all have negative points as well. In order to answer the question I will examine a number of technologies and discuss their advantages and disadvantages to the public/user.



A detailed paragraph that explains exactly what the candidate is going to do, it also mentions the fact that there are disadvantages as well as advantages.



Firstly the Internet; the Internet is a system by which computers are linked globally allowing users to access information from sources hithero unreachable to them. The format that this is most commonly known as is the World Wide Web (WWW) this presents sites in a format that is visually pleasing and user friendly, this digital technology has allowed people with common interests to contact each other and form communities online. This could take the form of message boards for radio shows, as found on BBC radio sites or in newsgroup. This process has been helped by e-mail (electronic mail) which make it possible for an individual to send computer files across the globe quicker than any letter. This allow friends and families to communicate across. continents, it can also be used by businesses and has been used to send rushes from the latest Star Wars picture from Australia to the United States, this is due to the film being shot on Digital Cameras and has allowed the special effects team to remain in the us and rushes con be sent between locations.

The speed of the Internet also benefits individuals as it is possible to stay up to date via online news services, this is only one of the services provided by the Internet, others include online holidays, food shopping and banking all of which can be accessed from home, This is a benefit to the home user, however there are problems there may arise, as well as, a total lack of censorship which cart be seen as a real problem, there also the download speed. With a normal phone line and a 56K modem newer sites that use Flash can take a long time to download as can film trailers and music clips. There is on alternative - broadband however this is more expensive £25+ per month but it does mean that you are permanently connected and can download sites and files quicker. As broadband take up increases then the true potential of the Internet can be realised.
The candidate is extremely knowledgeable about the subject and is using up to date examples to illustrate points made. He also gives both the advantages and disadvantages that the Internet has.



Another technology that is closely linked to the Internet is MP3 (MPEG audio layer III), these ore compressed audio files that can be downloaded from the WWW or swapped via P2P sites (peer to peer file sharing sites) such 05 Lime wire or' gnutella These: P2P sites mean that users can swap music files with each other. This means that users can get free music from other people and then either download them onto an MP3 player such as on
i-pod or burn them onto a CD. There are advantages for the audience but disadvantages for the record companies as they receive no money and copyright is broken. However it is hard for them to track individuals as P2P sites have no central server and users cannot be traced. This is one digital technology that benefits the. Audience rather than institutions, it is also one technology that has been developed by individ1Jals rather then record companies, this in itself shows how audiences/users can develop user-friendly digital technologies,



Again the candidate is demonstrating a depth of knowledge and also showing how the technology affects both the audience and institutions. This paragraph also highlights how this technology has benefited the audience more than the industry, something that requires a sophisticated understanding of the topic.



A digital technology that has been institution drive-n is Digital Television, this does appear to offer the audience benefits as there is a wider choice of channels often broadcasting specialist programmes, for example MTV Base. focuses on R’n’"B music and serves a niche audience. As well as this, digital TV offers users interactive content and users can access selected web sites such as Domino Pizzas and Abbey National. There are however disadvantages, the choice of channels may be too great, the interactive content is limited. this is evident on Sky Sports football coverage. It offers alternative commentary and a 'player cam', though these may be used to begin with, the novelty and the limitations soon become clear and viewers will prefer to allow the ,editor/ director to make their choices for them. As well as this the Internet content is limited to sites approved by the. Provider. Finally the user must pay for this service and at £29+ it is expensive so the user has to pay for the benefits if they want them.



This paragraph details how an institution-driven technology tan appear to offer benefits to the audience but may not turnout to be so wonderful in practice.

Though there are disadvantages to new digital technologies, the benefits of some outweigh these for the majority of users. As well as the technologies discussed, consumers have benefited from mobile phones. DV cameras and games consoles, though these developments hove been in part institution-led, the user has still benefited and overall the benefits digital technologies offer outweigh the negatives.

Overall the candidate has shown himself to have a depth of knowledge about the subject and has used a number of suitable case studies to illustrate point. He has also balanced the arguments by using contrasting case studies and is able to evaluate the relative merits of a number of technologies in a sophisticated and concise manner.