Radio Technology Improvements - Essay Example

College: Industrial Revolution (radio) Introduction The origin, history, diffusion and development of radio are as fascinating as the gadget itself (Bellis, 2010; 1). The Radio technology is actually a result of scores of diverse breakthrough and developments in the technological industry. The primary account of radio as a means of communication is actually the history of technology which did generate radio device that utilizes radio waves. In the period of the device, a lot of personalities contributed hypothesis in addition to inventions in what eventually became radio. Essentially, radio advancement began as "wireless telegraphy" (Bellis, 2010; 1). Soon after radio history ever more entails issues of programming as well as content (Crisell, 2002; 15). Later on, in around 1895, an Italian discoverer, Guglielmo Marconi, did attest the viability of radio as a means of communication. In point of fact he launched and received radio indicator in Italy in the year (Bellis, 2010; 5). However, according to Crisell (2002; 15) in 1894 Sir Oliver Lodge did use wireless waves to send signals in Morse code, an act which made him the inventor of wireless telegraphy and three years subsequent to that he demonstrated effectively how a radio receiver could possibly 'tune' to a particular transmitting station (Crisell, 2002; 23). Besides Marconi, his two colleagues, Nikola Tesla and Nathan Stufflefield won out copyrights for radiotelegraph (History of Radio, 2010; 3). The subsequent landmark in the course and route of radio improvement was attained by Lee Deforest (History of Radio, 2010; 4). Economic context of radio The increased demand for the different spectra of radio has enhanced the understanding of the uses and economic benefits of radio. It has led to the formation of a powerful industry which can be defined by the firms making the use of radio spectrum to provide radio services and the companies which manufacture the equipment and offer service delivery. A good example is cellular radio services (Radio communications Agency, 2001; 8). The players involved are as follows; there are operators offering cellular radio services, companies owning antenna sites, service and software companies which provide the content and different capabilities of the system, radio receiver and transmitter equipment producers who provide infrastructure to the cellular operators, handset companies, wholesalers and retailers who deal with all the above goods and all the employees of the above companies and manufacturers. Considering all these goods and services (employment opportunities) involved, we can see how radio impacts on the economy of each society where it is embraced. Radio offer support services to businesses through advertisement of both new and old products, product change and improvement, among other services which increase the profitability of the specific companies. In calculating the total benefits of the radio industry, we consider all the benefits it gives to the service provides including and not limited to Public Mobile, Broadcasting, Satellite Links, Fixed Links, Private Mobile Radio and the subsequent benefits it confers to the tax payers and customer benefits. Radio in cultural context Since the invention of radio, it did not attain its peak till 1930s. During this time, gathering around a radio in the evening was an ordinary phenomenon by the American citizens as it is watching television today. Many people from different classes and geographical areas tuned their radios to listen to news and other forms of entertainment. Baseball game broadcast was listened to widely and different comedies, variety shows, political addresses, live music programs among other entertainment ventures. The radio was an important link between the people and their ruling class as it was used by leaders to speak directly to their people. Radio united different people in a collective identity in real time; here and know. As well known, radio could spread cultures to different parts the world easily. It has led to a complete turn over of culture as it served to enrich different cultures and also some cultural practices were phased out due to the used of radio. For example due to continued listening of radio, it has led to the evolution of cultural eras like "the jazz age". It is through radio technology where Cultural Revolution can be bred and spread. Gender and racial movements benefit from radio greatly in spreading their ideas. Radio in its Political context Due to the expensive nature of the radio transmitters unlike the receivers, resources of setting them up came to be acquired from governments. The ownership of the transmitting stations gave the governments and individuals the power to control opinions of the mass and spread national agendas. Radio campaigns are nowadays a way of life embraced by all politicians. Politicians commit a sizeable amount of money to placing of advertisements in radio stations to improve their popularity. It would have been harder for politicians intending to reach masses; like 300 million people, to reach all these people without the use of mass media communication like the radio. Radio is also used by political governments to harmonize their key branches. It is through radio communication political leaders can communicate to their armies deep in oceans or war fields. In the year 1919, the government of the U.S. released its full control and consequently a control body (Radio Corporation of America) was formed. The U.S politically regarded telegraphy and telephony to be endowed with immense significance (Crisell, 2002; 15). As a consequence, for instance in the World War I period they disallowed the use of radio since their perceived enemy would use them to their demerit. Telegraphy and telephony had strategic and military gains which Crisell says were just too obvious even in Britain particularly in the World War I period. However, Crisell says that even the then secret communication they were using could actually pose threat to the state security and by extension to the morality of the public. Radio in its Social context The ability to influence, confuse, teach and persuade audiences en masse has become one of the most obvious uses of the radio technology. In schools, radio is used to broadcast lessons and plays for educational purposes. The use of radio enables uniformity in content delivery to all the students of a particular society or nation. The announcements of educational events like schools opening days, results from national exams are all necessitated by the availability of radio. Radio also impacts negatively on the social welfare of its listeners. Children listed to commercials encouraging eating of junk food which affects their habits leading to obesity. Violence in some radio programs also affects how some kids think and act impacting on their social behaviors. On the other hand, radios can aid in communication important social meetings, find lost friends and family members and advertise for important events like sports day, results of previous matches among other uses. Radio simply joins all ages and social classes together. Since the development of the concepts of internet radio governments more recently have developed fears concerning the seditious and immoral possibilities which comes with it (Crisell, 2002; 16). On that note, there is establishment of Regulatory of Investigatory Powers Act of 2000 which permits the police as well as other security forces to monitor the operations as well as activities of the web-sites and even the internet electronic mail Crisell notes further. Another problem with broadcast (wireless) communication which pointed to its earlier rejection and subsequent preference accorded to Post Office is that it does afford privacy to none unlike point-to-point (wired) communication which offers privacy both to those entitled to it and those not (Crisell, 2002; 16). In conclusion, a technology like the radio can not be spread uniformly. This phenomenon leads to technological divide between those who can embrace it and those who can not, which is basically highlighted by economic power. Poor people and nations lacking the resources to keep up and advance the radio technology tend to lag behind creating a rift in the economical, social and political, cultural and political context. All in all radio just like any other invention have experienced obstacles in its development up to date. Human being is always timid to change and that is why after World War II, the UK government were slow to fully permit radio broadcast. However, the development was gradual and finally to date it has yielded one of the most entertaining instruments to mankind, thanks to the genius minds of the likes of James Clerk Maxwell. What the society need is a fully regulated radio industry, which safeguards the rights of the individuals and the moral rights of the society. Annotated Bibliography Crisell, A 2002, An introductory history of British broadcasting 2nd Ed, Routledge. An Introductory History of British Broadcasting is a short and snappy and yet accessible history of both the British radio and TV. It commences with the origin of radio from wireless telegraph up to when radio gained full control of the entire media fraternity. It provides very well the pioneers of radio beginning in England and spreading all the way to Europe and eventually to the whole world. It gives the commercial use of media radio in particular and further how some of its pioneer for that use like the mentioned Italian Marconi (Crisell 2002; 15) started to use it. It further offers information on broadcast media in the United States as well as in the United Kingdom. Hendy, D 2000, Radio in the Global Age, Polity press. Radio in the Global Age is a book written by David Hendy. The book provides a new, up-to-date, as well as wide-ranging overture to there possibility and duty of radio in the modern society. It puts radio in the context of the globe and further pays due attention to the force of developments like the Internet, digitalization and even globalization particularly the contribution of radio to globalization via such channels as BBC. Additionally, it does provide a fresh emphasis on the associations between songs and radio, the effect of formatting as well as the larger cultural functions the radio plays in erecting identities and by extension fostering musical tastes. Mary, B 2010, The Invention of Radio, About.com Guide. The Invention of Radio a historical article published by Mary Bellis provides a clear and concise narration into the idea on how radio was first conceived by one James Clerk Maxwell way back in 1864 (Bellis, 2010; 3). It unfolds the development of radio from wireless telegraph to Lee Deforest development of amplitude modulated (AM) radio (Bellis, 2010; 12). It also mentions the timely and significant contribution of the likes of Nikola Tesla, Guqlielmo Marconi, Heinrich Rudolph Hertz and Mahlon Looms. It generally provide for the roots of radio and the eventual growth and establishment of stations and programmes. Ayres, RU 2007, The next industrial revolution: reviving industry through innovation, Ballinger Pub. Co. This is a book which offers the history of the origin and subsequent development or growth of radio. In the book, the long journey of radio establishment began with the discovery or radio waves (electromagnetic waves) back in the 1860s by a Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell (History of radio, 2). It goes further to hint how the Italian, Guglielmo Marconi used the technology to received the letter "S" via radio signals. Further, it shows how Edwin Howard Armstrong in the year 1933 came up with the more efficient and most popular frequency modulation (FM) radio. Asa, B 1995, The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom: The birth of broadcasting, Volume 1 of The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom, Volume 1 of History of Broadcasting in the U. K. Vol. I, Oxford University Press. The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom: The birth of broadcasting is a historical book written by Briggs Asa. In the book, Briggs elaborately provides how radio technology came to use since its inception and more importantly, the introduction of amateurs and professionals (Briggs, 1995; 46). It states the formation and inception of the Britain based BBC in 1922 and when eventually the government acquired it after World War II (Briggs, 1995; 83). It also give clear chronological development of radio in UK, the initial frustrations the media got before finally they were allowed to operate and how the Sykes committee shaped the radio use (Briggs, 1995; 133-157). Paddy, S 1996, Radio, television, and modern life: a phenomenological approach, Wiley-Blackwell. Radio, television, and modern life: a phenomenological approach is a book written by Scannell and it sheds fresh light on the types and grounds of the unrestrained experience. It actually challenges the hypothetical stands of Marxist and the political-economy radio. Scannell does explore the structure of commitment of the listener and even viewer for TV with the newscaster by scrutinizing the outgoing intentions of the presenter and the thoughtful by the listeners of those intents. The book clearly makes a significant input to media reading in demonstrating to students how the record of the radio medium can be augmented by the theory of communications. References Asa, B 1995, The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom: The birth of broadcasting, Volume 1 of The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom, Volume 1 of History of Broadcasting in the U. K. Vol. I, Oxford University Press. Ayres, RU 2007, The next industrial revolution: reviving industry through innovation, Ballinger Pub. Co. Crisell, A 2002, An introductory history of British broadcasting 2nd Ed, Routledge. Hendy, D 2000, Radio in the Global Age, Polity press. Mary, B 2010, The Invention of Radio, About.com Guide. McCannon, JM 2008, Barron's AP World History, Barron's Educational Series. Paddy, S 1996, Radio, television, and modern life: a phenomenological approach, Wiley-Blackwell. Radio communications Agency 2002, Economic impacts of the Radio, A Study Produced by The Radiocommunications Agency February 2002. Retrieved from www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/topics/economic/economicisreport_final.pdf Stearns, PN 2007, The industrial revolution in world history, Westview Press. Wilson, MA 1960, American science and invention, a pictorial history: the fabulous story of how American dreamers, wizards, and inspired thinkers converted a wilderness into the wonder of the world, Bonanza Books. Read More