The Entertainment Shift: From Television Sets to Smart Phones
Television sets was a rage across the world in the last half century. People went crazy when they realized videos can be viewed from across borders to any part of the world, satellites became the focal point of scientific development in technology. And so countries started developing in the field, the channels increased and so did the entertainment industry, movies, serials and documentaries became a favorite source of entertainment and knowledge. When the world went through the world wars, television provided media a direct method to connect and forecast; it saved lives time and again. It was the source of Entertainment in the times of hardships, terrorist attacks and bans. Then internet and computer came into the picture, the size reduced from mega room full of wires and system boxes to ultra thin screen in the corner of the table.
Today, people all over the world have shifted their attention to internet and smart phones. The sets are manufactured cheap; they are easily carried around while travelling and make for a companion when no one is there. It is not only a source of getting information and news, it connects the owner with the world, provides more entertainment than a television set with shows online and social networking. Whether looking for old bollywood songs or high resolution wallpaper all is available for free mostly on innumerable websites which provide everything from products like food to services like friends online. The television has taken a backdrop while smart phones, laptops and tablets have become a necessity for all. It is educational medium with all the knowledge banks uploading information online.
Gone are the days when people used to buy the movie video tapes in black and play it on their television via VCRs hiding from authorities that banned entertainment in Middle East countries in the name of true religion. The world has come far, now people like them get a platform to upload videos themselves, communicate with the world outside, they get a medium to record the exploitation of their basic human rights. It is a multiple purpose medium with possibilities that widen their reach each day. Televisions will always be a cherished memory, part of the stories in few years, computers and television sets have come together to combine the functions into one. Who knows soon it might be that screen will be replaced with visuals without a need for screens, technology is ever changing and developing continuously, moving beyond the expectation of a common individual.