Family Versus Personal Viewing

We have made technological invention and innovation which we can be proud about. And its like an ocean and I cannot finish if I start talking about them. I want to specifically concentrate on few entertainment technologies. Cinemas helped bring family and friends together, make new friends. I do not say cinema was the only medium, but it was a good medium. Remember those vacuum tube radios and large LP players that would send melody bites to the ears of the whole family. Came TV, which also brought the family and occasionally extended family and friends together. It's so much fun to watch a movie or a sport along with your near and dear ones. This trend has continued, but I am afraid its in decline. While these mediums are still available, but there are also newer ones which encourages the private viewing to social.

I am talking about the Walkman culture, PC culture, mobile culture, internet culture, laptop, iPOD, and now iPAD culture. These devices by nature are private. These are meant for one to one interaction between us and the device. But I also strongly believe that they are necessary in our lives. However, we have started using them replacing social devices like cinemas, radio and TV. Even at homes we listen to our music on iPOD. We see movies and other social content on PC / laptop. We have started spending more and more time with this devices, lessening the time we need to bond with our family. The content we watch is actually very appropriate for social viewing. However the nature of the device is private.

I use PC and internet for entertainment. I watch movies on laptop. I listen to music on PC or on iPOD.   All these while being at home. Is there a necessity to do this? Yes and No. Yes, because I do not have an alternative, today's technology still does not allow to make it social (atleast easily). No because. I would love to watch the video and music and movie with my family.

What we need is some additional innovation in technology but also a... [continues]

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