Tetrad of Media (Critical reflection1)

Using McLuhan's "Tetrad of Media" (see diagram above), choose a medium or media application or tool (e.g. newspaper, books, radio, tv, film, internet, computer games, handphone, instant messaging, blogging, online advertising, youtube, facebook etc.) and explain its media effects? Please refer to Week 9's lecture notes plus your own research to discuss this topic.

After I done my research based on this week notes and book entitled “Mobile as 7th Mass Media, I had chosen the mobile phone to explain its effects on society using the “Tetrad of Media” theory by McLuhan.

(The Mobile phone Of Yesterday-Today)

There are four laws in the tetrad of media, which is phrased into questions.

1)What does it (the medium or technology) extend?

The mobile phone is the extension of audio and visual. A person voice can travel further and faster through a mobile phone. The mobile phone is also a medium for music, games, pictures, messaging, and even internet.

2)What does it make obsolete?

"The phone makes smoke signals and carrier pigeons unnecessary” (from notes). The mobile phone makes the wristwatch and alarm clock obsolete. People no longer need them because a mobile phone has functions that can be use to tell us the exact time and to set an alarm. The mobile phone also makes the landline phone outdated due to the inconvenience. Mobile phone is too convenient as it can be carried and used in almost any place around the world.

3)What is retrieved?

Mobile phone retrieves a sense of community because different parties can get in touch easily with one another. The users can respond, initiate and maintain a conversation between family, friends and colleagues.

4)What does the technology reverse into if it is over extended?

The over-extension of mobile phone reverses people into the longing of isolation.