Compare and Contrast Essay
The mass media, which include the printing press, the television and the internet has been able to undergo a tremendous transformation in its enhancement of the visual communication. There are various similarities, as well as several differences between the development of the printing press, the television as well as the computer, especially towards the visual communication.
There are many similarities between the three in the process of development, to enhance the visual communication. In the printing press, there is clear writing which makes it very helpful and easy for the audience to see. The pictures are well placed and usually have to show the original information, either lightly or in detail. In the television and the computer, there is the use of oral language as well as pictures and videos which show the primary information (Berghegger, par 5).
The printing press has evolved from the simple machines, in the year 1440, by Johannes Gutenberg, with the quest to share knowledge, and wisdom. The computer was also able to evolve and develop through various programmable patterns by the year 1960, using the automated loom. The printing press also changed from the simple movable machines to through the typewriter machine, the early telegraph, the current photocopiers, and the most sophisticated printers and scanners, which enhance the visual communication (Cooper, par 2 & 3).
The printing press has been able to improve the visual communication by cutting down the cost of books written by hand. The computer and the television have also had a lot of impact on the communication. They have been able to deliver quality images and even news, which would otherwise be hard to obtain. The paintings press, the television, and the computer have moved from the display of the white and black images to the current colored and high-quality images (Monda, par 3).
The three forms of communication present a lot of similarities in the way they convey their messages. The three have a similarity in that they give the words, creating no point of indifference. There has been a fast growth of all the three which has enabled them to provide adequate, reliable and unbiased information based on the demand of their clients. The technological advancement in the mass media and communication sector has been a significant achievement for all segments because the three provide the information, which is mostly based on the nature of their client’s demands. The press has been able to transform its activities from the hand written books, to the present printed and scanned books. The television has also been able to be turned from the simple early machines to the digital television sets, whose activities can be diversified.
Differences
There are however many differences between the development of the printing press, the television, and the computer, towards the enhancement of the visual communication. The printing press is usually impeded by the fact that it does not present audio information. Although it has been able to move from the core and simple technologies to the modern magazines, newspapers, journals, and even books, human being are more satisfied when they watch and still listen ( Monica, par 5).
The printing press is also disadvantaged by the fact that it cannot compete fully with the television and the computer in the deliverance of information. In most cases, the printing press takes a lot of time to deliver a particular piece of information, while the television and the computer are instant (Lee p4). Another difference that occurs between the printing press, the television, and the computer is that there is a difference between the visual communication ideologies. In the television and the computer, the information presented is usually based on the entrainment and mostly might be informal. The printing press is designed to pass knowledge and information of importance, on which learners do not need to rely on the tutors for education (Marshall, par 6).
Works Cited
Berghegger, Scott, “The Great War: The Similarities and Differences of Print and Television Media”, 2009, VOL. 1 NO. 11 (http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/39/the-great-war-the-similarities-and-differences-of-print-and-television-media)
Cooper, Stephen B., “The Relationship Between the Printing Press & the Internet”, Demand Media, The Web. 29th April 2016 (http://smallbusiness.chron.com/relationship-between-printing-press-internet-26566.html)
Lee, Thomas T., “History and development of Mass Communication”, Journalism and Mass Communication, Vol. 1 (http://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/c04/e6-33-02-01.pdf)
Marshall, T. Poe, “15.1 Technological Advances: From the Printing Press to the iPhone”, (http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/a-primer-on-communication-studies/s15-01-technological-advances-from-th.html)
Monda, Kaitlin, “internet v printing press”, October 18, 2009, Art 85. Web 29th April 2016 (https://art85kmonda.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/internet-v-printing-press/)
Monica, Santa, “The Information Age and the Printing Press: Looking Backward to See Ahead”, (http://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P8014/index2.html)
