Subject: Re: Forward into the 19th Century
From: Jason Smalridge (inadaze@mac.com)
Date: Thu Oct 21 2004 - 11:48:55 EDT
I agree.
I look around my room here and see a midi keyboard that plugs into my
computer so that I can have access to "analog" synths. A digital
camera that works with the same principles as my old analog one(except
for an LCD screen of course). A guitar amp that is a reissue of a tube
amp (When I bought it, they were emphasizing the fact that it actually
had tubes in it. It was actually more expensive then the only
transistor amps).
I think that technology doesn't have to change to be better. Some past
technologies were actually better then newer "advancements". Correct
me if I am wrong but doesn't the vinyl records produce better sound
quality then electric tapes and CD (when I say quality I mean frequency
range).
Either way, I know that my phone doesn't have a "normal" ring, only
stupid songs, and I keep it on vibrate all the time. I think the
novelty of technology tends to wear off fast and then we realize, "hey,
what we had before was actually a lot better. Let's go back a step."
Jay
On 21-Oct-04, at 11:32 AM, chri_gal@alcor.concordia.ca wrote:
> I've noticed three times in the past week now, phones (usually
> expensive
> flashy digital ones) which have a ring which mimics the old style
> analog bell sound, except of course produced digitally, which makes it
> sound
> dull and processed. This morning I was talking to a receptionist here
> at
> Concordia and her phone rang with the analog style ring. After she
> was off
> i asked her about it, and she said it was one of the custom settings
> she can
> choose on the phone. I asked her if she liked it better, and she said
> she
> still hates the sound of phones ringing (as most receptionists
> probably do),
> but it was the best option available. I find it very interesting that
> we've
> gotten to the point where we use our new technology to re-create
> out-dated
> technology, and just as interesting that given the choice people seem
> to
> prefer sensations which connect back to the old technology. I thought
> back
> to the section in Shafer's "Tuning Of The World" where he foretold
> that one
> day people would be able to choose custom rings which could play songs
> and
> such, which has obviously come to pass. I wonder though if he ever
> imagined
> that we'd get to the point where given the choice people would simply
> select
> the type of ring which already existed then.
>
> Any thoughts or comments?
>
> and ever...
>
> - chris galanis
>
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