Blog #2: PC? TV? Both?

The PC, or personal computer, is one of the most significant technological advancements within the 20th to 21st century. As defined in the lecture, a computer is "an electronic machine that is capable of performing calculations on various types of information by using a stored set of instructions". The PC advanced further with this, advancing into households to be used in the home rather than completely for business. While the modern PC is composed of multiple complex parts, it is primarily based on two basic components: hardware and software. In a short summary of its processes found in the lecture, the set instructions found in the software dictate how the hardware uses the data. This data is then moved in electrical currents to different parts of the motherboard, performing the functions to run the computer.

PCs are an advanced technological device that have progressed into being able to conduct many different functions. They are used for work, emails, video games, social media, videos, etc. and are used by almost everyone today. Seen in a study conducted around multi-tasking and laptops, the majority of people today use PCs to multitask between different computer applications (Yeykelis, Cummings, & Reeves 2018). It was found that entertainment was the number one source of time spent on the computer. This means that more people are finding entertainment on PCs through online shows, movies, videos, etc. In return, this decreases the amount of time they spend on TV. PCs are now able to access a variety of different applications that draw people to use them as it is all located in one place. Therefore, affecting the attitude and usage people have towards other technological devices, like TVs, that do not have as many functions available.

PCs are evolving into laptops, tablets, and smartphones, each being able to do a multitude of things that used to require a device for each task. I use my laptop on a daily basis and I cannot see myself surviving today without one. The world is continuing to develop new ways to combine more information into smaller devices. So will TV and PC merge? I say yes, because I already receive much of my entertainment online and I rarely watch TV, instead connecting my laptop via HDMI. However, we will see the technological advancements the future holds.

Yeykelis, L., Cummings, J. J., & Reeves, B. (2018). The Fragmentation of Work, Entertainment, E-Mail and News on a Personal Computer: Motivational Predictors of Switching Between Media Content. Media Psychology, 21(3), 377-402.