Digital World of Cellular essays

Digital World of Cellular essays Cell phones have been around for nearly 15 years and are now everywhere you look. Over a quarter of Americans and a half of Europeans own cell phones and the numbers have been increasing exponentially. With the continuing increase in technology cell phones have become smaller, cheaper, and thanks to the move from analog to digital the calls are much clearer. They offer a great amount of convenience, and can be very economically for the busy businessman on the go. Advancements in cell phones are always being made, giving a clearer sound and lighter feel, as well as a longer life. The cell phone industry has been one of the fastest growing in the world. The electronics are fairly simple, but they are so small that they are truly and engineering marvel. This paper will discuss in depth the many different components of the average cell phone, and talk about how it converts your voice into something that can be sent through a digital network. The paper will also look at how the inner workings allow for a phone to act as a microcomputer, with Internet access, address books, and even games. Finally, it will review the many exciting ideas for this growing market and look to the future of the industry, and how the industry plans on overcoming various limiting factors. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, 18 years later Guglielmo Marconi created the first radio. It was only natural that these two great technologies would eventually be combined to create the cellular craze. In the 80's few people used radiophones, these phones were the precursor to cellular, but they had several limiting factors preventing them from every becoming a major part of everyday society. In the radio telephone system, there was one central antenna tower per major city, and no more than 25 channels available on that tower. Each phone needed a powerful transmitter, big enough to transmit 40 or 50 miles. It also meant that not many peo...

Childhood obesity and advertising

Childhood obesity and advertising Introduction Obesity in children has become a major concern in most parts of the world. This escalation in the rate at which the young generation is being affected by the scourge has prompted the urge of answering questions concerning the causes of obesity and its possible preventive measures.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Childhood obesity and advertising specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More While this is the case, some theorists and experts believe that there exists a relationship between obesity and junk food, which is widely advertised through the media. This essay explores the relationship between obesity in children and marketing of junk food. Child obesity Before discussing the relationship between child obesity and marketing of junk food through the media, it is paramount to understand the meaning of obesity and some of its effects in human beings, especially in children. In its simplicity, obesity refers to a case where one has excess body fat. Although there is no conventional definition of child obesity, many nutritionists base their definition on body mass index, commonly denoted as BMI (CDC 2012). In other cases, child obesity is described as body weight that is higher than the normal weight of a child with the same height by at least 20%. Unlike in previous years when cases of obesity were rare, it has become one of the most common health complications affecting young people in America and several First World countries. According to the American Obesity Association, approximately fifteen percent of adolescents and children in the United States are obese, with the number expected to rise (American Psychological Association 2012). Why should the world be bothered with child obesity? The truth of the matter is that obesity has a wide range of effects, which make it a global health threat. Obesity exposes victims to health, social and emotional problems, which may haunt them throughout their lives (CDC 2012). Additionally, obese children have a higher likelihood of developing obesity when they advance into adulthood. This exposes them to severe and fatal health complications like heart attack, diabetes and high blood pressure. In this line of thought, there are several factors, which are believed to cause child obesity in the world today.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They include genetic, dietary habits, socioeconomic factors and lack of exercises (American Psychological Association 2012). On the other hand, marketing of junk food has been associated with the rising cases of child obesity in America and around the world. The following segment explains this relationship between media ads and dietary habits in children. Childhood obesity and advertising Due to the advancement in technology, 21st century children are exposed to a wide range of media and are known to spend a lot of time in front of television sets, computers and video game screens. According to the American Psychological Association, there is a direct connection between junk food adverts and increasing levels of obesity among children (American Psychological Association 2012). This is based on the fact that young children, who have become active media customers, do not have the ability to draw a line between advertising and programming (Lovelock, Patterson Wirtz 2011). Additionally, children below the age of eight years do not understand why junk food companies make adverts with a persuasive intention. As a result, many psychologists argue that junk food adverts, which target children within such vulnerable age groups is exploitative. Unlike adults, children are known to have extraordinary ability to remember media content, which they feed on (Are Commercials Making You a Junk-Food Freak 2010). Notably, it has been found that children gain specific product pre ference with even a single advert, and this increases when repetitive ads are displayed by the media. Consequently, the preferences affect tastes among children and their requests to parents, which end up influencing their budget decisions (Lovelock, Patterson Wirtz 2011). Unlike adults who are bombarded with an array of ads ranging from clothing to cars, children are always exposed to high concentration of junk food ads. According to research, 32% of junk adverts usually carry candy foods, 31% cereals and 9% fast food content (Caroli et al. 2004). Although it might sound unrealistic to some people, researchers have found out that up to eleven food adverts can be aired in one hour especially during weekend morning shows on television, when most children are at home. These results imply that a child in such environment is exposed to one junk food advert in every five minutes of his or her TV watching (Lovelock, Patterson Wirtz 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Childhood obesity and advertising specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One common feature in most junk stuffs advertised is the insufficiency of body nutrients. Although initial foodstuffs had high levels of sugar, these have been replaced with snack foods, which are known to have high-fat content. While most of the researches done on the impact of junk ads on children are rarely made public, it has clearly been proven that TV adverts affect purchase preferences for most children around the world (Lovelock, Patterson Wirtz 2011). Amazingly, fast food companies spent unbelievable amount of money on junk adverts, which strictly target children within the vulnerable age bracket. Many marketing executives believe that children under the age of twelve years can spend $35 billion of their cash and influence over $200 billion of household expenditure. In essence, marketers believe that the current generation is a huge consumer group, which c an draw the attention of any business-oriented person as a target market. As a result, children and young adults spend a lot of their money and influence people around them, including parents, siblings and friends to spend on junk products (Caroli et al. 2004). Although parents may have their influence, it has been found that junk ads have boosted the ability of kids to convince their parents and influence their purchase patterns. In addition, the time spent by children watching television is usually proportional to their influence and the frequency of requesting for junk foods from parents (Are Commercials Making You a Junk-Food Freak 2010). This implies that the amount of commercial ads, which a child is exposed to, is principal in influencing their feeding and preference trends. Importantly, requests made by children while moving around in a supermarket with parents or siblings have a higher likelihood of influencing purchases made than those made elsewhere (Lovelock, Patterson Wirtz 2011). In some cases, children who are as young as three years old get influenced by TV adverts through their parents’ decisions. Parents with such young children expose their children to high-caloric products, which are commonly advertised on television. In some experiments with different sets of foods such as junk and fruits, children preferred those foods, which they were frequently exposed to (Lovelock, Patterson Wirtz 2011).Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is to say that those who get exposed to balanced meals end up adopting proper eating habits. Moreover, marketers tend to embed junk commercials with images of items mostly preferred by children. For example, common junk ads carry famous cartoons to win the attention of children and influence their choice of food. In the context of junk foods and commercials, it is essential to analyze how media personalities, celebrities and role models influence the eating habits of many children in the world. In recent studies, it has been found that there is a steady increase in the number of junk ads, which are being done by TV and movie characters. As a result, most fast food outlets concentrate on ads that carry public personalities, which are highly recognized by young children (Lovelock, Patterson Wirtz 2011). To further the attention of children and parents, McDonald’s has partnered with Disney to allow the use of Disney toys in marketing its Happy Meals. Another way through wh ich adverts promote poor eating habits and childhood obesity is through media presentation of body images. In most cases, televisions, movies and magazines have preferred thinner bodies as compared to natural and healthy body images, a trend that has been known to influence children and young adults. This negative representation causes children to ignore healthy eating, especially when thin and celebrated characters feature adverts (Lovelock, Patterson Wirtz 2011). This analogy concurs with research findings, linking poor eating disorders to media ads. As a matter of fact, the influence occurs since children receive contradicting dietary messages, regarding healthy eating and the definition of an ideal body image in the world today. From such ads, the impression generated is the desire for a thinner body, coupled with fatty, sugary and salty foodstuffs, which are significantly blamed for rising cases of obesity (Caroli et al. 2004). From this analysis, it is evident that marketing of junk food contributes to increasing cases of child obesity in the world today. Coupled with massive usage of digital media, children spent a lot of their time watching TV shows, which are flooded with junk food commercials (Lovelock, Patterson Wirtz 2011). It therefore presents a complex problem in finding a solution, which may involve law makers, junk food manufactures, media owners and parents. References American Psychological Association 2012, The Impact of food advertising on Childhood obesity https://www.apa.org/topics/kids-media/food. Are Commercials Making You a Junk-Food Freak? 2010, Scholastic Scope, vol. 59 no. 7, pp. 14-15. Caroli, M, Argentieri, L, Cardone, M Masi, A 2004, Role of television in childhood obesity prevention, International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, vol. 28 no. 1, pp. 104-108. CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2012, https://www.cdc.gov/. Lovelock, H, Patterson, P Wirtz, J 2011, Services marketing: an Asia Pacific and Australian perspective, Pearson Australia, Frenchs Forest, NSW.

Impact of Media Globalisation on National Identity Essay

Impact of Media Globalisation on National Identity - Essay Example The Chinese economy has been selected because of the increasing number of foreign companies in China. Moreover, since the Chinese government has been very rigid in its foreign media policies, therefore, this essay will be also helpful to understand the major threats which Chinese government has from media globalization and because of which the government has remained rigid and strict. The electronic media and communication network includes the various forms of a telecommunication network, internet, radio, television and film and the rate of expansion of media has been exceptional (Siochru, 2004). Actually, the development of media and communication is brought by the development and innovations in technology. It is also believed that because of the rapid technological developments, there is a potential for further development in media and communications. By describing the merger of Time-Warner with AOL Sinclair argues that merging of cable, internet and satellite services has the potential to increase in future with the developments in technology such as digital television. Media is considered very important because it directly influences the consumer behavior, culture, living style and attitude. Jan (2009) argues that media are fundamental to the provision of cultural or symbolic assets worldwide and it is central to the use of cultural or symbolic power. The increasing globalization of media is usually associated with the national identity and culture. National identity is a shared sentiment which is based on the credence of belonging to a nation which shares a set of common attributes that differentiate it from the other nations (Berdun, 2007, pp.11).