Sixth Topic : Tetrad of Media

Using McLuhan's "Tetrad of Media", 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.

Critical Reflection : McLuhan's Theory
[By referring to the "Tetrad of Media"]...
Windows Live Messenger which is an instant messaging client enhances communication between one another at a higher speed. Via this medium, we are able to not only chatter but also playing simple games, seeing each other's faces, and also calling one another by clicking on the "call a contact" or "video call" buttons.
This application is so reliable that it actually obsolesces normal phone calls, letter writing and also mobile phone text messaging, since it is free and user-friendly. Therefore, since it was released in 2005, people started depending on it as the main communicating client and it has nearly replaced the usage of letter and also phone call.
The good thing about this instant messaging client is that it has retrieved the practice of note writing and passing during old times. During sometime ago, we all used to passing note to chat with one another and it seems to be one of the entertainment. Nowadays, this application enables us to continue this sort of entertainment, only that we are using keyboard and mouse instead of pen on a trashed paper. As an addition, we can even insert pictures to make the whole conversation to be more colorful.
However, when we are way too much obsessed to this application, everything will be reversed into a wastage of time. Some people tend to forget to focus on other more important issues when they utilize this service excessively. This is definitely going to affect the daily works and it doesn't seem like a good thing to me.

Personal Reflection on the Class
For this week, we were shown the interpretation on the topic of "The Extensions of Man". In the class, lecturer briefed us about the McLuhan's concept on this very well known term- Media.
Throughout the class, we learned about the Hot and Cool Media that day, and of course the tetrad of media as well. However, this chapter seems to be kind of complicated to me, so I think I shall need to revise on it soon.