Globalisation: taking it further

Globalisation: taking it further

1)

Google Glass was deemed controversial mainly for the infringements to privacy that it could potentially bring along. With the glasses having a built-in camera, filming the general public without their permission isn't that far-fetched of a concept. Not only this but the facial recognition software that the glasses feature, allowing them to identify specific individuals amongst crowds of people only amplify the concept of a techno-panic being associated with the device. From a technological determinism standpoint as well, the product can be considered controversial since it's likely that with its release people will become less engaged in conversations with one other with them being distracted by their glasses, just generally decreasing interactions between people.

2)

• It makes the world more accessible to those who many not have originally had to opportunity to understand it that well - 'information age'
• It offers increased opportunities and choice for people to receive empowerment from e.g. citizen journalism, jobs etc.
• It enhances the democratic process in that it allows people to express their own independent views

3)

• The benefits derived from it are provided sometimes by a single institution/corporation - not that welcoming for smaller companies who want to compete and be part of the global market
• The choice that we get from it comes at a cost in that it's provided by a limited number of companies who dominate the global market - 'top 5%'

4)

Techno-panic - moral panic that centres around fears regarding a specific contemporary technology

It links to moral panic as it in itself is a type of moral panic, just regarding modern technology with an example being the Google Glass where people are concerned about what the product could do to people's privacy.

5)

Personally, I feel that the privacy debate and concerns of major corporations being able to access large quantities of our personal data are things that are almost redundant now. Datamining is procedure that is now undoubtedly implemented by major corporations such as Google as a way of tracking things like our buying habits (targeted advertising algorithms) and even voting patterns. Privacy has essentially been thrown out at the window and everyone has digital footprint that they leave behind when they access all ranges of content on the internet. For this I feel like there isn't really a debate that can be had for the topic, and really it's something that we should all just is going on. 

Media Factsheet: Globalisation and capitalism

1) Marshall McLuhan coined the 'global village' phrase and companies that can display this are Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Nike.

2) Slavoj Zizek suggests that the media acts essentially as a mask for 'the way in which western institutions 'do business.'' This relates mainly to the exploitation that these business are generally responsible for with the way in which the producers of their products are mistreated. They usually tend to be in LDCs working in subpar working conditions with unreasonably low pay attached to it. Things like charity donations can work to conceal these truths.

3) 'Capitalism with a conscience' is the global media raising awareness about social issues while still sustaining Western capitalist dominance within marketing campaigns.

4) The (PRODUCT) RED campaign, founded in 2006, is one that engaged the private sector in raising awareness and funds to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

5) Personally I have more of a cynical outlook on the RED campaign. I believe that it's simply a scheme to make multinational companies look more caring and ethical towards global issues than they actually are. This can be seen especially through the fact that the firm has actually spent more on advertising than it has on donations to AID charities showing that it's something that mainly helps brand image as oppose to development/progress on a large-scale. The involvement of multinationals who have had bad reputations for their operations in other countries such as Apple, also works to suggest that perhaps RED is just something to make the brand image of firms better in the face of certain allegations.