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What will be the social and economic impact of these mind-boggling technologies? Right now, all members of the family sit together and enjoy a TV programme of their common liking-a serial a movie or a serious discussion. a news programme. The family can engage in a discussion of its own, in an elaboration or clarification. There is a certain camaraderie and warmth built by this close-knit joint family watching. But when the fibre-optic, holographic, high definition, VR technology becomes prevalent, each member of the family would like to create his or her own custom made programme. Or, they can order a pay-per-view programme. This will take away the close interactions among members of the family, essential for family cohesion.
Too much individualism makes the individual lonely. Communication depends on sharing-sharing love, and sharing through common concerns and group behaviour interdependence through interpersonal interactions, is the hallmark of social life.
The concept of family has already undergone a big change in high-technology-oriented societies. The individual reacts not only with others outside the family, but also with other members of the same family only very rarely when individualism becomes deep rooted. Almost everything which used to be done with the help of other human beings is now done through electronic. fibre optic digital systems where direct personal contact between and among individuals is almost absent. Everything can be realized individually. No need to go to the bank or the post office, not even to the food store or a place of worship! Food will be delivered on order through an interactive system connecting the individual with the supermarket or the restaurant.
The VR of a church, a temple or a mosque can be generated on one's own computer screen. One becomes a part of what goes on during the worship by projecting oneself artificially through the holographic technique. All the "experiences" you get through personal participation are obtained. You experience them: You 'see', 'hear' and 'experience' everything without moving one inch from your computer desk! Or a multimedia system can project whatever you see on the TV monitor to a larger screen. Even now, in crowded places of worship, devotees are provided close-circuit-television (CCTV) darshan. Milling crowds do not permit you to go closer to the deity. So you experience the darshan electronically.
The line between 'rear and 'artificial' will become almost obliterated. The real becomes 'virtually rear and the artificial becomes 'real'. Perhaps future studies will concentrate more on the social and economic effects of such communication rather than on its technological effect. .
Video-Cassette Recorder (VCR)
The device to record a TV programme or a mm on a cassette tape is also known as Video Tape recorder (VTR) It is not even fiftY years-since it came into existence. The Japanese were the first to develop it and reach it to all parts of the world on a commercial scale.
For some time since the availability of this device became easy, certain 'smart' people took the VCR to cinema halls and taped the mm that was appearing on the silver screen. This practice of 'pirating' films and selling them to those interested in private viewing was quite prevalent in the late 1970s and early 1980s especially the pirating of classic and Oscar-winning movies. There were also people who were interested only in taking the tapes of X-rated movies and nude live shows! (The 1970s were the decades of European. particularly Swedish, Danish and American movies, many of which were essays into forbidden territories and violations of the standard moral, sexual codes of behaviour .in conventional society).
The VCP and the VDP
In addition to VCRs, Video Cassette Players (VCPs) were also available. The VCPs, as the name indicates, could play a tape but not record a programme. Videodiscs (like audio discs) were available from the 1970s onwards. The videodiscs look like the gramophone discs. Today we have compact discs (CDs).
The Philips Company of the Netherlands was the first to bring out a disc set or video disc player (VDP) in 1976. Earlier discs played only for 30 minutes. The Matuski Electric Company of Japan developed a new video disc in 1977, each side of which could play for 30 minutes. Then they also developed a disc, one side of which could play for one hour. Now DVD players are used widely to see the CDs and DVDs.
The new generation has not only the TV, Cable TV, electronic cameras (which could take pictures even in the dark, of objects moving at high speeds), digital cameras that have built-in computerized systems. TV with 84" screens, video-games, video discs, e-mail and the Internet. All these provide today's young people with unprecedented experiences on new avenues for entertainment, information and education (in that order, if you want). The only requirement is that all these facilities should be properly organized for one's own benefit and for the development of the country.
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