Free # 10 The Device of the 21st Century

The Blackberry device is a digital lifestyle hub and a significant tool of the 21st century. The Blackberry has different forms of media all wrapped into one device. The invention of the Blackberry is clearly not a revolutionary device. It simply imitates the creation of the internet, telephone and many other forms of media. Each medium, in a way, tends to replicate other forms of media. The Blackberry simply mocks nearly all types. In a way, owning a Blackberry forces people to constantly be in contact with school and work. For instance, while at a social gathering, my conversations often come to an immediate halt after receiving various e-mails from my professors. My Blackberry causes me to instantly become distracted from my conversation and more interested in my schoolwork. Becoming aware of the many functions that accompany the Blackberry has the ability to explain the concept of digital de-differentiation. “There are two levels of digital de-differentiation that characterize predictions about the wired workforce.” ( Andrejevic 107) One level of digital de-differentiation is between places of work, leisure and school. This highlights how the Blackberry can be seen as a portable office, which I previously discussed. The other level of digital de-differentiation is between the acts of production and consumption. This shows how each time someone consumes information, they are also producing it. The Blackberry has the ability to define the levels of digital de-differentiation very well. Combining old and new forms of media into a small device makes it extremely difficult for people to separate the concepts of work and play.