Complex Technology in Reality TV Shows

It seems that the culture that is in place today is one who are driven by real-world reality in all things that relate to their role as a human beings. Particularly with regards to TV consumption practices. In a flash, television has evolved into an extension of computer games we often play on the screen. There are now reality TV shows that cover everything from finding the most stand-up comic to facing the biggest fears we have in our lives. Reality shows are the norm for TV viewers in this day and age. I would guess Dino Ray-Ramos, writer of the piece "Loving To Hate Reality TV" described the present generation of reality TV viewers in the following words.

In any case, every reality show however tinny or fascinating or witty, is a guilty delight that people in the majority of American population isn't able to enjoy enough of, particularly the 18-to-25-year-olds.

In this article I'll try to clarify the reasons we love reality television and how technological advances seem to be focused on helping those who love to sit in a chair to enjoy the pleasure of reality television.

We love reality TV shows because they focus on our fundamental desire to be someone else. It is a need that is hindered because of our fear and insecurity regarding certain actions. Another reason that it is loved by a lot of people is because, thanks to the advancements in technology that have influenced television, producers have created reality TV, a method for all of us to "live" our fantasies without doing any thing. The players who play the game play the role of the chair-based competitor. We also like playing this game because every failure or achievement that is observed is never an individual's failure or accomplishment instead it is the accomplishment or failure of a person who could be disdainful or praised remotely.

The technological advancements have assisted in the growth of reality TV throughout and has impacted all aspects of our lives, and every part of us. It has let people be away from reality and to enjoy different activities without being required to take part in it. It has changed our perceptions about what's dangerous and what's not, and enabled people to live in a world that allows us to choose and participate in activities without breaking the sweat. It is important to note that the majority of reality shows, including "The Apprentice" and "Fear Factor" require some form of remote participation by viewers to make the contest more thrilling. For instance how would all Simon Cowell's hopefuls available be without the text-based voting system used in American Idol in order to decide who gets the prize? The judges? The contestants are free to leave those three oafs on their chairs. It is what matters is who is who is holding the phone or cell phone. It's what people might refer to as "providing an experience that is simulated for a majority of people." The people who watch these shows love the notion of being king makers or the king breakers. This is the way that the technology of touch-tones and the text-based voting methods for these reality shows have classified the viewers as. With the power to decide who we will be in the world, we are the biggest bullies on earth and we don't have to get up from our chairs or raise a finger at the person in order to achieve this. And, most importantly, as per Amie Kirk's article "Rooting Against Leeann".

American culture as a whole has been swept up in the fascination of television. The boobtube is now a well-known cultural symbol. The combination of reality and TV increases our interest in its contents which means that we do not only experience the lives of the lives of these characters, but also are able to celebrate and mourn their loss as well.

Technology's accessibility helped improve the reality-show experience for viewers by permitting them to be directly responsible for the performance or lack thereof of what I would prefer to call"the viewers "television persona". This is the person we cheer for until we spend huge amounts of money on toll calls and text messages to make sure "his" and "her" victory. Ten years ago, we weren't as dependent on reality TV and television for entertainment within their daily lives. Things have changed, and with them the appetite for adventure among the population.

For instance for instance, if a student were given an option between studying "The Four Feathers" and watching the Heath Ledger film version, they would pick the film version. Why? Perhaps because seeing how the tale unfolds is more enjoyable than trying think about what the words actually look as. No matter that the tale is a research project in the field of history and who has the time to read anything nowadays when there are so many reality TV shows that are sweeping the airwaves? Being able to watch Superman fly across an CGI improved screen inside an IMAX cinema can give you an adrenaline feeling that isn't felt when reading the pages of a book. The unfortunate thing is that technology lets us feel a variety of emotions and sensations but the imaginative side of our brains is dying since we're no longer capable of imagining an entire written description of an event or word. Today, everything must be read instead of seen to get the maximum effect.

When watching reality television it is possible to travel all over the world, without leaving the safety of their own home. That's exactly what the couch potato is looking for today. Escapism without the expense of a pocketbook. Thanks to the art editing process and dedication of the show's creators an excursion to Vietnam can be completed within an hour thanks to the contest offered through The Amazing Race. Thus, one could claim that reality TV thanks to technology, can also help expand the perspectives of an otherwise inactive population by giving them a glimpse of other parts of the globe.

This is the state we are living in. In fact, it is the "safe need" for thrills that Hollywood has utilized to justify the growth of the genre of reality shows. Recognizing the fact that the majority of the typical American to be extremely competitive, it's easy to understand why reality TV shows have seen the popularity of reality shows increase. According to the writer Erica Smothers-Franklin;

Americans are very competitive. We are capitalistic and individualistic. Reality shows have the potential to exploit the traits of both. For example, reality-based shows that compete like American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, and I Love Money allow the "average Joe" to have 15 minutes of fame, and also win massive cash prizes. We've all wished to be famous at one time or another, and who wouldn't have benefited from a large cash prize? These shows let us be a part of the action.

Reality TV has led to the "quick feeling of achievement" aspect. It is a term I invented myself to describe the adrenaline feeling one experiences when watching a reality show in which the person he's following is having difficulties and is rewarded with an unexpected or anticipated conclusion at the end. There is a quick endorphine release that lasts just a few seconds for the majority of viewers, and this is due to the fact that technology has changed the way our brains process the information that is flashed in front of it's analytical brain. Reality TV shows are about immediate satisfaction. This generation seems to want in large numbers and technology is unable to provide enough information fast enough.

Technology has, therefore, limited our creative thinking process to sitting to watch a narrative unfold in the screen. There was a period during the beginning of the rise of television that it was described by some specialists by some experts as "the dumb box". A term used to describe the impact of television on viewers. Diwaker Gupta defines the term to refer to: ...its not that it's an "dumb terminal" it's because today, most of what we see on television is either stupid, makes us dumber or makes us so stupid that we cannot resist watching it.

I'm betting that the TV show's producers had no idea of the degree to which this description has become. Since reality TV fuels our desire to be excited, some are no longer interested in doing or engaging in any physical activity which will bring them an adrenaline rush. This type of adrenalin rush creates a feeling of achievement and growth.

There seems to be a trend toward developing technologies that allow users to remain unconnected from their real lives, but let them participate in an "virtual" concept of the term. Technology like text messaging or touch tone voting digital broadcasts with high definition, and other sophisticated advances in technology for film and computers have given people alternatives to having to participate in the sport that they adore watching other people take part in. The technology has turned everybody into the status of a "participating spectator" which is someone who wants to be a part of the event without having to think about his own security at any point of the game or sports. But what are we? What kind of person do all these latest technology create? Are we better individuals due to it? Are we learning anything through participating in an event? What can we expect from this kind of participation? My answer is "nothing other than cowardice" as nothing was really accomplished by the viewers.

In the midst of all these reality TV shows currently on the air, Fear Factor is the only one that allows viewers to take part in the actions of the subject just by watching it. The bloody and dangerous actions on the show are enough to trigger an fearful God for any participant. After having seen a few episodes on my own I'm convinced that the viewers' fear is as powerful. The purpose of the show is believed to be to test the daredevil in a timid person. This type of technologically immersing technological advancement is the reason that makes the show so effective. The scenes are real, and the actors are real, and the actors actually participate in the action. The fear of being in the scene is real and is easily transferred for the viewers of television. This is all done with the help of camera technology which provides the viewer a bird's-eye perspective of what the person must accomplish to finish an assignment. The technology is a step forward in reality and provides viewers with a real-time view of the event.

The people who are considered to be normal possess an adventurous spirit. The only thing that keeps them from participating in the same activities as those shown on TV is their inherent fear of injured. But, shows such as Fear Factor, The Amazing Race and Survivor permit active participation from the couch. In fact, the advancement of technology has gone quite a ways in bringing viewers into the game. It's not that I'm complaining, I still get pleasure from shouting out the correct answer for Jeopardy challenges or solving the puzzles in Wheel of Fortune. There isn't an brain-based game program that makes me get up from my comfy chair when I'm watching similar to the reality television shows in the present.

When the reality TV show becomes intense, our bodies react exactly the way it would be if we were actively participating in the event. We experience increased senses as well as a feeling of drowsiness as well as a sense of excitement and anxiety even though we're not really participating in the race, stunt, or task or any other task being requested of the participants at any moment in the time. This is the normal reaction to any event that creates an underlying fear and thrills at the same. Technology has somehow come up with an avenue to help people raise their heart rates through a brand new type of exercise that I believe doctors should take seriously as an exercise option. Technology has made us become passive viewers of reality TV and has provided the challenging and entertaining entertainment that our couch potato population requires these days.

Technology has enabled us to take part in reality TV shows in one way or other way. We can play on-line or stand-alone versions similar games while in the safety of our own homes and allows us to push ourselves to the edge by testing how far we can go with our virtual version of the game.

When we watch reality television shows in the comfort of our comfortable, cozy sofas from home, it is possible to take part in the actual show by trying to direct the player from a distance and complaining when a mistake occurs. The clarity of the images presented to our screens lets us feel the hurt and happiness, achievement and failure of all participants. The digital images affect our emotions and hearts which causes us to feel empathy for the characters. The emotions that are evoked by these shows cannot be felt by others in our real life, so perhaps there's something to be mentioned about the technological advances used in these TV shows. Perhaps, in its own small way, they help us become excellent people, too. Even if we're not actively in the process of learning.

Perhaps we're not the most sedentary people in the end. In reality, our fingers are always fiddling around with the remote while we watch our favorite shows. We also see ourselves leaping off our seats or running to the bathroom or kitchen to grab food during commercials.

Television has proven over time to be much more than what it was initially believed to be. With the advent of real-time television, we've taken the technology to an entirely new level , allowing us to experience life like never before. We get to see the worst and the most beautiful of each other. We live in luxury and witness what the other person is doing in a way that is clear to the eye.

In addition, reality TV shows have given us the opportunity of examine ourselves as individuals. We start to think that if the scenarios we could be in. these situations, and what are our options? Do we have the qualities necessary to be able to play the game?