Media Equation of Real Life
The Media Equation by Reeves and Nass regards computers, television, and other software as inanimate objects. Their theory suggests that although inanimate objects, people tend to react to them as if they were living. In the introduction of their book The Media Equation, Reeves and Nass take a glimpse into how people of all ages and educational backgrounds treat technology. They show that the confusion of real life and mediated life is not rare or unreasonable, yet very common (Reeves & Nass, 1996 p. 4-5). Reeves and Nass have identified in study after study that people equate media with real life. They expect that media will follow social and natural rules which have already been predetermined (Reeves & Nass, 1996). Watching television and movies is my favorite thing to do. I will compare experiences I have had with this visual media to the media equation and see how they match up. I will also compare the Media Equation to three other theories; those of technological determinism, expectancy violations, and cognitive dissonance.
Post continues; 1499 words total. Read "Media Equation of Real Life"