Computer software development has grown at such a rapid pace over the past decade that it have invaded every aspect of our lives and ever fiber of our being. It has allowed people to disconnect from reality and enjoy various activities without ever having to actually participate in it. It has sanitized our viewpoint regarding what is dangerous and what isn’t and allowed us to create a virtual reality wherein we can choose the enjoy the activity without having to break a sweat. Such is the condition that we now live in. It is this “safe craving” for excitement that Hollywood has used as the basis for the rise in the reality show genre.
Technology has changed the way we do things in our daily lives. For example, if a student had a choice between actually reading “The Four Feathers” and watching the Heath Ledger movie version, they would choose the movie version. Why? Maybe because actually seeing the story unfold is much more exciting that having to imagine what the written word might actually be like. Technology has therefore, limited our imaginative thought process to merely sitting back and watching a story unfold on-screen.
Such choices are the reason why technology has given rise to the popularity of reality shows. Technology such as text messaging, touch tone voting, high definition digital broadcasts, and other complex film and computer technology advancements have allowed people to discover the beauty (?) of participating in an activity without having to worry about our personal safety at any point.
Fear Factor is a show that challenges the dare-devil in an otherwise cowardly person. That is kind of technically immersing technology is what makes this show work. The stunts are real, the people are real, the participants actually engage in the stunt, and the viewer gets to feel the emotions and almost feel the end result of the stunt because the technology exists to practically give one a virtual reality view of the show.
Sedentary people are really adventurous by nature. They just don’t want to endanger themselves or participate in an activity that they are not sure they will enjoy or perhaps be able to physically participate in for one reason or another. So shows like Fear Factor, The Amazing Race, and Survivor, allow for active couch potato participation. Indeed, complex technology has come a long way in engaging the viewer into the games. Don’t get me wrong, I still get a kick out of shouting out the right answers to Jeopardy questions or solving the puzzle on Wheel Of Fortune. However, there is no intellectual game show that actually kicks me out of my lounging chair as when I am watching any of the reality shows on television today.
When the reality show gets exciting, our body reacts in the same way as it would if it were actually participants the activity. We have heightened senses, shortness of breath, excitement, and anxiousness even though we are not actually engaged in the race, stunt, task, or whatever is being asked of the show participants at any given point in time. Thus complex technology has helped us become passive participants in reality shows and helped provide the vicarious and challenging entertainment our very couch potato inclined population needs these days.
Indeed, technology has allowed us to participate in the reality shows in one way or another. We get to play on-line or stand alone versions of the same games from the relative safety of our homes and allowed us to challenge ourselves to the limit by seeing how far we can go in the virtual versions of the show. When watching the show we are couch critics that tell them what to do and how to do it. Hey, maybe we are not a sedentary population after all. Do finger dexterity exercises and cheering on your favorite player or team count as real exercise.