Issue7【超越自我小组】7号作业--小猪

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TOPIC: ISSUE7 - "The video camera provides such an accurate and convincing record of contemporary life that it has become a more important form of documentation than written records."

The statement contends that the video camera is a more important means of documenting contemporary life than written records because video recordings are more accurate and convincing. While it is true that video cameras can record clear images and sound, which provide us with vivid picture of what is going on, that does not in any way mean that we should neglect the important position written records stand, both for our conveniance and practicality.

Admittedly, the modern innovative invention of video cameras brought us improved measure of recording spatial, and temporal events and experience, with its accuracy and vividness. Its advantage and significance can be fully displayed when applied in recording big sports events like Olympic games, or memoriable activities such as the anniversary celebration with collegues, the first singing contest one participated, the spectacular Olympic openning gala...Even with the most keen observation and memory, one cannot take down and recount these impressive moments of life in complete and objective details. Thus, video cameras indeed play a irreplacable role when recording spatial and temporal events and experience.

Another aspect in which video recording may surpass written meterials is the recording for surveillance purposes. As surveillance cameras can be placed anywhere needed, set by the road to detect overspeed automobiles, in supermarket to keep watch on thefts, in bank to supervise staff behavior, they can provide a vital evidentiary role in legal proceedings.

Notwithstanding video cameras' advantages for certain purposes mentioned above due to its inherent nature of accuracy and vividness, it has drawbacks and pale in comparison with written records in certain aspects. Generally speaking, video recordings are not as conveniant as written records and are relatively more expensive. The play of video recordings depends entirely on electronic devices which cost a lot and cause many troubles. Without computers or video players, it becomes impossible to review them. So video recordings lack the flexibilty of being played anywhere and anytime while written recordings are advantageous to them in such accassions by providing easy accesses and flexible uses.

Besides, though the vedio camera provides better illustration of contemporary life and events, it can’t look into people’s minds and record people’s feelings. There are some thrilling moments in life, touching beauties that sensed by heart… all of which cannot be captured simply by a video camera. In such occassions, only written recordings, processed through human brains, can reflect the subject feeling of mankind. Accurate and convincing as a vedio recording can be, it loses its color when it comes to record personal emotion.

Finally, a video recording is of no use in documenting statistical and quatitative information. It’s hard to imagine everytime we want to take down a fax or telephone number, we must take out our video camera, start it, then take a picture, proceed it into the computer…the next time open the computer to check it, or imagine that we use video cameras to record financial account of a listed enterprises. To do so would be tantamount to a disaster when dealing with numerous statistics and quatitative information. I believe every rational person would prefer written record in such cases.

In sum, the speaker is correct that video recordings will have better visual effect when refering to record events andexperience in a accurate and objective way. However, we can never overlook the function of written records as they will always be needed to fulfill our missing memory, as well as to make our life with numbers much simplier and easier.