Polaroid Camera- we shape media and media shape us, in an ongoing cycle of invention and reinvention

The "Polaroid camera" is actually an instant camera, that prints out physical photographs on the spot after a picture is taken. The camera does this by using self-developing film, giving the photographer a piece of memory that they can hold in their hands. The instant camera has gotten to become known as the "Polaroid camera" because the most popular types of instant cameras were produced by the Polaroid Corporation. The difference between a Polaroid camera and any other type of camera is that it can develop film in an instant. If anyone were to see a Polaroid, they would know that the photo was taken and printed then and there, most likely not have been changed or edited. We shape the Polaroid camera through our advances in technology, and our constant desire for convenience. It seems most practical for a Polaroid camera to be created with interests of appealing to consumers. The Polaroid camera shapes us through the idea that it acts as our eyes, is able to capture parts of our memories, and even lets us show aspects of our days and lives to other people. There is the idea that we can express or show a part of our identities through Polaroid cameras or just cameras in general. We take pictures of what we like, what we want to see and remember, or what we want to show others. Before cameras, people would create images by hand, through drawing, painting, sculpting, etc. Those forms of communications did not necessarily mean the person was actually looking at the image, they could've been images that they imagine. Cameras were created afterwards, using film that had to be manually developed, then they were machine developed. The Polaroid camera is a reinvention of those earlier types of communications. Then, consumers were able to buy digital cameras and printers that printed high quality photos. For these, people would have to wait to get home or to a shop that developed photos for them to become physical forms. Now we have digital cameras that also act as instant cameras. These advanced cameras are able to take and print photos on the spot. Also, unlike Polaroid cameras, with these cameras users are able to alter and edit high quality photos right on the camera before they are developed. Also, Polaroid cameras tend to be big and bulky, which means that although they are convenient in the picture taking department, they are not very practical for travelling. These are some of the reasons why McLuhan's probe "we shape media and media shape us, in an ongoing cycle of invention and reinvention" can be applied to Polaroid cameras.