Communication Technology: The New Media in Technology is a book designed
to educate as well as help professionals evolve in the ever-changing field of
communications. Chapter 1 titled The
Changing Nature of Human Communications covers the changing nature of
communication methods, changes in the labor force as well the governing factors
in the future of the information society. Chapter 1 serves as a crash course
into how and why human communication is always going to be evolving. An example
the chapter uses is when the communication field switched from the daily use of
a type writer to a computer. Even though this example is a little dated, but it
still serves as a foundation into the evolution of communication methods.
Chapter 2 titled, What Are the New Communication Technologies covers the four
eras in the evolution of human communication which include writing, printed material
and telecommunication. Examples that the
author uses are transistors and semiconductors, the invention of the
microprocessor, video conferencing, satellite communication and wired cities.
It’s important to note that the book is a little dated but the examples used
help keep professionals and student humble in the history of the communication
field. Chapter 3, History of Communication Science, is where the communication
theories take on a mathematical formula. The reader is introduced to two
engineers in communication Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, both of which
played major influences in the mathematical side of communication. Shannon’s
research focused more on information technology while Wiener focused more on
cybernetics.
The author talks about an important concept that sets the
tone for the rest of the book. The concept talked about is the new interactive
technologies which at the time were not widely adopted. Stated by the author,
as of 1985 only about half of American households had cable TV and less than 1 percent
had teletext or video text (Rogers, 1986). It was during the 1980s that many
state and local governments launched initiatives to encourage the development
of high-technology industry in order to create new jobs and fuel economic
growth (Rogers, 1986). Fearful of Japanese competition American
microelectronics firms formed research centers and invested resources in
funding University based centers (Rogers, 1986). The largest of these new
facilities at the University of Texas is where Wiener and a couple of his
mentors where working. It was at this facility in which twenty million dollars
in single-family mortgage loans below prevailing interest rates were allowed; a
relocation office to facilitate utility hookups and $ 500,000 to underwrite
company relocation expenses (Rogers, 1986). Also 20 acres of land leased for $1
per year at the University of Texas’s Balcones Research Center was allowed and
construction and a lease of a $200,000 square foot building (Rogers,
1986). It was from the University of
Texas 15 million in endowed faculty position were created, thirty-two new
faculty positions in microelectronics and computer science and $750,000 in
graduate fellowships and an additional 1 million for research in
microelectronics and computer science (Rogers, 1986). Since the University of Texas’s implementation
of high technology education 1000’s of University programs have been
established nationwide.
New developments in communications can and will create new
opportunities for Universities as well as the creation of new jobs. Being able
to adapt to changing needs within our society is essential in the process of
adapting to a new communication methods.
The success of every business is based on its adaptation of its
communication models as well as its incorporation of both communication and
technology. This book serves as both a
history lesson of past successes and failures but also as a critical assessment
of communication theories of the past. This book is a handbook or guide that
will discuss theories of old but also introduced new communication theories
that stem from the 1970s up to the 2000s.
1 comment:
Governments around the world are still trying to promote the establishment and upgrade of their communication railways.
For example, South Korea's government has established policy that facilitate growth in their communication structure. This has allowed South Korea to become one of the most connected countries in the world.
An additional communication powerhouse is Sweden. The Swedish government has granted tax breaks for communication infrastructure investments and is possibly why they are have such a high tech network.
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