Lecture 4 Contemporary
Development of
Communications
Objectives:
Understand the main development of
communications media of
contemporary society and the social
implications of each medium;
Think further about the theories
concerning communications;
Think about the controversial
arguments in communications
studies
Reviews
Written Language
---(recorded) history began with writing
Various media
Storage and retrieval of
information
(Reading depending on)
Individual social experience and
immediate personal context
Reviews (Cont.)
Printing
Channel(s),transportation
model of communication
Medium,paper
mechanical
(Mass) Reproduction,identical
Standardization
Reviews (Cont.)
Telegraph
Signal transmission
Morse code
Electrical
Transmission model of
communication
Time-space shrinkage,a wired
world,a global system
Social implications
Written language
Hearing vs,reading
(audio vs,visual)
Literacy vs,illiteracy
Power,the control of
knowledge (education)
Printing
---printing is second only to the clock
in its critical effect upon civilization
A technology that
influenced other
technologies
A prototype of mass
production
A technology that directly
affected the world of
ideas by making
knowledge widely
available and creating a
space in which new forms
of expression could
flourish
Telegraph
On business
Economical
Political
Theories of
communications and
society
Communication technology
determinism
Globalization
The information society
The network society
Communication and culture
Hegemony
Pop culture and mass culture
Identity
Questions
What are the most distinguished
features of the development of
communication?
What is the relationship between the
old and new media?
What is the impact of changes of
communications technologies on
society?
Are the changes of communications
technologies the causes or
consequences of social changes?
Presentation evaluation
criteria
Team cooperation;
Preparation;
Content;
Language;
Manner;
Effect