The Changing Nature of The Changing Nature of Communication Communication

TechnologyTechnology

Contributions of the PastContributions of the Past

The history of communication systems is The history of communication systems is rich with spectacular innovations and rich with spectacular innovations and inventions. inventions.

Many of them completely changed Many of them completely changed people’s lives. people’s lives.

Johannes Gutenberg’s use of “moveable type” Johannes Gutenberg’s use of “moveable type” in the middle of the fifteenth century made it in the middle of the fifteenth century made it possible to print books quickly. possible to print books quickly.

For the first time books became available to all For the first time books became available to all people, not just the elite.people, not just the elite.

Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone allowed two Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone allowed two people to talk to each other without being face people to talk to each other without being face to face. to face.

Computers have changed our lives in countless Computers have changed our lives in countless ways. ways.

Until the middle of the 1800’s, the majority of Until the middle of the 1800’s, the majority of people spent most of their waking hours people spent most of their waking hours growing and harvesting food.growing and harvesting food.

The Industrial Revolution of the mid-nineteenth The Industrial Revolution of the mid-nineteenth century changed that. century changed that.

For the first time in history more people began For the first time in history more people began to work in Industries that on farms. The Age of to work in Industries that on farms. The Age of Industry had begun. Industry had begun.

Information AgeInformation Age

Now we live in the Information Age. Now we live in the Information Age. As our factories become more automated, fewer people As our factories become more automated, fewer people

are employed in the production of goods. are employed in the production of goods. At the same time there has been an explosion of At the same time there has been an explosion of

information. information. This information is often called data. This information is often called data. New communication systems allow us to handle this New communication systems allow us to handle this

information with relative ease. information with relative ease. That is why may people refer to our time as the That is why may people refer to our time as the

information age. information age.

Changes in CommunicationChanges in Communication

If you look at the big picture of If you look at the big picture of communication, you can spot some communication, you can spot some changes taking place. changes taking place.

These include: These include: • ComputerizationComputerization• DigitizationDigitization• IntegrationIntegration• Growing use of computers in the homeGrowing use of computers in the home

ComputerizationComputerization

Single most significant change is Single most significant change is computerization.computerization.

More and more, communication systems are More and more, communication systems are relying upon the power of computers to make relying upon the power of computers to make them work. them work.

There are microprocessors inside your There are microprocessors inside your telephone, television, radio, cd player, camera, telephone, television, radio, cd player, camera, photocopier etc. photocopier etc.

Many Benefits of Many Benefits of ComputerizationComputerization

Increased quality and reliabilityIncreased quality and reliability Quick turn around time – computers Quick turn around time – computers

eliminate some tasks resulting in quicker eliminate some tasks resulting in quicker communication.communication.

Save money – speeding up Save money – speeding up communication process means fewer communication process means fewer work hours and reduced wage expenses. work hours and reduced wage expenses.

MiniaturizationMiniaturization

Miniaturization means to make things smaller. Miniaturization means to make things smaller. Computers used to be monstrous in size. Now Computers used to be monstrous in size. Now

they are smaller and getting smaller all the they are smaller and getting smaller all the time. time.

As they get smaller, they will also get cheaper. As they get smaller, they will also get cheaper. (Calculators of the early 70’s cost hundreds of (Calculators of the early 70’s cost hundreds of dollars and took up most of the desktop)dollars and took up most of the desktop)

DigitizationDigitization

A watch with hour and minute hands is an A watch with hour and minute hands is an analog time keeper.analog time keeper.

Since it is in constant movement, it is never Since it is in constant movement, it is never really the exact time. really the exact time.

Communication systems have traditionally Communication systems have traditionally been analog systems. been analog systems.

Since computers are now taking over Since computers are now taking over communication systems, they are becoming communication systems, they are becoming digital.digital.

IntegrationIntegration

Digital data can be transferred easily Digital data can be transferred easily between systems. between systems.

A digital photograph can be passed to a A digital photograph can be passed to a digital printing system very easily. digital printing system very easily.

Fax machines send digital text and Fax machines send digital text and graphics over the telephone lines.graphics over the telephone lines.

This trend is called integration, or This trend is called integration, or combining, of communication systems. combining, of communication systems.

Computers in Every HomeComputers in Every Home

More and more computers are finding More and more computers are finding their way into people’s homes. their way into people’s homes.

Businesses are finding more ways to Businesses are finding more ways to communicate with consumers through communicate with consumers through the home computer. the home computer.

You can now shop online, book You can now shop online, book reservations, trade stock, online reservations, trade stock, online banking etc. etc. banking etc. etc.

Different WorldDifferent World

The ability to transmit information The ability to transmit information instantly around the globe makes it a instantly around the globe makes it a much different world than it was just a much different world than it was just a few decades ago. few decades ago.

It truly is “The Information Age” It truly is “The Information Age”