Mass Communications and Technology
What communications technologies didn’t exist when you entered school?
A partial list zFaxes zCel phones zCable TV (80s) zDirect satellite TV zWeb zPersonal computing zLaser printing z Pagers (getting passe) z HDTV z z Voice mail z CDs z CD-ROM z DVD
You can tell how many seeds are in the apple, but you can’t tell how many apples are in the seed.
Television and Technology zDigital television (high definition) zGrowth in direct broadcast satellites zExpanded pay-per-view zFragmenting audiences zInternet delivery zDVDs have become commonplace
Digital radio broadcasting zNewer technologies may provide for a return to AM dominance because of digitization zWon’t have a sound quality problem zSatellite-based programming
Print media zConvergence with other media zConstant news cycle zRe-purposing material
Advertising zGreater market segmentation zVirus marketing
Public relations zBetter crisis communication zGreater control over the message zConstant need to react to events zTarget audiences
10 World Wide Web z1969: Military creates ARPAnet zResearch communication network z1983: National Science Foundation control the Internet zNetwork links government-funded civilian research zToday: “information superhighway” zUser-financed
Some terminology zIzInternet zWzWWW or the Web zUzURL zhzhttp zNzNewsgroups zez
Internet zinternet (small “I”) yNetwork connecting computer networks zInternet (capital “I”) y Backbone network for Web communication
World Wide Web Terms zWeb site: Where an institution establishes its Web presence zWeb page: Computer screen containing words, graphics zBrowsing: Process of moving through Web sites zServers: Computers that connect Web sites
Computers in American Life zThe Move to Micro zSoftware Revolution zNetworking zSocial and Cultural Effects