Quaternary Activity

activities which involve the collection, recoding, arranging, storage, retrieval, exchange, and dissemination of information. Ex: Computers, Cell Phones, , the Internet, and Research and Development are some of the examples of new information technology sector.

Factors Affecting Location of Quaternary Activity –Populations of people who are concentrated in an area make the information sector practical - provides a workforce and market. –Infrastructure is required for the communication of information…towers, poles, cables, connectivity, computers, satellites, buildings and networks. –Education of people is necessary for high-tech work.

Factors Affecting Mass Communications Patterns. In global communications there are areas of activity and there are areas where there is no activity because of a lack of development and no connectivity. * The more development – the more connectivity.

Mass Communication Affects Workplace Location. Businesses do not need to be located physically near other businesses as we saw with the agglomerating tendency of the manufacturing sector. If Infrastructure improves to the point where it overcomes distances, information technology will be a new source of employment in rural regions. (Call Centers and people working online from home.) However, we may lose high-tech jobs to other countries – educated people but cheap labour.