History of Communication

In wednesday nights' lecture we learned of an array of things from different types of participation in new media to the impacts of the industrial revolution on communication. Many things have evolved such as the printing press and locomotive, but one fact still remains and that is that we have always been in need of more efficient ways to communicate. Professor Strate illustrated that to us through a descriptive display of past events that have lead up to modern day communication and new media. It is interesting to know that to comprehend and actually communicate a language an individual has to think in the way of that language. The creation of symbols to count cows, the creation of an alphabet, and the creation of the mechanical clock all illustrate the level of necessity that our society holds on communication. I am looking forward to all that I am going to learn this semester and know that it will aid in the advancement of my future studies.

History of Communication Lecture

What sets humans apart from animals is our ability to use language, which is the basis of all communication. It goes so far as to influence how we view the world. Even the most remote and primitive tribes have spoken languages. Something that stuck with me from this class was the idea that through language, we create inner maps of the world that guide us. The first written language, called cuneiform, came from the Sumerians in Mesopotamia in 3500 BCE. Communication continued to develop over time: the Semites invented the first alphabet in 1500 BCE, and the Greeks invented their own in 700 BCE. Systems for mathematics also developed around this time. In the 1450's, Gutenberg invented the printing press with movable type, making it easier to produce books. In the 19th century, the industrial revolution laid the groundwork for mass communication and mass media. Electricity also helped the development of communication. Given all that has happened since the dawn of the computer age, one has to wonder just how far communication will progress in our lifetime.

Response to Lecture on History of Communications

In regards to last night's lecture, it was fascinating to learn how much communication has evolved after thousands of years. New technology and inventions have major impacts on the way we interact with each other. It is evident through the progression from cave paintings to the internet that humanity is constantly striving to enhance and catalyze the mediums by which we communicate. One of the most notable things that was discussed in class too was the notion that our methods of communication affect the way we perceive the world. With the seemingly infinite information sources that the internet has to offer, we gain access to a plethora of websites. This broad range of knowledge allows us to fabricate well informed opinions and ingest information more open mindedly.