Gutenberg to Zuckerberg: Changes in Media Technology

In this YouTube video, author and journalist, Jeff Jarvis says, "Don't Fear the Gadget" and explains the evolution of technology from Gutenberg to Zuckerberg.


From Gutenberg to Zuckerberg, the world has experienced exponential growth in how information is exchanged. From the 15th century to present day, new technologies have enabled greater communication for the masses. Media technology has increased the connectivity of individuals through mediums such as print, telegraph, smart phones, and the internet, by enabling access to information which is increasingly less expensive and more available than ever before.


With an auspicious beginning in the 15th century, the printing press became the means by which the printed word was spread throughout Europe and subsequently the world. This written medium gave rise to one of America’s most cherished institutions, the press. (Dittmar, 2011) Indeed, institutions such as newspapers and magazines are challenged by the proliferation of newer technologies that allow readers the economic ease and convenience of reading material via electronic devices. However, the printed word is also widely used in many formats including educational materials, pamphlets, brochures, and coupons. It was a paper merchant who ushered in the next wave of media technology, the telegraph.
Indeed, it was the Morse Code, invented by Samuel Morse which transformed communication beyond the spoken word. After a series of setbacks, The American Telegraph Company and Western Union dominated the new form of communication. (Ramirez, 2015) For the first time, messages were deliverable in real time, across land and ocean. Indeed, the impact of the telegraph is inestimable, as it hastened the transmittal of wartime messages. Ramirez (2015) states, “…compressed time and space, separated information from geogra­phy, increased globalization, jump-started journalism, and tightened im­perialism” (p.183). Interestingly, the succinct messaging used in telegraphs bears a striking similarity to the texting of today.

While early cell phones gave users the freedom of mobile calling, the technology of instant messaging was not yet integrated. Although IBM and Bell South developed early prototypes, the first phone termed as a “Smart Phone” was developed by Ericsson in 1997. (Ahmed & Ahmed, 2014, p. 3). However, in 2002 devices such as the BlackBerry OS or P.D.A.’s (personal digital assistant) became a new craze as users discovered the ability to connect with one another via email on portable devices. Today’s smart phones are complex mechanisms with capabilities far beyond texting. The most popular brands of these “mini computers” are Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS.

With each generation of phone and product launch, new features are added and increase the capabilities of users to conduct the business of daily life. It is now possible to complete such diverse tasks as check social media, navigate through unfamiliar territory with a GPS, make reservations for dinner, order groceries, conduct banking transactions, or compose a document, all from a device that is palm-sized and weighs approximately 6 ounces. Whereas, the monthly plans for the first cell phones and P.D.A.’s were quite costly in the early years, the competitive pricing by providers in the present day has led to decreasing expenditures for consumers. The proliferation of marketing strategies such as flat monthly fees, no contract plans and discounts for friends and family have created a competitive marketplace in which carriers have recognized the importance of value and service regarding securing new customers and continued loyalty. Certainly, the smart phone has revolutionized communication through the convenience of mobile internet connection.

Arguably, the creation of the internet is complex and advanced with engineering contributions, communication structures, communication protocols. As Rama (2014), asserts“… the Mosaic browser that made the www accessible to everyone and triggered a huge number of applications” (p. 97). Further, a confluence of technological advancements including marketing affordable personal computers by visionaries such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gate’s Windows operating systems ushered in a new era of affordability and usability for non-technical individuals.

Today, the world is connected as never before, and the Internet has transformed communication across the globe. The impact of this media technology is apparent in many different realms. Distance learning and telecommuting are methods by which individuals and organizations connect, collaborate, and transcend geographical barriers, through the use of internet connectivity. Social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram has enabled citizens of the world to interact. The fastest growing demographic of these sites are those over the age of 50. A study by the Pew Research Center found that “…internet users ages 50-64 who said they use a social networking site like MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn grew 88%, and those ages 65 and older grew 100% in their adoption of the sites…” (Madden, 2010, para. 2). Older users are enthusiastic about their ability to connect with family members, share photos, and participate in virtual groups and activities. Beyond the social connectedness, the internet is a form of one-stop shopping for information on topics as diverse as medical issues to holiday meal planning. A common parlance in the modern vernacular is to “Google it”, (Google, 2015). In other words, the answer to just about any question is only a Google search and mouse click away. Knowledge and data are instantly accessible.

The information age is booming. From the groundbreaking inventions of the printing press and the telegraph to the transformative properties of smart phones and the internet, media technology has undergone tremendous and meaningful advances. Information and communication are now immediate and less costly than in previous eras. Where mankind once feared a flat Earth, this phenomenon is now the hope and reality of the present generation.

References
 
Ahmed, M., & Ahmad, S. (2014). Transformation of smart phone to super phone: A future oriented gadget. Pranjana: The Journal Of Management Awareness, 17(2), 1-20. doi:10.5958/0974-0945.2014.00001.6

Dittmar, J. E. (2011). Information technology and economic change: The impact of the printing press. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 126(3), 1133-1172.

Google Inc. (2015) Retrieved from https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl

Madden, M. (2010) Older adults and social media. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2010/08/27/older-adults-and-social-media/

Rama Rao, P. (2014). Early history of four inventions that have changed the world : Some perspectives on India. ASCI Journal Of Management, 43(2), 87-102.

Ramirez, A. (2015). A wire across the ocean: the first telegraph cable to span the Atlantic revolutionized communication, but it also transformed business, politics, and even language. American Scientist, (3), 180.