Communication Technologies and their Impacts
CM1007
Lectures Only
Lecture 1
- Is technology our friend or enemy?
- Utopia vs Dystopia
Utopia:
- The word utopia refers to an imagined place or community where everything is perfect. It
is like a dream place where everyone is equal
- Utopia is made up of an enormously improved society, where everything works
accordingly and it provides its citizens with hope and direction in an idealistic way
- Offering peace and balance to everyone is like a paradies, which is why it can also be
described as a nearly impossible world. Hence, the term technological utopia. It is this
perfect world, which is enabled by technologies. This ideology refers to a life where all
technological advancements will improve our living conditions, as well as every other
aspect of our daily lives
Dystopia:
- A dystopia is a world far near perfect. It is a futuristic and imagined universe where
everything is going terribly. It is characterized by oppressive and frightening powers,
along with many other negative elements
- A dystopia is the worst case scenario of what could happen in the future. Life is horrible,
living conditions are horrible and there is a lot of poverty and crime. Even though a
dystopia is an exaggerated futuristic society/world, it is not impossible. Especially, if
technological advances take over.
- This is known as technological dystopia, where technology controls everything and
usually seeks to get rid of humankind. Technology becomes so advanced and powerful,
that we humans lose control over it completely.
● During the print press: people believed it would empower them
- However many examples that contradict: catholic who didn’t’ allow some books
to be read
● The internet has caused information overload
- too much info online
- Often can get overwhelmed with information
- We have a popcorn brain: all the info, updates, that are constantly bothering us
on the phone, so many pops of information that require our info immediately
- cannot focus anymore anymore
● The SMCR model (we know this as the old communication model)
, (source => message => channel=> receiver=> feedback, back to beginning)
In this model the writer is the source, not the receiver
● Can we blame video games for violence in kids?
- From strong to limited effects
- Media directly influence what audiences think and do, and how they behave
- Two-step flow
● How media impact us
selective processing: People avoid or ignore messages that are at odds with their existing
beliefs
social learning: People imitate behavior through observational learning, especially when
this behavior is rewarded
catharsis theory: People can live out their antisocial desires in a mediated fantasy world
instead of the real world, people learn how to canalize their anger by playing violent
video games
● Technological determinism
1. Technology is invented and shaped outside of society
2. Fundamental changes in society are primarily brought by technology. Free will or
user freedom is an illusion
- Technological determinism refers to the state in which technology influences the way we
act and think. Most importantly, it shapes the way in which society operates. This
reductionist theory describes how technology is the dominant factor that moulds of social
change. We do not have control over our own behavior and interaction.
- Technological determinism can both be utopian or dystopian
Discussing new technologies
● Fisher and Wright: State that we cannot analyze the impact of new technologies
Cultural Lag:
- The term cultural lag can be explained as the time lag which lies between a new
technological invention and its dispersal to society. With this also comes all the
adjustments society needs to take.
- Technology is expected to progress faster than us, and it takes us time to adapt to these
new changes in a technological and societal aspect.
- The societal factor lags behind technology.Technological advancements are evolving so
fast, that their effects are not always so visible at first. An example of cultural lag is the
Covid vaccines. The vaccines are being used even without knowing the consequences it
might have in the long run.
- criticism towards cultural lag: technological determinism. Technology is primarily seen
as a force that will change society and not the other way around
, Four Stages of Cultural Lag
1. Technological: Invention/creation of the technology itself
2. Industrial: the first sector to acquire and adjust to the new technology
3. Government: implement regulations for the use; facing liabilities and possible suffering
resulting from the technology
4. Social philosophical: scholar trying to understand the technology itself, assessing its
capabilities and limitations
Lecture 2
● Oral tradition
- Poems, stories, songs, plays etc.
● Promises of the printing press
- A new “divine invention”
- Contemporaries were impressed by the affordances of the technology
- Hopes and expectations were high
● Economic impact of book printing
- Appealing to masses
- Used as advertisement
- Allowed to preserve knowledge for future generations
● Concern after book printing
- Loss of jobs
- Ban or burning books
- Erasmus strongly believed that regulation is needed
● Basic elements of journalism
- A sense of community, allows to circulate information, public value
● End of 19th century: The new journalism
Yellow journalism:
- journalism that highly relies on sensationalism and exaggeration
- Uses scared headings, pictures (colored), News about impostors and
frauds
- 4s: sensationalism, sex, sport, scandal
- Keep in mind: Sensationalist do not always take facts into account
CM1007
Lectures Only
Lecture 1
- Is technology our friend or enemy?
- Utopia vs Dystopia
Utopia:
- The word utopia refers to an imagined place or community where everything is perfect. It
is like a dream place where everyone is equal
- Utopia is made up of an enormously improved society, where everything works
accordingly and it provides its citizens with hope and direction in an idealistic way
- Offering peace and balance to everyone is like a paradies, which is why it can also be
described as a nearly impossible world. Hence, the term technological utopia. It is this
perfect world, which is enabled by technologies. This ideology refers to a life where all
technological advancements will improve our living conditions, as well as every other
aspect of our daily lives
Dystopia:
- A dystopia is a world far near perfect. It is a futuristic and imagined universe where
everything is going terribly. It is characterized by oppressive and frightening powers,
along with many other negative elements
- A dystopia is the worst case scenario of what could happen in the future. Life is horrible,
living conditions are horrible and there is a lot of poverty and crime. Even though a
dystopia is an exaggerated futuristic society/world, it is not impossible. Especially, if
technological advances take over.
- This is known as technological dystopia, where technology controls everything and
usually seeks to get rid of humankind. Technology becomes so advanced and powerful,
that we humans lose control over it completely.
● During the print press: people believed it would empower them
- However many examples that contradict: catholic who didn’t’ allow some books
to be read
● The internet has caused information overload
- too much info online
- Often can get overwhelmed with information
- We have a popcorn brain: all the info, updates, that are constantly bothering us
on the phone, so many pops of information that require our info immediately
- cannot focus anymore anymore
● The SMCR model (we know this as the old communication model)
, (source => message => channel=> receiver=> feedback, back to beginning)
In this model the writer is the source, not the receiver
● Can we blame video games for violence in kids?
- From strong to limited effects
- Media directly influence what audiences think and do, and how they behave
- Two-step flow
● How media impact us
selective processing: People avoid or ignore messages that are at odds with their existing
beliefs
social learning: People imitate behavior through observational learning, especially when
this behavior is rewarded
catharsis theory: People can live out their antisocial desires in a mediated fantasy world
instead of the real world, people learn how to canalize their anger by playing violent
video games
● Technological determinism
1. Technology is invented and shaped outside of society
2. Fundamental changes in society are primarily brought by technology. Free will or
user freedom is an illusion
- Technological determinism refers to the state in which technology influences the way we
act and think. Most importantly, it shapes the way in which society operates. This
reductionist theory describes how technology is the dominant factor that moulds of social
change. We do not have control over our own behavior and interaction.
- Technological determinism can both be utopian or dystopian
Discussing new technologies
● Fisher and Wright: State that we cannot analyze the impact of new technologies
Cultural Lag:
- The term cultural lag can be explained as the time lag which lies between a new
technological invention and its dispersal to society. With this also comes all the
adjustments society needs to take.
- Technology is expected to progress faster than us, and it takes us time to adapt to these
new changes in a technological and societal aspect.
- The societal factor lags behind technology.Technological advancements are evolving so
fast, that their effects are not always so visible at first. An example of cultural lag is the
Covid vaccines. The vaccines are being used even without knowing the consequences it
might have in the long run.
- criticism towards cultural lag: technological determinism. Technology is primarily seen
as a force that will change society and not the other way around
, Four Stages of Cultural Lag
1. Technological: Invention/creation of the technology itself
2. Industrial: the first sector to acquire and adjust to the new technology
3. Government: implement regulations for the use; facing liabilities and possible suffering
resulting from the technology
4. Social philosophical: scholar trying to understand the technology itself, assessing its
capabilities and limitations
Lecture 2
● Oral tradition
- Poems, stories, songs, plays etc.
● Promises of the printing press
- A new “divine invention”
- Contemporaries were impressed by the affordances of the technology
- Hopes and expectations were high
● Economic impact of book printing
- Appealing to masses
- Used as advertisement
- Allowed to preserve knowledge for future generations
● Concern after book printing
- Loss of jobs
- Ban or burning books
- Erasmus strongly believed that regulation is needed
● Basic elements of journalism
- A sense of community, allows to circulate information, public value
● End of 19th century: The new journalism
Yellow journalism:
- journalism that highly relies on sensationalism and exaggeration
- Uses scared headings, pictures (colored), News about impostors and
frauds
- 4s: sensationalism, sex, sport, scandal
- Keep in mind: Sensationalist do not always take facts into account
