Evolution of Communication and Media

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Questions and Answers

What major period does the Prehistoric Era fall under?

Metal Age (correct)

Written History

Ancient Civilization

Stone Age (correct)

What purpose do petroglyphs serve in prehistoric times?

Documenting history

Early communication (correct)

Decorative art

Ritualistic expressions (correct)

Which of the following statements about cave paintings is accurate?

They often depict modern societal activities.

They are considered parietal art. (correct)

They were exclusively found in the Americas.

They were primarily created using metal tools.

In which era did the use of petroglyphs and pictographs most prominently emerge?

Prehistoric Era Signup and view all the answers

What significant role did dance play in prehistoric civilizations?

Ritualistic practices for religious purposes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following types of prehistoric media represents words or phrases through images?

Pictographs Signup and view all the answers

What is one common subject depicted in cave paintings?

Animals Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of social expression does body art primarily reflect?

Social and spiritual identity Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary function of the printing press invented by Johannes Gutenberg?

To administer pressure to transfer ink onto a medium Signup and view all the answers

Which process replaced the wet collodion process in photography?

Dry plates Signup and view all the answers

What year did Samuel Morse patent the electrical telegraph?

1837 Signup and view all the answers

What was a key advantage of dry plates in photography over other processes?

They could be stored until exposure Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'telegraph' combine, and what does it mean?

Greek for 'distant writing' Signup and view all the answers

How many sheets per hour could the Gutenberg press print?

250 Signup and view all the answers

What describes the Morse code developed by Samuel Morse?

A sequence of dots and dashes for the alphabet Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of writing in ancient cultures?

To document spoken language Signup and view all the answers

Which script is considered one of the earliest forms of writing?

Cuneiform script Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary use of television in the 1950s?

Influencing public opinion Signup and view all the answers

What major activity did Johannes Gutenberg undertake in Strasbourg?

Developing a printing machine Signup and view all the answers

Which writing system combined anagrammed and alphabetic elements?

Hieroglyphs Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with inventing the first fully functional, all-electronic television?

Philo Taylor Farnsworth Signup and view all the answers

What significant change occurred in television broadcasting during the mid-1960s?

Introduction of color broadcasting Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of the Phoenician alphabet?

It consists of 22 consonant letters Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following genres was NOT part of the theatrical culture of ancient Athens?

Historical drama Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a personal computer?

To perform general-purpose computing tasks Signup and view all the answers

Which component is NOT part of the essential functions of a personal computer?

Microphone Signup and view all the answers

What material was primarily used for writing before the invention of paper in China?

Papyrus Signup and view all the answers

Who co-invented the first handheld mobile phone?

Martin Cooper and John F. Mitchell Signup and view all the answers

What significant change characterized the Industrial Era from 1440 to 1890?

Major industrialization and innovation Signup and view all the answers

What best describes an Industrial City?

A place with numerous factories Signup and view all the answers

What year saw the first commercial availability of a handheld mobile phone?

1983 Signup and view all the answers

What was the world's first personal computer?

Kenbak-1 Signup and view all the answers

What primary role does media fulfill in society aside from entertainment?

Providing information and education Signup and view all the answers

Which character type from Goffman's character theory serves as the main character in media texts?

Protagonist Signup and view all the answers

What agenda is NOT mentioned regarding the roles of media in society?

Harassment of individuals Signup and view all the answers

What does the Allocution theory primarily emphasize about information exchange?

One party has unlimited control over information Signup and view all the answers

In the context of media, the role of a 'Fool' character entails what?

Providing humor to convey messages Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of mass media acting as a watchdog?

It may follow government agendas Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a secondary character type in Erving Goffman's character theory?

Deuterogamist Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes one function of media related to governmental and business institutions?

Monitoring and providing oversight Signup and view all the answers

What was the initial method of transmitting Morse Code over the telegraph system?

As marks on a piece of paper translated by an operator Signup and view all the answers

Which invention is attributed to Alexander Graham Bell during the Second Industrial Revolution?

Telephone Signup and view all the answers

What physical format does a phonograph use to record sound?

Spiral groove engraved into a spinning disc Signup and view all the answers

When did the history of film begin, according to the content?

1890s with the invention of motion picture cameras Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary use of early radio technology?

Sending telegraphic messages using Morse code Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant historical event associated with marine telegraphy?

The sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the illusion created by film?

Continuous motion from immobile images shown in sequence Signup and view all the answers

What defines 'information' in the context provided?

Specific data acquired for a specific purpose Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Evolution of Traditional to New Era

The presentation covers the evolution of communication and media, from pre-historic times to the present information era.
Different eras are presented, each with its own forms of communication, including pre-historic, ancient, industrial, and information eras.
Pre-historic era: This spanned from 200,000 BCE to 4,000 BCE. Communication took the form of art like petroglyphs (carvings on rocks) and pictographs (pictures representing words or concepts).

Pre-Historic Art

Petroglyphs were created by removing part of a rock surface through carving or incising.
They are considered rock art, dating back 7,000–9,000 years ago.
Ideologies and meanings likely varied by location and time period.
Carvings and engravings in rocks and caves are examples of petroglyphs.
Pictographs represent words or phrases through images or symbols.
They often depict nature, reflecting the early peoples' environment.

Cave Paintings

Also known as "Parietal Art," cave paintings are painted drawings on walls or ceilings of caves.
These paintings often depict animals, providing insight into prehistoric culture.
A theory suggests they are connected to rituals performed by Paleolithic shamans.

Dance

Dance was a fundamental part of temple rituals in many early civilizations.
Cave paintings from 9,000 years ago depict hunting and communal scenes.

Body Art

Body art is a form of social, spiritual, and personal expression.
- This can include tattoos, body painting, or other forms of adornment.
- It often played a crucial role in cultural rites of passage, rituals, and ceremonies.

Ancient Era

Writing emerged as a way to translate spoken language into a physical form.
- This era spanned from 3000 BCE to 100 CE.
- The emergence of writing is evident in different forms such as cuneiform script and hieroglyphs.
Cuneiform script was a writing system.
- It used wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets.
- This dates back to at least 3200 BCE, and is one of the first known systems of writing.
Hieroglyphs was another early writing system.
- Hieroglyphs were an Egyptian writing system.
- It combined ideographic and alphabetic elements.
- Egyptians used hieroglyphs for religious articles on papyrus and wooden surfaces.

Alphabet

Alphabets represent the sounds of a language using characters in a specific order.
The Phoenician Alphabet (sometimes called Proto-Canaanite) is widely considered the oldest confirmed alphabet. (older than 1050 BCE).
It comprised of 22 letters, which were mainly consonants.
It spread through trade, becoming a widely adopted writing system.
Its usage helped develop other alphabet systems.

Drama

Drama is a narrative form frequently fictional, presented in performance.
Western drama originated in classical Greece.
Notable genres include tragedy, comedy, and satyr plays.

Paper

The word "paper" is derived from "papyrus".
Papyrus was a paper-like material made from the Cyperus papyrus plant.
Egyptians used papyrus extensively.
Paper became a widespread writing material in other Mediterranean cultures long before its development in China.

Industrial Era

This era (1440-1890) saw major industrialization and innovation.
- Innovations like the printing press were crucial.
Industrial cities emerged, featuring numerous factories.
The printing press was pivotal for large-scale content production.
- It was an apparatus that exerted pressure on an inked surface, which then transferred ink to a surface like paper.
- Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1439 in Strasbourg.
- The Gutenberg press was a revolutionary innovation and was commercially used by 1450
- The press's operation included using a long handled wooden screw to exert pressure.
  - They could print around 250 sheets per hour.
Key inventions like dry plates were also developed, which advanced photography.

Telegraphy

Telegraphy enabled long-distance communication via textual or symbolic messages without the exchange of tangible objects.
It was derived from Greek words, "tele" (distance) and "graphein" (to write).
Morse code, used with the telegraph, played a significant role.
- A sequence of dots and dashes represented words and numbers.
A telegraph machine could receive messages and display them in Morse code form.
- The message was often deciphered by telegraph operators and then translated into English
Samuel Morse developed a code for telegraph communication.
- This involved assigned symbols (sequences of dots and dashes) to each letter of the alphabet.
Early telegraph systems utilized electrical technology for the movement of messages over long distances.

Telephone

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone during the Second Industrial Revolution.
Experiments centered on human speech and technology for capturing and transmitting sounds.
Crucial for communicating across distances.

Phonograph

A phonograph or gramophone is a device designed for recording and reproducing sound.
The device recorded sound signals as physical traces (deviations).
The playback mechanism converted these traces back into sound.

Film

Film is a sequence of images, projected to create the illusion of motion.
The first film recorded actual consecutive action.
This made its debut in the 1890s.
Motion Picture cameras were first invented in this time period.

Information Era

This era (1906-present) emphasizes the acquisition and use of data for specific purposes.
Information is crucial in modern life.
- It enhances understanding of the world.

Radio

Radio is a technology using radio waves to transfer information, such as sound or other forms of data.
- Electromagnetic energy waves carry messages through space.
Early uses involved telegraphic messages, often using Morse Code.
- The sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 showcased the critical use of early radio technologies for communications
- During this era, the Radio became another important communication tool worldwide.

Television

Television conveys sound and moving images through transmission.
It evolved from monochrome to color broadcasting.
Initially, television became available in basic forms in the late 1920s.
It became a key tool for communication after the Second World War.
John Logie Baird and Philo T. Farnsworth were critical figures in the development of early television technologies

Personal Computers

Personal computers (PCs) are general-purpose computers designed for individual use.
The earliest personal computer was developed and released in 1970.
Key components include a Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and input/output ports.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones provide portable telephone services using radio frequency carriers.
Early forms of mobile phone services often utilized cellular networks.
Early mobile telephones became commercial products in 1983, with the Motorola DynaTAC 800 being one of the earliest versions sold.
Cellular systems provided improved communication worldwide.

Internet

The internet is a worldwide network of interconnected computer systems.
- It uses the Internet protocol suite for transmission.
It connects billions of devices globally.
People use the internet to access information, communicate, manage finances, and pursue other interests.

Media Roles

Media plays several crucial roles in society.
- Entertainment
- Catalyst for imagination
- Escape from everyday life
- Source of information and education
- Means of monitoring institutions (government, business)
This can help people's opinions and understand important issues in the world
- However, media can be influenced by bias or agendas.

Theories on Information and Media

Allocution: One party controls information.
Character Theory: Analyzing characters in media.

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Description

This quiz explores the evolution of communication from pre-historic times to the modern information era. Learn about different eras of communication, including ancient art forms such as petroglyphs and pictographs that laid the groundwork for human expression. Test your knowledge of the historical significance of these forms of media.