Information Age PDF

**INFORMATION AGE** - A period starting in the last quarter of the 20^th^ century when information became effortlessly accessible through publications and through the management of information by computers and computer networks. - It is also called the Digital Age and the New Media...

**INFORMATION AGE** - A period starting in the last quarter of the 20^th^ century when information became effortlessly accessible through publications and through the management of information by computers and computer networks. - It is also called the Digital Age and the New Media Age because it was associated with the development of computers. - Theory of Information Age that was proposed by JAMES R. MESSENGER (1982), He stated that "the Information Age is true new age based upon the interconnection of computers via telecommunications, with these information systems operating on both a real-time and as needed basis. Furthermore, the primary factors driving this new age forward are convenience and user-friendliness which, in turn, will create user dependence." - During 1980s, RICHARD WURMAN called it "INFORMATION ANXIETY" because : 1. We were unprepared to handle. 2. Abundance of information, it was difficult to collect and manage 3. We no longer kept them to ourselves. Instead, we share them and manage them in different means. - During 1990s, information became the currency in the business world. - It was preferred medium of exchange and information managers served as information officers. - In the present generation, there is no doubt that information has turned out to be a commodity, an overdeveloped product, mass-produced, and unspecialized. - We can still say that information is a very important tool that helps improve our way of life. - The Information Age will continue to move forward and far greater than our minds could imagine. There are so many modern technologies today. These technologies influence human lives and the society as a whole. One aspect that technologies has greatly affected is information. Communicating or exchanging information is important to humans due to a wide array of reasons. However, it can be limited by: A. Distance B. Time C. Location The attempt of humans to address the three limitations of communication or exchange of information let to new technologies. These technologies affected the social, political, and economic role of information leading to the so-called INFORMATION REVOLUTIONS. The start of the information revolution was made possible by the invention of language, writing, and printing. **HISTORY OF INFORMATION AGE** The invention of language, writing, and printing greatly improved how human exchange information and communicate. From these, early and primitive forms of information and communication technology were developed. The following were ways of exchanging information in the past: drum rolls, fire signals, hand signals, use of pigeons, use of flags, and papyrus. Many of them are still in use today. However, they remain to have limitations. **FIRST INFORMATION REVOLUTION** Information Revolutions aimed to address the limitation of communication. The first information revolution began in the mid-nineteenth century with the invention of the telegraph, telephone, and radio. It lasted until the 1950s **America inventor SAMUEL MORSE was credited for developing the first operational model of the telegraph**. His prototype was patented in 1940, but was first used in 1945. The use of the telegraph became widespread in America and then in Europe. It increased the connection between people separated by great distances. The telegraph played an important role during the American Civil War. It was used by the US Government to communicate military information, command, and intelligence reports to its troops. Telegraphs were also used by diplomatic offices in Europe to communicate with other countries. This enabled easier communication and linkage among countries. **After the invention of the telegraph, the telephone was invented**. The first telephonic device was developed by Johann Philip Reis. However, Alexander Graham Bell was credited for the invention of the telephone in 1876. Unlike telegraphs, telephone can send sound waves. The telephone became very popular in the US and eventually, in Europe. Networks of telephone communication were established. It impacted business, military, foreign affairs and many other human activities. **The radio is another important technology of the First Information Revolution**. It was Guglielmo Marconi who invented and patented the first radio. However, his radio can only send Morse codes. It was Reginald Fessenden who discovered how to send voice and music through the radio. Radio network stations were eventually established in the US in Europe. Radios were used by the military during World Wars. After the wars, the radio played a key part in the development of the broadcasting (news) and the music industries. **SECOND INFORMATION REVOLUTION** The second information age began in the 1950s until 1980s. It further improved communication due to the invention of the television, early generation computers, and satellites. This revolution made the "world smaller" The **television** was actually developed in the 1920s based on the work of 3 inventors. Fansworth invented the process of image scanning. Zworykin invented the iconoscope tube, and the kinescope television tube. Dumont invented the receiver picture tube. The **invention of the early computers** were due to the needs of the military John Vincent Atanasoff was credited for developing the first electronic digital computer in 1939. Alan Turing developed the first working digital computer, the 'Collosus'. It was used during World War II to decode Nazi war codes. In 1946, J. Presper Eckert and John Marchly developed ENIAC and other first-generation computer was that they used vacuum tubes which generated a lot of heat causing overheating or burning out. The problem on everheating led to the development of transistors by William Shockley, Walter Brattain, and John Bardeen. The use of transistors are the basic for the second-generation computers were smaller, faster, and more reliable. The invention of integrated circuits led to the development of the third-generation computers. The development of the early computers is significant as it demonstrated the synergy from the collaboration among the government, the military and the industry in doing innovation. Early computers made it easier to manipulate, transmit, process, and store data. It helped in linking people, industries, and governments together. Early computers were replaced by modern, more advanced models. To-date, the impact of computers to society continues to be remarkable. In order to transmit telephone and television signals in a global scale, satellites were developed. **SATELLITES ENABLE GLOBAL COMMUNICATION**. **Sputnik 1** was the first artificial satellite. It was developed by then Soviet Union and was launched in 1957. This marked the beginning of the so-called Space Age. In the US, the military launched its first satellite, the SCORE or Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment in 1958. Satellites were initially done by the military for military purposes. Eventually satellites were developed by civilians for non-military use. **SYNCOM III** was the first civilian telecommunications satellite. It was launched into orbit in 1964. It was developed by NASA and was used to broadcast the 1964 Summer Olympics. **INTELSAT I** or the 'Early Bird' was the first commercial communications satellite. It was launched in 1965 and was developed by Hughes Aircraft Company (now Boeing Satellite Systems). Later on, satellite technologies were further improved and developed. This enabled global communications, and the rise of television networks, and telecommunications companies. Satellite allowed governments and companies to send information with privacy, reliability, and timeliness. **THIRD INFORMATION REVOLUTION** The technologies of the first two Information Revolutions paved the way for more technologies and innovations which led to the Third Information Revolution. The main technologies of the Third Information Revolution are: \- advanced semiconductors \- advanced computers \- fiber optics \- cellular technology \- satellite technology \- advanced networking \- improved human-computer interaction \- digital transmission and digital compression **Impact of Information Age** **The Information Age has the following positive impacts:** **1. It enabled greater connectivity of people around the world.** Citizens in Japan or in Spain would know what is happening in Argentine or Australia. Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East can talk to their families I the Philippine because of online video calls. **2. It made many aspects of day to day life more convenient.** In getting government documents, online portals can now be used. Shopping can now be done online. Job applications can be done online. Online education is now also possible. **3. It created online communities.** Information technologies made possible the creation of online communities. People with common interests such as hobbies, expertise, and advocacies can now communicate, share ideas, and "meet" online. **4. It made information more accessible.** Almost all information can be accessed through the internet. Never in human history has so much information become so accessible at so much speed. However, it is important to validate the source of information and to critically analyze the information. **The information Age also has the following downsides"** **1. Many information are false and misleading.** Sharing and access to information in the internet is difficult to regulate. This leads to proliferation of false information like 'fake news'. This can result to many serious negative social, political and economic implications. **2. It allowed the conduct of crimes and illegal activities.** Information technologies were also used for crimes and illegal activities. Online sharing of dirty and pornographic materials, illegal trading, phishing, hacking, and identity theft in social media, and cyber bullying became possible. **3. It created a 'Digital divide'** Divide refers to the non-physical boundary between those who have access and are literate on information technologies versus those who are not. **4. It affected human's productivity and flourishing** Many individuals are addicted to online media, online games, and other online activities that take away time from having real human interactions. **CLAUDE E. SHANNON** - An American Mathematician and the "FATHER OF INFORMATION THEORY" - The Internet is a worldwide system of interconnected networks that facilitate data transmission - It was developed during the 1970's by the Department of Defense - One problem faced by Internet users was SPEED. **ADVANTAGES OF INTERNET** 1. Improved innovation 2. Improved entertainment 3. Improved social discoveries 4. Localization of knowledge 5. Improved communication **DISADVANTAGES** 1. Cyber sickness 2. Technology changes the way children think **WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW)** - A modern example of technology , the 20^th^-century tour de force - Invented by SIR TIM BERNERS-LEE - It is a way of addressing data processing and information sharing needs among scientist for the EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION for NUCLEAR RESEARCH (CERN) - CERN produces a huge amount of scientific data every second **Telephone and Telegraph** - Allowed the transmission of information to transcend physical boundaries, processing of veritable ocean and mountain of scientific data **SOCIAL MEDIA** - Encourages building a community of like-minded people. - The easy access to personal information makes one susceptible to online predation, identify theft, and scamming among other - Reinforces biases and beliefs based only on the content that they allow within the community, forgoing the variation and clash of ideas provided in real life. - Human being must be responsible in utilizing information to avoid and prevent harming other people. IM -- Instant Message SMS -- Short Message Service USB -- Universal Serial Bus URL -- Uniform Resource Locator PDA -- Personal Digital Assistance **V. Other References** - Messenger,J.R. (1982). "Theory of the Information Age." Accessed February 26,2017. [[http://www.informationage.org/briefhistory.html]](http://www.informationage.org/briefhistory.html) - Harris,R. (n.d.). "Truths of the Information Age." Accessed of February 26,2017. [[http://www.virtualsalt.com/infotrue.htm]](http://www.virtualsalt.com/infotrue.htm) - Rouse, M. (2014). "Information Age."Accessed February 27,2017.. - K12.starbooks.ph College general education. Science, Technology, and Society Accessed August 3, 2023