COMM 303-50: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGYSPRING 2013

Amber Denham

What will the communication technology landscape look like in 2023 AD?

Topics to Discuss

Communication Technologies

Tablets and E-readers

Television and Radio

Cell Phones

Communication Theories

Social Learning Theory

Media System Dependency Theory

Critical Mass Theory

Tablets and E-readers

First tablet PC introduced by Microsoft in 2000 (Wikipedia.org)

Did not become popular until the iPad was introduced in 2010

Tablet market makes up 21% of total computer sales (Grant & Meadows, p. 173)

First e-reader introduced by Sony in the early 1990s (Grant & Meadows, p. 190)

E-readers, particularly Barnes and Nobles’ Nook and Amazon’s Kindle, have completely transformed the book publishing industry.

Tablets and E-readers of the Future

13th Generation iPad

Social Learning Theory This theory involves social cognition and

learned behavior associated with one’s environment

In an article titled The Touch-Screen Generation, Hanna Rosin describes children as young as three-years old who can navigate the interface of an iPad as well as any adult (theatlantic.com)

Television and Radio

Both communication technologies dominated the second half of the twentieth century

Television and radio have become vital communication methods in the arena of politics

Before the emergence of the Internet, television and radio served as the primary source for local and world news among the majority of the population

Televisions of the Future Televisions in 2023 will be

equipped to respond to voice commands - even in the most basic models (remember, the remote control was once a luxury)

High Definition and 3-D capabilities will be the standard and not the exception

Network television will be replaced by online subscription services (a trend we are currently witnessing with Hulu and Netflix gaining prominence in the market)

Media System Dependency Theory

According to Ball-Rokeach & DeFleur, there are six reasons that people engage in media dependency (Grant & Meadows, p. 31):

1. Social Understanding

2. Self-understanding

3. Action Orientation

4. Interaction Orientation

5. Solitary Play

6. Social Play

The Media System Dependency Theory explains why so many people claim to be “addicted” to television; because they feel that by watching it they are gaining “social understanding” which in turn helps them gain “self-understanding”

Cell Phones First mobile phone

invented in 1973 by Martin Cooper; however, its bulk and lack of a transmitting network did not entice investors or consumers (Grant & Meadows, p. 254)

Smartphones begin appearing on shelves in early 2000s, the first iPhone in 2007 (Grant & Meadows, p. 255)

Cell Phones of the Future In 2023, cell phones will

capitalize on their “accessory” status as companies compete for designs that will allow the user to “wear” their cell phones, instead of carry them in their purse or pocket

Video messaging will replace text messaging

The digital assistant will become a standard application on all cell phones

Critical Mass Theory Grant and Meadows describe critical mass as the

“stage in the diffusion process that an interactive medium has to reach in order for adoption to take off” (p. 29).

The Critical Mass Theory is vital to the sustainability of any communication technology that requires interaction from another user; because in order for the technology to serve its purpose, there must be someone on the receiving end of the communication.

ConclusionIn 2023: Wireless will still be king

Voice commands and face-to-face capability will be standard on all communication technologies

Tablets will eventually replace all print publications

Sources

Grant, A. and Meadows, J. (2012). Communication Technology Update and Fundamentals. Waltham, MA: Focal Press

Rosin, Hanna. "The Touch-Screen Generation." The Atlantic. N.p., 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HistoryofTabletComputers