Introduction
Media technology has been changing with the onslaught of new media and 40% or more of work force in developed countries are in new media occupations. There are four communication revolutions and first dealt with Print second film and radio third TV and computers and fourth internet. We have 3 kinds of societies agricultural industrial and information societies. Agriculture is 10000 years old industrial 500 years or information 30 years or more. New media have developed with development of world wide web invention of US defence department, and it has grown to great extent. Let us take a look at various media technologies below.
Print media technology developed after invention of printing press and paper is 3000 years old invented in China bible is largest printed in the world. Methods of printing include letter press offset gravure and screen printing. Letter press is hand composed offset is machine printed and gravure is color printing and screen printing is for banners. Printing is highly developed in Germany and many printing machines are produced
Radio developed when Marconi invented Morse code and ships in distress sent morse code for safety. Less Fesenden Lee De Forest KDKA are pioneers in radio broadcasting in America. During 2002 FM radios were launched in Chennai like Radio Mirchi Suriyan FM etc. Film developed with Lumiere brothers who used 12 cameras to picturize horse in air. Hollywood dominated film in America and silent movies like Birth of Nation were produced. In India Guru Dutt Devika Rani and Shantaram pioneered movies. Dada Sahib Phalke is also associated with pioneering Indian cinema. During Indira Gandhi days Amitabh Bacchan acted as angry young man in movies like Holay. Later he was injured in a film set and Indira Gandhi visited him in hospital. During 70s and 80s art cinema existed from Kolkata and Mrinal Sen and others were associated with it.
Computers developed in Philadelphia and this spread to other places. Computerization made work easier as booking rail or plane ticket from one place to other in India and automation is used in car assembly lines. Rajiv Gandhi started C-Dot with Sam Pitroda and he asked most questions in one of Indiras Cabinet meeting on computers. He signed supercomputer deal with US and also started LCA and ordered AWACs from them. Computer revolution swept India and the US as well others and made things easier.
TV started during 1930s and 40s in the US and cable came later. TV during Reagan presidency showed his popularity and skill in communicating in being most popular President of America. ABC nightline started during Iran embassy crisis and continued with Ted Koppel as host. TV in India and USA are dynamic and watched avidly by audiences. India has 500 cable Tv stations and America has four networks of ABC CBS NBC and Fox with affiliates.
New media or internet started during 1990s with invention of world wide Web and APRA network by US defense dept. internet brought online news and Journalism and online magazines. Online gives pictures words and sound and it is interactive. Most newspapers like the Hindu have online editions and are popular.
The North South News flow was popular during Indira Gandhi and Rajiv times dominated Asia and Africa. US and west did not agree and quitted UNESCO. The leaders complain neo colonialism and want New World Information and Communication order. Dr Whitney R Mundt LSU professor the Sean McBride Commission agreed there is imbalance and did nothing about it. He further said the UNESCO director General at that was misusing funds etc.
Media technology has been changing, and it is important topic in media studies. This topic is widely popular all over and is attracting attention from scholars of media and communication in India and other countries. This study will bound to grow in coming days.
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