User:Stevesuny/sandbox/507-infoages

= Thinking with Wikipedia & ChatGPT =


 * Through the process of periodization we can identify different "ages" or periods of culture associated with changes in the tools and techniques used for human (and machine) communication.
 * Early humans likely used a variety of techniques to communicate with each other before the development of language such as gestures, vocalizations, and physical contact.
 * Language likely evolved over time (the origin of language is a fascinating and hotly debated topic), and humans early in its evolution began to use technology (tools and techniques) to facilitate communication.
 * After the evolution of language, the earliest and first period was characterized by orality and can be called the oral tradition..
 * Manuscript culture was characterized by literacy and secondary orality and emerged with the alphabet and writing technologies.
 * Print culture was characterized by widespread literacy and emerged with the printing press, and continued the development of secondary orality.
 * The electronic age (not the information age) relied on widespread literacy shaped by the use of electricity to facilitate communication, first with the electrical telegraph and soon after telephony and broadcasting, shaped 19th and 20th century culture. New forms of literacy and cognition emerged (described by McLuhan in the Gutenberg Galaxy ). Skim The Victorian Internet, the telegraph and the telephone in United States history, social aspects of television and of broadcasting in general.
 * The digital era, or the Information age, relies on what some call digital literacy introduces the computer and the computer network to the mix. Skim Internet Culture, Digitality, Information Age and Digital Literacy. Some suggest the emergence of"a tertiary orality, or an orality that is actively interdependent with technology, may be emerging? Technology does not just convey information; it presents information in ways that stimulate thought, in particular new ideas or learning. Does our interdependence with technological affordance inform orality in ways to similar how the introduction of literacy did? The emergence of secondary orality eventually led to Western advancements from romanticism to the industrial revolution and more. Has the information age brought with it new ways of interacting with information that may potentially inform future stages of modernity and consciousness"

= Thinking with chatGPT =

What do we mean by "media and information ages?"
Oral Tradition Age: The period before the development of writing systems when information was transmitted orally through spoken stories, songs, and communication.

Written Language Age: This era began with the development of writing systems, enabling the creation of written records and the preservation of information beyond oral transmission.

Print Age: Marked by the invention of the printing press, which led to the mass production of books and the widespread dissemination of knowledge and information.

Electronic Age: This era emerged with the development of electronic communication technologies, including the telegraph, telephone, radio, and television, expanding the reach of information.

Digital Age: The advent of computers and the internet revolutionized information creation, storage, access, and sharing, transforming various aspects of society and communication. .

What happens when we make a transition from one age to the next?
Orality to Early Literacy:

Economic Impact: Emergence of written records facilitates trade and commerce through record-keeping and contract documentation.

Social Impact: Creation of permanent knowledge repositories leads to the development of distinct social classes based on access to education and literacy.

Political Impact: Centralization of power as rulers and elites control written information, enabling more efficient governance and administration.

Early Literacy to Later Literacy:

Economic Impact: Expansion of literacy drives the growth of publishing and literature industries, contributing to cultural exchange and economic diversification.

Social Impact: Increased literacy rates promote the spread of ideas and enable a broader participation in civic life, fostering the growth of democratic ideals.

Political Impact: Rise of public discourse and the spread of democratic values challenge traditional autocratic systems, leading to calls for representation and participation.

Later Literacy to Early Cybernetic (Telegraph, Telephone, Broadcasting):

Economic Impact: Telegraph and telephone accelerate communication, enhancing business coordination and expanding markets across long distances. Social Impact: Broadcast media creates shared cultural experiences and a sense of interconnectedness among populations. Political Impact: Governments utilize broadcast media for mass communication and propaganda, influencing public opinion on a larger scale.

Early Cybernetic to Generation 2 Cybernetic (Computer Networks, Narrow AI):

Economic Impact: Computer networks revolutionize information sharing, giving rise to e-commerce, remote work, and new forms of digital services.

Social Impact: Increased connectivity fosters global awareness and intercultural exchange, while automation begins to reshape traditional employment patterns.

Political Impact: Digital platforms enable rapid dissemination of information, leading to challenges in regulating online content and concerns about privacy and cybersecurity.