CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ICT

Learning Outcomes:
 Students will be able to know the Digital, Information, and Computer Age.
 Students will understand the functions of Media in Digital Age.
 Students will be able to know about information Age
 Students will be able to to know the evolution of Media.

Digital Age, Information Age, and Computer Age: An Overview

information age, and computer age, used interchangeably, capture the ubiquitous nature of
computing and the prolific use of technology in almost all aspects of human activity such that
digital interaction is a defining characteristic of human activity.

It is a period in human history characterized by the shift from traditional industry to

information technology-based economy brought by industrialization during the Industrial
Revolution. The definition of what digital means (or what information means) continues to
change over time as new technologies, user devices, and methods of interaction with other
people and devices enter the domain of research, development, and market launch.
This period is also characterized by the digital industry creating a knowledge-based society
surrounded by a high-tech global economy that exerts its influence on how the manufacturing
process and the service sector work in an efficient and convenient way.

Introduction:
The Information Age (also known as the Computer Age, Digital Age, Silicon Age, or New Media
Age) is a historical period that began in the mid-20th century, characterized by a rapid epochal
shift from traditional industry established by the Industrial Revolution to an economy primarily
based upon information technology. The onset of the Information Age has been associated
with the development of the transistor in 1947, the basic building block of modern electronics,
the optical amplifier in 1957, the basis of long-distance fiber optic communications, and Unix
time measured from the start of Jan. 1, 1970, the basis of Coordinated Universal Time and
Network Time Protocol which now synchronizes all computers connected to the Internet.

Discussion:

The Information Age goes by a few names. Sometimes called the Computer Age, New Media
Age, or the Digital Age, no matter what name you use, it refers to the period that began with
the rapid growth in technology starting in the 20th century.

This period was sparked by the Industrial Revolution and is often considered to have begun
with the invention of the transistor in 1947. Without the transistor, a device used to amplify or
transmit electrical signals, most of the modern electronics we use today wouldn’t exist.

Ever since the rise of the Information Age, some of the most well-known entrepreneurs have
been in the tech industry. With new developments and advancements all the time, it has
become one of the most successful fields to be in.
Media normally refers to the means of communication that uses unique tools to interconnect
among people. The forms of media include television, radio, cellular phones, and internet
(which involves the access and use of various social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, and YouTube, among others). In the digital age, however, media can be considered
as the message, the medium, and the messenger.

The Message
Media is considered to be the message itself for those who create and own the rights of
content. The forms of content can be user-generated or professionaly-produced. User-
generated content (UGC) is a form of content created and owned by the users of a system.
UGC has grown exponentially especially with the wide internet coverage or easy WiFi access,
increased social med participation, and affordable smart devices.

Figure 1.18 Media as creative content

Below is one of the many examples of media tools used especially by millennials to generate
content.
→ Blog
Keeping a diary or a journal is a traditional method of recording one's thoughts or expressing
one's emotions through writing. With the advent of the internet, expressing one's feelings and
thoughts was given a new concept through online writing or blogging. A blog is a combination
of two words-web and log. It works the same way as pen and paper would but privacy
becomes irrelevant given that a blog post can be seen by anyone online. A person who writes
blogs is called a blogger.
One of the TV personalities in the Philippines who also does blogging to further express
feelings, thoughts, and opinions is Maine Mendoza, also known as "Yaya Dub," in the Kalye
Serye of the noontime show "Eat Bulaga."
Most recently, blogs have evolved into microblogs and video blogs. Microblogs have become
popular due to the rise
of Tumblr and Twitter in which users instantly share limited content or short messages. Now,
with the increasing number of YouTube viewers, people have explored uploading their own
videos ranging from their travels and products reviews to any other random topics. Some
vloggers, Youtubers, or social media influencers even make money based on the number of
views they get and on the products they feature in their video blogs.
The Medium
The medium used refers to the tool or tools used in sending a message from the source to the
destination. Traditionally, for example, professionals send messages to the audience, such as
a news anchor delivering the news on TV and/or radio. However, with the latest technologies,
the so-called social media has become an avenue for information dissemination even taking
over news
 Figure 1.19 The artist Maine "Yaya Dub" Mendoza as a blogger

sites in bringing the latest or up-to-date content. One such example is Twitter. Users of this
application can constantly update other Twitter users about a certain topic. In this platform,
Twitter users can also share other users' content (in the form of retweeting) and discuss any
topic with one another. Thus, the media, instead of just being an avenue for delivering
messages, is becoming increasingly social-with the audience themselves creating their own
content and interacting with one another.

The Messeger
The messenger is the one who delivers the message. This is why broadcasters, for example,
being the messenger of news are called "media." In the digital space, however, does the
"media" also refer to social network users who create content themselves but are not
professional journalists? Hence, although the media can be the message, the medium, and the
messenger, in the digital age, the demarcation lines between them are somewhat blurry.

Evolution of Media
The media has transformed itself based on two things—
(1) how information is presented; and (2) how the connection is established. Woodcut printing
on cloth or on paper was used in

Figure 1.20 Printing press

the early 15th century. It was in 1436 when Johannes Gutenberg stated working on a printing
press which used relief printing and a molding system. Now, the modern printing press
delivers messages in print, such as newspapers, textbooks, and magazines.
In the 1800s, the telegraph was developed followed by the telephone which made the two-way
communication possible.Message sending and receiving can now be done both ways
simultaneously.

Figure 1.21 Telegraph in the 1800s.

Figure 1.22 A screenshot from
the
1902 French film Le Voyage

At the beginning of the 1900s, broadcasting and recorded media were introduced. Radio and
television were used to send sound and video to homes and offices through electromagnetic
spectrum or radio waves. Audio (lower frequency band) or video (higher frequency band)
content can be received depending on the frequency used. Later on, a combination of both
audio and video information made the audience's viewing experience more exciting. Films and
movies became popular as they catered to larger audiences.
As communication devices also evolved and became pervasive, so did information distribution.
A photo taken using a smartphone can immediately be uploaded and shared on Facebook,
Twitter, or instagram. Community websites such as OLX.ph, a Philippine counterpart of
ebay.com, let its users buy and sell items online.
This eliminates the need for going to physical stores.

In line with this development, the audience regardless of their professions can now interact
with one another and are no longer disconnected. News sites can even get news stories for
example from Twitter or other social media sites. According to Claudine Beaumont, author
from The Telegraph, one good example of this happened on January 15, 2009, when dozens of
New Yorkers sent 'tweets' about a plane crash in the city. News about the US Airways Flight
1549 which was forced to land in the Hudson River in Manhattan, USA immediately spread all
over the country.
All the plane's engine shut down when it struck a flock of geese, minutes after takeoff from
New York's LaGuardia Airport.
Figure 1.23 shows one of the first photos taken from a Twitter user, Janis Krims, showing the
drowned plane with survivors

Figure 1.23 A screenshot of Janis Krums' tweet about a plane crash in

Hudson

standing on its wings waiting for rescue. It was instantly forwarded across Twitter and used
by numerous blogs and news websites, caring the TwitPic service to crash due to multiple
views. In this regard, Twitter users were able to break the news of the incident around 1
minutes before the mainstream media have alerted the public about the crash incident.
This is a typical example of how individuals can now deliver content to everyone and
connections are no longer controlled by professionals.

Overview of Current Trends

A trend refers to something hip or popular at a certain point in time. It can be a particular style
in fashion, devices, or entertainment. A new trend may always come along to replace the
old one.
Technology trends tend to change as time goes by. Following Moore's Law, technology is
bound to upgrade itself every two years. In 1965, Gordon Moore predicted that the computing
power would dramatically increase over time. But as it increases, cost is expected to
proportionally go down. Nowadays, the two-year prediction has even decreased, with releases
happening less than two years, if not, yearly. Aside from cost, sizes of hardware have also
decreased in making devices, such as smartphones, more useful and dependable.
A few years ago, people would have a cellular phone, a digital camera, a portable music
player, and a laptop with them.
They would use their phones to text and make calls, the digital camera to take pictures, and
the music player to listen to music while doing their work on their laptop. Now, smartphones
are capable of doing the aforementioned activities and a lot more through applications or
"apps" made available online. The term smartphone was coined as the cellular or mobile
phone has now become smarter it can run apps which help people perform their day-to-day
activities. Apps turn mobile devices into miniature PCs capable of browsing the web, taking
down notes, and playing games, among others. By default, smartphones come installed with
basic apps such as making calls, sending text messages, playing music, and managing
schedules. As of 2017, Google Play has approximately 2.8 million apps available for Android
users, whereas Apple's App Store is estimated to have 2.2 million. These apps are not just
limited to smartphones. They can be used in other mobile devices, including tablets and,
another recent trend, wearable devices.

In an article from Forbes.com, DeMers (2016) identified seven major trends in 2017.
1. IoT and smart home technology
The so-called Internet of Things (loT) has been trending since 2016. The vision of IoT has
evolved due to the convergence of multiple technologies, including pervasive wireless
communication,
data
analytics,
machine learning,
and use of hardware technology
such as sensors, microprocessors, and microcontrollers.
Controlling home appliances through a mobile phone— such as switching the lights on and off,
setting the timer for the washing machine, and controlling the television to record shows that
might be missed due to traffic—is now possible.
2. Augmented reality and virtual reality
In 2016, the release of games such as Pokémon Go and the anticipated VR headset,
Oculus Rift, served as a turning point for AR and VR technology.
3. Machine learning
Also called artificial intelligence, having machines decide for you seems to be a
daunting task and would probably make you think of robots and talking
computers,similar to Iron Man's Jarvis, However, with the rect release of Apple's
iPhone X, it was not just the design that improved. The iS' intelligent personal
assistant, Sir, has aso been upgraded with enhanced learning making the use of Phone
more efficient. Its latest features include the following:
• Face ID
The owner's face is the new password. It is a more secure way to unlock the phone and keep
the data safe.
• A11 Bionic
Al1 Bionic is claimed to be the "most powerfill and smartest chip ever in a smartphone,"
with a
neural engine capable of up to 600 billion operations per second. A neural engine, a type of
artificial intelligence,
enables computers to learn from
observation.
o Wireless charging
A cable is not needed to charge the device.
 o iOS 11
In its latest operating system, one can scan documents in the notes app, edit live
photos, and in the U.S., even pay friends in Messages. Siri can also translate
languages.
o Augmented Reality
AR is not just designed for fun. It is also meant for productivity and efficiency. It allows one to
navigate without looking at a map, visualize industrial equipment, and many others.
4. Automation
Through advanced technology, it is now possible to automate previously human-exclusive
tasks. This is very much evident through wearable devices such as stepcounters and heart
rate monitors used by health-conscious individuals. Information collected is automatically
saved and stored in mobile devices for analysis later on.
5. Big data
Big data is a term that describes large and complex volumes of data. But it is not how much
data an organization has it is what they do with it that matters.
Big data can be analyzed for insights which can help management make better decisions and
come up with more effective strategic plans. Waze is an example of an app which uses big
data. The app helps users determine traffic, direction and route estimations, and notifies users
with accident alerts and road hazards, among others.
6. Physical-digital integrations
Majority of organizations nowadays are moving towards system automation. As such, they
identify their physical elements and create digital data for more efficient operation and back-
up. The concept of having a "paperless company" in which transactions, reports, and services
are done using automated systems is one such example.
Not only is it deemed reliable but also environment-friendly.
7. Everything on demand
Due to the prevalence of network connectivity, it is possible to have information on demand.
Music, movies, and even drivers (e.g., Grab are made available through the apps in a
smartphone.

Reference:

Wang, V. C. (Ed.). (2015). Digital age, information age, and computer age. Handbook of
Research on Learning Outcomes and Opportunities in the Digital Age, 2. doi: 10.4018/978-1-
4666-9577-
1.ch019

Mwewa, M. (2023, August 25). Information Age | Kinnu. Kinnu.

https://kinnu.xyz/kinnuverse/history/history-of-entrepreneurs/information-age/

Information age. (n.d.). DBpedia. https://dbpedia.org/page/Information_Age