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January 29, 2007

Lecture: What can early technologies teach us about today?

Key concepts: Commonalities in communication technologies across history, the "garden of forking paths," path-dependence.
Examples: Stamp seals, Subscription Libraries, Steam Cars, The Early Editable World Wide Web, QWERTY vs. DVORAK, Engelbart's Mouse and Chord Key.
Video: "The mother of all demos" from the MouseSite.

Help/Handout: Writing Requirements and Expectations

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Help/Handout: Grading Rubric

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Textbook: portions of 3: Books and Magazines

Read Chapter 3, Books and Magazines, from Media Now EXCEPT skip pp. 72-80 (start reading again at: "Media Literacy: The Culture of Print") Key concepts: Gutenberg, "Typographic Man"

Class Reader: Civilization Without Writing

Ascher, Marcia & Ascher, Robert. (2007) Civilization Without Writing: The Incas and the Quipu. FROM: Communication in History: Technology, Culture, & Society. (5th ed.) David Crowley & Paul Heyer (eds.), New York: Allyn & Bacon. pp. 30-35. Password Protected Online Full-Text (PDF) [Get Password Help]

Textbook: Portions of 4: Newspapers

Read ONLY pp. 97-101 ("Technology: Roll the Presses!") AND the box on p. 106 ("Blogging the Elections") AND the box on p. 108 ("Blogging Made Easy") in Chapter 4, Newspapers.

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