LESSON 1.

INFORMATION AGE

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Trace the historical timeline of information age from Gutenberg’s press to
the rise of social media platforms;
2. Identify the impacts of information age to the society; and
3. Evaluate the influence of social media to human lives

CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND

This section tackles the historical timeline of how information age came to
be. It also encompasses how this transition and development influence the society
as it approaches the current times. Its main learning intended outcome is to link
learned concepts to the development of the information age and its impact on
society.

The onset of gradual restructuring of society began when mass

communication was strengthened through the rise of technological advances.
Literacy among individuals in the community began to prevail that revolutionized
the society through efficient dissemination of information. The following timeline
shows how information prevails and changes over time.

Pre- Gutenberg World

• Drawing in Caves

As early as 38, 000 BCE cave paintings and drawings had

been used to communicate their culture and way of living in the
ancient times. Studying the lives of man thousands of years before
relied on cave remains which pictured the numerous animal and
plant drawings in walls of various caves. These are the common
factors that had been observed in ancient civilizations which gave
anthropologist and other experts to conclude that these things were
their ancient way of communication.

• Clay tablets

A simple flat tool used for

writing made of clay. Clay
tablets were utilized as medium
for writing which is composed of
imprints characters; especially
cuneiform which was a system
of writing used for thousands of
years.

Image from:
https://image.sciencenordic.com/1453715.jpg?imageId=145
3715&width=353&height=265
Gutenberg Revolution

• Gutenberg’s printing press

The invention of Johannes Gutenberg of printing press in 1440

revolutionized mass communication. The printing press made it
possible to reproduce books at a large number of copies which
made it information accessible to everyone. This had been widely
used in 242 cities in Western Europe. The invention of press
institutionalized every possible way of efficient interaction between
people thus enabling the society to grow and prosper in much
literate community with all information at hand to be shared and
transmitted from one to another. Technological advances and
distribution channels were emerging one after another since then.

Gutenberg’s Press
Image from: https://www.clipartkey.com/mpngs/m/133-
1334499_johannes-gutenberg-printing-press-ink.png

Post- Gutenberg World

• Telegraph and Morse code

In 1770, telegraph was widely used in transmitting long distance
verbal or audio messages. This revolutionized long-distance
communication through transmitting electrical signal from one
station to another via series of wires laid in between stations. In
addition, the invention of morse code by Samuel Morse during 1800
further strengthened transmission of messages over vast distances.
This laid foundation for a more complex communication as years
pass by.
Image from: https://images.app.goo.gl/zvND1UM7TGnMEhFJ8

• Typewriter

Typewriter started to flourish in 1860 which is considered one

of the meaningful developments in the field of communication. This
is a device used for writing characters which typically used ribbon
key to imprint letters on papers using ink or carbon. Due to this
invention, sharing of information became efficient that paved way
to restructuring of society. This device had huge impact primarily on
government and businesses. A standard management system was
established between agencies within the society.

Image from:
http://blogs.ubc.ca/etec540sept12/files/2012/10/typewriter.jpg

• Transistor radio
The invention of transistor radio in 1949 set foundation to the
modern electronics. This development initiated the widespread use
of integrated circuits which later on an essential part of modern
computers.
• Apple 1
This is a desktop computer from Apple
company. This was hand-built by Steve
job’s friend, Steve Wozniak, who ought to
sell the computer afterwards. This
computer did not take long as
advancement in technology had
become actively growing every year.

Image from:
https://images.app.goo.gl/ceLE8DTENdcETS
mj6

• Laptop
As the technology advances one from another, the invention
of personal portable computer known as “laptop” made it possible
for a convenient portable device to be carried anywhere. It was
design as “clamshell” factor form to be shut close for transportation
and travelling.

• World Wide Web

A British scientist, Tim Berners- Lee, invented the World Wide
Web in 1989. This made it possible to share information with efficiency
through automated information sharing between agencies. This is
the invention that connects one part of the globe to the rest of the
world. The modern world gets access to information through the use
of World Wide Web, which particularly enable the individual in a
community to get access to the information needed. Efficiency of
communication was enhanced and generally improved thus
revolutionizing the processes of the society as it undergoes numerous
transactions and activities that need efficient transfer of data or
information.

• Social media

Social media refers to technologies that allow individuals to

communicate, share, create or exchange information (Ali-Hassan &
Nevo, 2016). Social media facilitate social interaction and promote
collective actions from a diverse community. It collectively enables
collaboration from group of people, organization or enterprises. The
invention of numerous social media platforms dramatically changes
the world into technologically advance environment where people
utilize portable gadgets and technologies to access information. This
 drives the society to move towards technologically coordinated
environment.

SUMMARY

Key Concepts
Accessibility of information before had been a great struggle of the
community. This situation hindered the society from becoming literate
concerning various events and happenings in the place where they live.
The rise of information age started from the invention of printing press by
Johannes Gutenberg and extended its way up to the surge of social media
in the modern day. This development marked the onset of revolution that
gave light in the development of mass communication. The restructuring of
community started to be realized. Collective collaboration was
strengthened due to efficient information dissemination which little by little
transforms society to what the world is having now.

ACTIVITY

Instruction: This activity is an extended response essay. Follow the statement below.

1. Answer the question below in not less than 200 words.

“How did revolution in information shape the mode of learning we

are at during the COVID 19 pandemic?”

REFERENCES

Ali-Hassan, H., & Nevo, D. (2016). How Social Media Can Enhance Access to
Information through Transactive Memory Development. AIS
Transactions on Human-Computer Interaction, 8 (4), 185-212. Retrieved
from https://aisel.aisnet.org/thci/vol8/iss4/4

Gutenberg and the social media revolution: an investigation of the world where
it costs nothing to distribute information.
http://richardstacy.com/2008/11/20/gutenberg-and-the-social-media-
revolution-an-investigation-of-the-world-where-it-costs-nothing-to-
distribute-information/

Morse code and the telegraph. 2019.

https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/telegraph

Ten milestone in human communication. https://m.martianherald.com/10-

milestones-human-communication/page/7

The Historical Timeline of Traditional to New Media. 2017.

https://stnicholascom.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/the-historical-
timeline-of-traditional-to-new-media/