Chapter III:

Specific Issues in Science, Technology, and Society

THE INFORMATION
AGE
Technology & The Past
Technology & The Past
Technology & The Past
INFORMATION
 INFORMATION
• Informare (Latin) = to give form, shape or character to
something

• Facts provided or learned about something or someone

• Knowledge communicated or obtained concerning a

specific fact or circumstance.

• Destined to be communicated to someone or something

 Information Eras

•Pre-Gutenberg Era
• Before the printing press

• Information is hard to replicate and distribute

• Transmission of information is mostly by

word-of-mouth
•Gutenberg Era
• Johannes Gutenberg (inventor of printing press)

• Mass distribution of information is possible but

expensive

• Rise of information mediation institutions (news,

bank, music industries)

• Traditional Media (newspaper, books)

•Post Gutenberg Era

• Invention of the computer & internet

• Mass distribution of information is easy

through use of online media

• Rise of social networks and crowd sourcing

Information
Age
Information Age
• A period starting in the last quarter
of 20 century when information
th

became effortlessly accessible

through publications and through
management of information by
computer and computer networks.
Information Age
• Also called as Digital Age and the
New Media Age.
 Theory of Information Age in 1892

•James R. Messenger
•“Information age is a true new age
based upon the interconnection of
computers via telecommunications,
with these information systems
operating both a real-time and as-
needed basis.”
 Theory of Information Age in 1892

•James R. Messenger

•“Furthermore, the primary factors

driving this new age forward are
convenience and user-friendliness.”
Impact of Social Media
• Education

• Easy access of educational information

on the internet

• Easy access of non-educational

information (fake, sexual)
Impact of Social Media
• Business

• easy promotion of products

• Understanding customers through

crow sourcing
Impact of Social Media
• Society

• Easily meet people and share ideas beyond geographical

boundaries

• Brings together like-minded people (networking groups)

• Invasion of privacy due to published personal information

• Addiction to social networking sites

 How to
Check the
Reliability
of Web
Sources?
1. Who is the author of the article /
site?
• Look for an “About” or “More About the Author”
link at the top, bottom, or side bar of the
webpage.

• Does the author provide his/her credentials?

• What type of expertise does he or she have on the
subject he or she is writing about?
• What type of experience does he or she have?
• Should you trust his or her knowledge of the subject?
2. Who published the site?
• Look for the domain name of the website that
will tell you who is hosting the site.

.edu = educational
.com = commercial
.mil = military
.gov = government
.org – nonprofit organization
3. What is the main purpose of the
site?
• Why did the author write it and why did the
publisher post it?

• To sell a product?
• As a personal hobby?
• As public service?
• To provide general information on a topic?
• To persuade you of a particular point of view?
4. Who is the intended audience?
• Scholars or the general public?

• Which age group is it written for?

• Is it aimed at people from a particular geographic

area?

• Is it aimed at members of a particular profession or

with specific training?
5. What is the quality of information
provided on the website?
• Timeliness = When was the website first
published? Is it regularly updated?

• Does the author cite sources?

• What type of other sites does the website link to?

• Is the site being cited by others?

 What are
examples of Useful
and Reliable Web
Sources?
Sharing…..

•The information age has

significantly improved daily lives?

•Online communities are better

than real communities?
 How do social media affect you personally,
academically, and socially?

1. Personal

2. Academic

3. Social