Information Communication Technology and society

Communication is not a new phenomena to society. The definition provided in the last blog entry states that any method for recording information (be that as simple as pen and paper) and broadcasting information is a form of information communication technology (ICT). Does that mean that examples of Maori rock art are infact the first forms of ICT in New Zealand? I guess the dyes used were the technology of that time. So ICT is prevalent and has been throughout time. The changes exist in the technology now available to us. Chalk and blackboard was prevalent in schools in the past and nowadays teachers use interactive whiteboards (though not in all societies)

Nowadays the technology is advanced and we tend to think that the technological element of ICT relates to some sort of electronics - whether it be computers, radio, television, mobile phones, the internet or digital cameras to name but a few. These products are all around us, whether we notice them or not. They are becoming more accessible to the general public as prices become more affordable. It is more surprising to find someone that doesn't own a mobile phone or digital camera than to find someone who does. Yet ten years ago these products were rarities.

ICT is seen as common place now and in the future; it is a core subject in primary and secondary schools and if you're not computer literate it is almost as disabling as being unable to read or write in Western society. This is my first attempt at blogging and it's certainly a learning curve, not in the sense of mastering how to use the tool, more in the sense of why we would want to add another labour intensive task to our lives. I'm hoping that the benefits will begin to emerge soon.