Digital Media and Information in Society/Discussions/2-Media and Information Ages

Thinking with Wikipedia & ChatGPT

• Through the process of periodization we can identify different "ages" or periods of culture associated with changes in the tools and techniques used for human (and machine) communication.
• Early humans likely used a variety of techniques to communicate with each other before the development of language such as gestures, vocalizations, and physical contact.
• Language likely evolved over time (the origin of language is a fascinating and hotly debated topic), and humans early in its evolution began to use technology (tools and techniques) to facilitate communication. [1]
• After the evolution of language, the earliest and first period was characterized by orality and can be called the oral tradition..
• Manuscript culture was characterized by literacy and secondary orality and emerged with the alphabet and writing technologies.
• Print culture was characterized by widespread literacy and emerged with the printing press, and continued the development of secondary orality.
• The electronic age (not the information age) relied on widespread literacy shaped by the use of electricity to facilitate communication, first with the electrical telegraph and soon after telephony and broadcasting, shaped 19th and 20th century culture. New forms of literacy and cognition emerged (described by McLuhan in the Gutenberg Galaxy ). Skim The Victorian Internet, the telegraph and the telephone in United States history, social aspects of television and of broadcasting in general.
• The digital era, or the Information age, relies on what some call digital literacy introduces the computer and the computer network to the mix. Skim Internet Culture, Digitality, Information Age and Digital Literacy. Some suggest the emergence of

  a tertiary orality, or an orality that is actively interdependent with technology, may be emerging? Technology does not just convey information; it presents information in ways that stimulate thought, in particular new ideas or learning. Does our interdependence with technological affordance inform orality in ways to similar how the introduction of literacy did? The emergence of secondary orality eventually led to Western advancements from romanticism to the industrial revolution and more. Has the information age brought with it new ways of interacting with information that may potentially inform future stages of modernity and consciousness

Thinking with chatGPT

What do we mean by "media and information ages?"

Oral Tradition Age: The period before the development of writing systems when information was transmitted orally through spoken stories, songs, and communication.

Written Language Age: This era began with the development of writing systems, enabling the creation of written records and the preservation of information beyond oral transmission.

Print Age: Marked by the invention of the printing press, which led to the mass production of books and the widespread dissemination of knowledge and information.

Electronic Age: This era emerged with the development of electronic communication technologies, including the telegraph, telephone, radio, and television, expanding the reach of information.

Digital Age: The advent of computers and the internet revolutionized information creation, storage, access, and sharing, transforming various aspects of society and communication. .

What happens when we make a transition from one age to the next?

Orality to Early Literacy: Economic Impact: Emergence of written records facilitates trade and commerce through record-keeping and contract documentation. Social Impact: Creation of permanent knowledge repositories leads to the development of distinct social classes based on access to education and literacy. Political Impact: Centralization of power as rulers and elites control written information, enabling more efficient governance and administration.

Early Literacy to Later Literacy: Economic Impact: Expansion of literacy drives the growth of publishing and literature industries, contributing to cultural exchange and economic diversification. Social Impact: Increased literacy rates promote the spread of ideas and enable a broader participation in civic life, fostering the growth of democratic ideals. Political Impact: Rise of public discourse and the spread of democratic values challenge traditional autocratic systems, leading to calls for representation and participation.

Later Literacy to Early Cybernetic (Telegraph, Telephone, Broadcasting): Economic Impact: Telegraph and telephone accelerate communication, enhancing business coordination and expanding markets across long distances. Social Impact: Broadcast media creates shared cultural experiences and a sense of interconnectedness among populations. Political Impact: Governments utilize broadcast media for mass communication and propaganda, influencing public opinion on a larger scale.

Early Cybernetic to Generation 2 Cybernetic (Computer Networks, Narrow AI): Economic Impact: Computer networks revolutionize information sharing, giving rise to e-commerce, remote work, and new forms of digital services. Social Impact: Increased connectivity fosters global awareness and intercultural exchange, while automation begins to reshape traditional employment patterns. Political Impact: Digital platforms enable rapid dissemination of information, leading to challenges in regulating online content and concerns about privacy and cybersecurity.

Journal Posts

See Digital Media and Information in Society/How To for more information...

Summary of student/chatGPT conversations

1. Technology replacement or evolution?
   1. Alex Afriyie https://chat.openai.com/share/116e97fe-5f4e-44f5-9ca7-806c26a3b5e4 was very interesting conversation on whether the Internet would be "replaced" or would evolve: "Instead of outright replacement, the more likely scenario is a continued evolution of the internet and related technologies. ... In summary, while the idea of replacing a technology as foundational as the internet is theoretically possible, it is highly improbable due to the immense challenges and complexities involved. Evolution and adaptation are the typical trajectories for information technologies, allowing them to address changing needs and incorporate new innovations while maintaining continuity and compatibility with existing systems."
2. The elusive "intermediate term"
   1. Sam Bartgis Good exchange; trying to identify a word to describe the period between "literacy" and "digitality" or "cybernetics", ChatGPT suggested: "I understand your preference for a name that aligns more closely with "Orality" and "Digitality". Given this, how about "Telegraphy"? This term emphasizes the central technological advancement of the era, the telegraph, and follows the pattern of words like "Orality" and "Digitality"." Kind of a silly word, as it already has a clear meaning. Here is one conversation in which ChatGPT suggested "telecommunicative" as a word: https://chat.openai.com/c/3f2fb360-d183-4c42-b58f-172b01aed1b2 –> this is an especially noteworth conversation...
3. The durability of in-person discussion
   1. Reese Dow Interesting discussion reported on the "transitional period", but mostly reporting on what chatGPT said, rather than what Reese thought. Interersting point: "do you think any of the past forms of media will come back and influence any of the current forms above?" and "do you think the future of media will revert back to similar trends of the past?" and "do you think in the future we will stop talking to one another and just go to texting and calling, even when in person?" The last question yielded a good list of why "in person communication is likely to persist: (1) emotional connection (2) context and nuance (3) trust and relationships (4) collaboration and creativity (5) well-being and mental health
4. Historical thinking on cuneiform
   1. Ayden Genther Interresting discussion about cuneiform. Discussion in journal should have noted that the oldest tablet ever discovered (the Kish tablet) is a "a testament to the gradual development of writing and the transition from pictograms and early symbols to the more sophisticated script used for various purposes in ancient Mesopotamia" and tells us that, generally, information technologies evolve.
5. Transhumanism
   1. [Terry] Just description of conversation in https://chat.openai.com/share/678aecd3-9553-4e1c-93b0-be484c75f7f6; no interpretation. And the conversation does not show evidence of Brayden's thinking. I would have asked "what is meant by transhumanist" age, which suggests thinking about (1) human enhancement (2) biological immortality (3) mind-computer integration and maybe some (4) ethical considerations... https://chat.openai.com/c/62f21865-18c3-4c9e-beb6-6e85d141f7ce
6. Moore's law?
   1. [Howe] Interesting discussion on Moore's law, but how does that extend our class discussion? One possiblity: "while Moore's Law itself is not a direct tool for studying orality and literacy, it can be used as a point of reference for discussions on technological evolution and its societal impacts, drawing parallels and analogies with the historical development of communication methods and cognitive processes" (https://chat.openai.com/c/144036b0-89ef-46f8-911f-0743c69cbe33)
7. chatGPT makes a mistake
   1. [McFadden]Interesting chat at https://chat.openai.com/share/12e13934-ea8e-42c9-be99-1e7758695071, which illustrates (no offense) the Garbage in, garbage out capabilities of ChatGPT, in which it described chirographic and typographic as oral ages, when they are not (as noted in https://chat.openai.com/c/c2f727ef-355e-4900-a4d6-89d037522e6c).
8. Interesting discussions, but no interpretation offered in journal. What do you think? Did chatGPT make you think?
   1. Elijah Hager https://chat.openai.com/share/13bd8b1c-b12c-4652-8769-7cb70817edac is a pretty good conversation. Would like to see what Elijah thinks...
   2. Elijah Stemmer ChatGPT link didn't resolve. Interesting report on converstation, with reference to understanding how the past technologies continue to influence current behavior.
   3. Draven Michaletz Link corrected. No chatGPT link provided. Interesting discussion reported on the "transitional period", but mostly reporting on what chatGPT said, rather than what Draven thought.
   4. Tuck Latta ChatGPT link didn't resolve. Reported conversation describes the interaction, but doesn't report on any outcome.
   5. Bart Casabona Nice summary of impact of alphabet history. But unable to load chatGPT conversation...
   6. [Collins] Reported discussion, but link does not resolve. Reported discussing "the recent popularity in posting online, but it also showed in concerns of the rapid spread of misinformation and the vulnerability of having your entire life based around social media"
   7. Hunter Kaminski No link to chatGPT conversation. Described (but didn't interpret) results.
   8. Connor Bronson Described conversation from https://chat.openai.com/share/502868fa-2f7c-44aa-a6a3-bb2b67c03665, but no interpretation. Not clear what Connor thinks...
   9. Declan Maini Interesting question asked in https://chat.openai.com/share/0856416b-ddac-4018-95d0-f7d6d9a0df05, but no interpretation. Pick something out to pursue so we can see what Declan thinks, For example, I'd explore BCIs (brain-computer interfaces)....https://chat.openai.com/c/6f8443d9-d32e-4021-9f23-b5de0e309ea1
9. Missing links or journal entries
   1. [Shults]ChatGPT link didn't resolve; no description provided.
   2. Jared Mereday Just a description of conversation (and it was interupted). No interpretation as requested.
   3. Angel Nieves No entry in journal

Student Posts (thank you!)

AydenGenther (discuss • contribs) 14:58, 13 September 2023 (UTC)To extend this class discussion on Media & Information Systems I asked ChatGPT what the first oral and written language was, and it gave me multiple languages that developed around the same time in different regions. I decided to ask it more about Sumerian Cuneiform, which was one of the earliest writing systems known to date, developed around 3200 B.C according to ChatGPT. After that I asked it about the first physical piece of evidence of Sumerian Cuneiform which was the Kish Tablet.

For more detailed information, check this ChatGPT conversation:

https://chat.openai.com/share/4170dd9d-86c4-4b6b-8280-9aefb104e37e

ShinxPMD (discuss • contribs) 22:32, 13 September 2023 (UTC)

DroopyB (discuss • contribs) I asked ChatGBT what the next information age was, and it came up with multiple answers, including Quantum Computing, AI and Machine Learning, and Human-Computer Interaction.

https://chat.openai.com/share/0856416b-ddac-4018-95d0-f7d6d9a0df05