Developments in Media & Communication Technology

Communication today is fast-pace and interactive due to modern technology.

Global audiences swap information through modern online technologies that are interactive and fast-changing. Developments in media and communication technology include interactive Web sites and use of videos and virtual environments instead of printed content to convey information.

Interactive

Back-and-forth communication moves instantaneously through personal meeting locations such as blogs, Twitter and Facebook. Online resources known as "wikis" allow public collaboration in the development of website content.

Videos

The printed word no longer dominates mass communication. Instead, contemporary communication vehicles include personal videos that are uploaded onto sites like You Tube. Sites such as eHow offer instructional videos with subject-matter experts sharing their know-how through audio and visual content.

Virtual

Virtual reality Internet sites, such as Second Life, allow users to participate in a group-controlled society, University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) reports. Participants create avatar representations of themselves and interact in a virtual world that has its own economy. This online hangout offers fun as well as commerce lessons.

Impact

These emerging technologies create a sense of inclusion among users. But these developments also force a negative wedge between people who do not have equal access to all these information channels, the United Nations reports. This "digital divide" is most prevalent among youths.

References

• University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP): New Media of Mass Communication
• United Nations: Information And Communication Technology