Changes

Invention of printing technologies scaled up the 'writing' process and enabled mass production of books. The invention of radio and television created the 'mass media' in which simultaneously the same message could be transmitted to thousands of people. Each ICT invention enabled the processes of information creation, sharing, storing and communicating to be easier, quicker, more efficient (reaching more people) etc. Each invention was a significant event in the evolution of human communication processes and in the explosion in the availability of information.  Each step also resulted also in shifts in the way information became accessible to sections of society.

Invention of printing technologies scaled up the 'writing' process and enabled mass production of books. The invention of radio and television created the 'mass media' in which simultaneously the same message could be transmitted to thousands of people. Each ICT invention enabled the processes of information creation, sharing, storing and communicating to be easier, quicker, more efficient (reaching more people) etc. Each invention was a significant event in the evolution of human communication processes and in the explosion in the availability of information.  Each step also resulted also in shifts in the way information became accessible to sections of society.

===The digital paradigm===

===The digital paradigm===

Information and communication have historically been drivers of social processes and systems. What makes the new framework different is the advancement in the digital technologies surrounding information and communications.  We are now perhaps in the middle of the next epochal movement in the history of ICTs, the use of digital methods of accessing, creating, modifying sharing, storing information as well as for communication.<br>The digital format of resources has caused such an explosion of information since creation, storage and dissemination of information has become much easier and cheaper than before.  Increasingly, production and consumption of information becoming increasingly important, not only from economic but even more so from social and cultural perspectives. This digital knowledge society is developing new structures and adjusting existing structures, along the lines of information flow.  These pathways of information flow can also create more marginalization and exclusion if all the participants in society are not equipped with the skills to function in this society.<br>Another key aspect of ICTs is in the possibilities of connecting and their impact on communities and organization. By their very nature, ICTs allow new possibilities for network structures of organizing and communicating information.   

Information and communication have historically been drivers of social processes and systems. What makes the new framework different is the advancement in the digital technologies surrounding information and communications.  We are now perhaps in the middle of the next epochal movement in the history of ICTs, the use of digital methods of accessing, creating, modifying sharing and storing information as well as for communication.<br>The digital format of resources has caused such an explosion of information since creation, storage and dissemination of information has become much easier and cheaper than before.  Increasingly, production and consumption of information becoming increasingly important, not only from economic but even more so from social and cultural perspectives. This digital knowledge society is developing new structures and adjusting existing structures, along the lines of information flow.  These pathways of information flow can also create more marginalization and exclusion if all the participants in society are not equipped with the skills to function in this society.<br>Another key aspect of ICTs is in the possibilities of connecting and their impact on communities and organization. By their very nature, ICTs allow new possibilities for network structures of organizing and communicating information.   

===Movement of ICTs===

===Movement of ICTs===

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

===ICTs and implications for polity, society and economy===

===ICTs and implications for polity, society and economy===

====Political====

====Political====

The political processes in most countries have been impacted by digital ICTs. Many political leaders now participate on virtual platforms that allow them to communicate with people directly. For e.g. Twitter which is a 'micro blogging' platform, is used by many political leaders, as well as government departments to communicate its work and information. Mass movements have also used digital networking tools to collaborate and support action. It is said that during the recent Egypt struggle for democracy, protests were co-ordinated using social networking platforms/tools, which made them more effective. The counting of votes has now become a fraction of time, used earlier, through 'electronic voting machines' and in a large country like India with a large voter base, counting for an entire constituency can be completed in a matter of hours.  

The political processes in most countries have been impacted by digital ICTs. Many political leaders now participate on virtual platforms that allow them to communicate with people directly, e.g. Twitter which is a 'micro blogging' platform, is used by many political leaders, as well as government departments to communicate its work and information. Mass movements have also used digital networking tools to collaborate and support action. It is said that during the recent Egypt struggle for democracy, protests were co-ordinated using social networking platforms/tools, which made them more effective. The counting of votes has now become a fraction of time, used earlier, through 'electronic voting machines' and in a large country like India with a large voter base, counting for an entire constituency can be completed in a matter of hours.  

===Think and talk it over with your students===

===Think and talk it over with your students===

The use of Internet by people mobilising in Egypt during the 'Arab spring' is discussed in detail in 'Internet Activism and the Egyptian uprisings : transforming on-line activism into the off-line world' by Tim Eaton, see [https://www.westminster.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/220675/WPCC-vol9-issue2.pdf article]). Read this article and discuss the concept of 'mediated mobilisation'. Can a variation of such a strategy be used for instance by women, to protest against illicit liquor shops in villages? Can you create a group of your colleagues in your Mandal, using a tool like 'whatsapp' to discuss ways of raising awareness against domestic violence or eve teasing?  

The use of Internet by people mobilising in Egypt during the 'Arab spring' is discussed in detail in 'Internet Activism and the Egyptian uprisings : transforming on-line activism into the off-line world' by Tim Eaton, see [https://www.westminster.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/220675/WPCC-vol9-issue2.pdf article]). Read this article and discuss the concept of 'mediated mobilisation'. Can a variation of such a strategy be used for instance by women, to protest against illicit liquor shops in villages? Can you create a group of your colleagues in your Mandal, using a tool like 'whatsapp' to discuss ways of raising awareness against domestic violence or eve teasing?  

<br>''The listed article was sourced using 'Google Scholar' a search engine that provides links to scholarly / academic articles. Can you search Google Scholar for articles of interest to you.<br>''  

''The listed article was sourced using 'Google Scholar' a search engine that provides links to scholarly / academic articles. Can you search Google Scholar for articles of interest to you.<br>''Digital technologies also allow unauthorised access (even spying). Emails and documents can be 'hacked' and accessed. A large part of our ICT infrastructure is privately owned, and the companies which often provide it 'free' (of cost) to users, may be using the information users feed, to monetise the same as well as share it with others. The sharing of such information both authorised by us (when we agree to the 'terms of use' of the software/tool), as well unauthorised, can be for the commercial gains of the company (they can sell or hire this information to advertisers for example), or for political purposes (to enable governments or other agencies to spy on us). ICTs make such tapping much simpler and easier, since the data passing over the global networks can be easily 'hacked' and a copy of the information shared with the people conducting such espionage.

 

Digital technologies also allow unauthorised access (even spying). Emails and documents can be 'hacked' and accessed. A large part of our ICT infrastructure is privately owned, and the companies which often provide it 'free' (of cost) to users, may be using the information users feed, to monetise the same as well as share it with others. The sharing of such information both authorised by us (when we agree to the 'terms of use' of the software/tool), as well unauthorised, can be for the commercial gains of the company (they can sell or hire this information to advertisers for example), or for political purposes (to enable governments or other agencies to spy on us). ICTs make such tapping much simpler and easier, since the data passing over the global networks can be easily 'hacked' and a copy of the information shared with the people conducting such espionage.

<br>'''Thus the digital nature of ICTs can be both greatly beneficial as well as greatly harmful for furthering human rights and development. Hence a critical perspective is essential, and as teachers we need to be cautious against the hype that surrounds ICTs, as a panacea for all problems, and instead keep a balanced and critical perspective and use our judgement to decide when and how to use ICT and when not to.'''

<br>'''Thus the digital nature of ICTs can be both greatly beneficial as well as greatly harmful for furthering human rights and development. Hence a critical perspective is essential, and as teachers we need to be cautious against the hype that surrounds ICTs, as a panacea for all problems, and instead keep a balanced and critical perspective and use our judgement to decide when and how to use ICT and when not to.'''