Lecture notes- weeks 13 and 14

Question 1

What was the first television technology? How did it work?

Answer 1

Mechanical television, patented a spinning disk (Nipkow), electromechanical system using the Nipkow system (Baird)

Question 2

Who was awarded the key patent for the first electronic TV system?

Answer 2

Farnsworth, developed first ALL electronic TV system, camera and receiver, awarded patent over Zworykik

Question 3

Why is there such a debate surrounding who invented TV?

Answer 3

Zworykin worked with Sarnoff at RCA, did a great deal to improve electronic TV, NBC/RCA pushed the idea that he invented TV, RCA did not want to pay royalties

Question 4

After WWII, how did TV change our daily lives

Answer 4

Effects on daily lives.
• Shifted how living rooms were arranged, pre WWII-piano, fireplace, after-the TV
• Daily schedule changes- change time we wake up, go to bed, do homework, eat dinner, etc

Question 5

In what ways did TV reflect societal changes in the 50s? Did this continue in the 60s?

Answer 5

• Many people moved from cities to suburbs
• Working class family struggles (eg Honeymooners)
• Struggling in the city to middle class suburban life
• Transition to middle class is complete with Leave it to Beaver and Father knows best
• Unlike 50s, 60s didn’t mimic/encourage change.
• While shifts occurred in society, TV broadcast shows like “I Dream of Jeanie”
• Harnessed counter culture with “Laugh In” at the end of the decade

Question 6

What are the three ways to receive TV?

Answer 6

• Broadcast: antenna receives local signal
• Direct broadcast satellites (BDS): low-earth orbit satellite e.g. Direct TV
• Coaxial cable TV (ATV) cable: cable company receives programming from satellite, program sent to home via coaxial cable, early cable provided local TV stations to remote areas through the use of antennas

Question 7

After WWII, most TV stations were placed on which frequency?

Answer 7

UHF (ultra high frequency), signal didn’t travel as well

Question 8

What were some of the strategies used by Ted Turner that contributed to the success of the UHF station he purchased in Atlanta?

Answer 8

• Broadcast reruns of popular shows
• Broadcast news at 3am and show Star Trek when other stations broadcasted news
• Broadcast non-religious programming Sunday mornings
• Lured wrestling to his station
• Purchased Atlanta Braves and Hawks
• FCC allows UHF stations to send out weak signals to CATV outlets
• With money he creates CNN and TNT

Question 9

Historically, what is the additional source of revenue received by cable networks?

Answer 9

Subscription fees and advertising

Question 10

Please describe the difference between a rating point and a share.

Answer 10

• Rating point: percentage of the potential television audience
• Share: percentage of the TV sets in use.
• Rating could be low at 2am but share could be large.

Question 11

What are the two things TV stations can do with their digital feeds?

Answer 11

• Standard digital format: can include up to 6 stations on same frequency
• High definition tv-better quality picture

Question 12

What was one of the main motivations for creating the Internet?

Answer 12

Fear of nuclear war promoted creation of Advanced Research Projects Agency

Question 13

What is the difference between a centralized and a decentralized communication network?

Answer 13

• Centralized: circuit switched, cut one line and connection was lost, destroy one hub and all connections through the hub are lost
• Decentralized: used packet switching, network continues to operate even if line or hub fails

Question 14

Please describe packet switching.

Answer 14

Breaking up a larger message into smaller packets and transmitting them independently across the network. The receiving computer reassembles the packets into the original message.

Question 15

Please describe the system that was created that allowed computers to communicate across networks. Also, please describe the two components of this system.

Answer 15

• ARPAnet: 1st packet switched computer network, precursor of internet
• Host: computer connected to other computers by a network
• No one really noticed

Question 16

Please list and describe the components of ‘hypertext.’

Answer 16

• Uniform resource location (URI)- address of content
• Hypertext transfer protocol (http)- standardized set of rules used by servers and browsers by sending and receiving info
• Hypertext markup language (html)- the original programming language of the web.

Question 17

What are the three key developments that helped popularize the web?

Answer 17

• The code for the WWW was made public
• Commercial users were given access (ex: companies could sell things)
• Mosaic: first easy to use graphical web browser software

Question 18

Please list and describe four attributes of the Internet discussed in lecture

Answer 18

• Accessibility: internet is more accessible, accessibility=a diffused network, more people providing us with information
• Volume: internet is incredibly high volume, high levels of volume= unconstrained amount of information, more information promotes leisure activities, learning, etc
• Velocity is high: you can send messages incredibly fast, promotes interactivity=dialogic network, people talk to each other in networks
• Promotes deliberation and democracy
• Range is high-you can send messages long distances quite easy-promotes extended networks.

Question 19

What are the three reasons why people are attracted to the Internet discussed in lecture?

Answer 19

• Interactive- you are an active participant
• Collaborative- working with other people
• Lots of control- you have lots of choices relative to the content you consume
• Instant gratification- get what you want now!