lesson 2: digital revolution, global village and virtual community

Question 1

digital revolution summary

Answer 1

globalisation is linked to development of tech
refers to the rapid advancement of tech in people’s lives

Question 2

which 4 technological trends have led to the digital revolution

Answer 2

1) constant improvement of computers
2) analogue to digital data
3) satellite communication
4) fibre optics

Question 3

revolution of the computer and info age summary

Answer 3

-global multimedia library of info and services in cyberspace
-high capacity of broadband and wireless networks

Question 4

global village (McLuhen) summary

Answer 4

electronic mass media collapses concept of time and space
e.g satellite tech allows people to communicate from opposite ends of the world; therefore world is one big “global village”
people can have offline relationships which are just as close as online relationships

Question 5

what is a virtual community

Answer 5

social network of individuals that create an online community which may (or may not) reflect their real lives
crosses geographical, political and social lines
becoming more realistic and complex to allow people to share and transform their identities

Question 5

3 examples of virtual communities

Answer 5

1- online chat rooms
2- virtual worlds e.g world of warcraft
3- social networks e.g instagram

Question 6

Rheingold (virtual community)

Answer 6

public discussions long enough, with sufficient human feeling leads to forming webs of personal relationship in cyber space.
(-) dominated by business corps who see vc as commodities

Question 7

Rheingold (virtual community) - nightmare vision

Answer 7

internet provides opportunities for intense surveillance and monitoring considered as nightmare vision

Question 8

Castells (virtual community)

Answer 8

network is message. enables new combinations of work and self-employment, individual expression, collaboration and sociability