Sunday, September 26, 2010

RTF Blog Assignment # 3- Technological Change

     One of the main forces that shaped the influence of the radio industry in the 1920s is technological change. Technological change seems to be the most influential force of the radio industry in this time due to the formation of the wireless communications medium.  Radio was indeed the first wireless communications medium.  A man named Guglielmo Marconi developed basic principles of electromagnetism in the 19th century in which our technology industry uses today.  This includes broadcast television and cell phones.
     Technological change has influenced the media in our world tremendously throughout history.  The printing press is one of the earlier examples of technological change in our society.  The printing press enabled mass communication, and the mass production of printed media.  Moreover, this early breakthrough in technology influenced future communication technology to be created, such as the radio.  Furthermore, technological change is continuing to be a driving force in media industries to this day.
     In the 1920s, technological change affected the evolution of the U.S radio system throughout World War 1.  During World War 1, the U.S Navy took over all radio.  This then forced manufacturers to pool patents in order to improve equipment.  The patent pool allowed the technological improvements of radio to become available to the public.  Instead of radio be used by an operator, it became wireless due to the technological changes.  Eventually, the creation of over 500 radio stations emerged in this decade.

-Here is an image of a man in World War 1 using Marconi wireless equipment.

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