The Communications Revolution

By Frederick Williams

Book Overview

An excellent introduction to a complex and quickly changing field, this book is written in nontechnical prose and will best serve upper-level undergraduate students. His (Prof Williams) orientation reflects concern with modern communication industries. The book presents an insightful glimpse at how the communications revolution is likely to change those industries. It should be in every undergraduate academic library. -- Choice, February l982 If youve been looking for a book which neatly summarizes the many and complex elements of the telecommunication and information revolution now underway, look no further...The Communications Revolution is, frankly, a very good book. If youre planning to stock your shelves with writing about telecommunication and its impact on society, youd be well advised to begin with this one. -- Review and Criticism For those wishing to keep abreast of contemporary changes in communications technology and the ways in which such changes are likely to affect our lives, this is a useful and informative handbook...The style is direct and concise. -- Contemporary Sociology, Vol 13 No 1, January 1984

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803917821
• ISBN13: 9780803917828
• Release Date: February 1982
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Length: 285 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Broad View of Communications Changes

Williams says the communications revolution is ultimate a social one. He identifies it as an "explosion" in technologies. We are in the process of adapting to changes in the environment brought about by these technological advances he argues. He accurately tells us life will never be the same again. Distance is becoming a factor that no longer matters as technology brings people closer together. He writes "Where you dwell will be irrelevant to everything except your direct physical needs which, of course, include access to communications networks" (p. 18). He emphasizes the importance the "knowledge worker" will play in the unfolding generation. These changes are rapid, he says "We are on a social acceleration curve" (p. 35). While some of the technologies he describes are already passe, the general argument he makes is still worth consideration.