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Monday, September 29, 2014

Communications and Our Town


This interesting video was filmed in 1947 and discussed the importance of communication. The setting was a telephone-wire repairman went to retrieve a model airplane for two young boys and afterward he explained all the different ways their town relies on communication. By playing a game of make-believe he used rocks and wires to demonstrate the connections of various communication technology amongst their town. The examples they used were many still relied on today such as mail, telephone, radio, television, and newspapers; other ideas they brought up were the church bell, factory whistles, and policemen using hand gestures. This video intrigued me because it seemed like their ideal society would’ve been one where communication is effortless and instant, much like our society today. It would be interesting to let them see how communication and the global network society have changed our dependency on technology and transferring information.

In the video the man acknowledged using visual and verbal forms of communication, but there was nearly no emphasis on face-to-face interaction. It most likely didn’t even cross their minds in those days, but people from this time period can easily recognize the tolls that hiding behind a communication barrier takes.



I think what we have to learn from this video is that while it is undeniable that technology, especially for communication, is important for our growth as a society; we must learn to be able to communicate in all forms. Given the technological experience we gain from growing up in gadget filled world, most people are more than proficient in communicating over the phone or Internet; the real need is to brush up our personal skills. Being able to form an idea, devise a way to relay this idea, and clearly express it are things that are becoming increasingly more difficult for younger generations. While we do have a plethora of options for communicating, we need to get back to the basics of personal interaction.

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