This book applies the approach of technology assessment to the telephone. The author's analysis forecasts the effect of the telephone on society and compares it with the reality. This book not only examines the social consequences of the telephone, but provides a model for future efficient assessments of new technologies. It documents a largely unknown piece of the history of American technology and anlayzes the requirements for success in technological forecasting.

This study explores cultural features in communication and examines language in use by studying the talk within a prominent cultural event, the DONAHUE show. First, the study provides a detailed reading of America today, showing the importance of the individual in American society, the prominence of choice, and the role of the self as an antagonist to traditional social roles and the institutions of society more generally. Similarly, the study explores common ways of speaking such as being honest about who one is, sharing one's thoughts and feelings, and really communicating with others....

This volume concerns decision making in informatics and is suitable as a basic introduction to the field--the technology, the industry, the applications, and the key issues. It deals with the critical question of how to make choices in this rapidly expanding and pervasive field. The author suggests that to date there have not been any valid methods to assess the future social impact of technological development. Therefore, this volume puts forth a new descriptive and normative model of technological choice and offers a critical analysis of efforts to improve decision making through...

Focusing on the adoption of color television standards in France, this work notes the degree to which technical standards are the result of political and economic phenomena and demonstrates how small technical differences are exploited for large gains.

This book identifies, documents, and analyzes the major dimensions of U.S. prime-time TV content. By exmining fictional TV series run in prime-time and on Saturday mornings over three seasons, the author and his research team have put together a fascinating study of American society according to television.

This books uses information to reveal the current interconnections between domestic and foreign economic, cultural and political developments in the information sector. It analyzes the international and national factors promoting the development of the emerging information society and exmaines the weaknesses of existing information systems, critiquing their durability, applicability and ultimate desirability.

This volume brings together original analyses about how the Middle East is depicted on U.S. television news. It analyzes some of the most intensely reported news stories of the past decade. Its revealing studies also show how broadcasting on Middle Ease issues has changed in recent years. These studies offer important and provocative findings regarding crucual issues in Middle East coverage.