TECHNOLOGY OF DIFFERENT INFORMATION AGE JSS 1 (FIRST TERM)
Topic: TECHNOLOGY OF DIFFERENT INFORMATION AGES
Technology can be defined as the
technical means that people use to improve their lives and environment.
As human being develops, the technology
he uses develops.
Information is processed data. Technology of information age is the evolution of different objects for tool making.
The counting of figures and other simple arithmetic operation are of the greatest challenges man has ever had before the invention of computer. The counting was done using different parts or the body such as finger and toes. Objects like stones, pebbles, sticks, and drawing of lines of marks on surface were also used for counting.Technology of different information ages can be grouped into
four stages and these are:
·
Stone Age & Iron age
(primitive period and 12th century BC)
·
Middle Age (Feather pen and Ink)
·
Industrial age (late 18th or early 19th century)
·
Electronic age (late 19th century)
ü This was experienced in
Europe, Asia, Africa.
ü it began about two million
years ago.
ü This was the period when
all tools and weapons were made of stones.
ü Technology was very
primitive during this age.
ü This was the period when
most tools and weapons used were made of bronze.
ü it succeeds a culture of
the copper age.
ü The technology in use
during this period was also very primitive Moulding of bronze became popular
about this time.
ü This was the period when
iron was used for making tools and weapons.
ü it was around 1200 BC.
ü This was also a primitive
technology period.
ü Small machines, such as
the miller, were invented about this time.
As human, life gradual attention begins to shift on iron.
The iron such as steel and bronze were used for making tools and weapons for
war e.g. hoe, knife, and cutlass were made from iron and were meant for human
usage.
·
The early man used stones
and farm tools, such as cutlasses, hoes, and axes, etc. for producing crops or
hunting animals for food.
·
Tools were made to solve
the problems of cutting and working faster in farms, etc.
·
Aside from food, the
early man also needed shelter, clothing and a means of moving from one place to
another.
· One major need of this age was information dissemination.
Methods used in sending
or spreading information in the Stone and Iron ages:
The methods used in
sending or spreading information in the Stone and Iron ages includes the
following:
a. Oral (Face to Face) Information/Communication
This is a method whereby
the sender (informant) meets with the receiver (recipient) face to face in
order to pass information across.
b. Drawings/Marks:
·
The ancient people used
charcoal or any other material to draw lines on the wall to represent daily or
weekly cooperative contribution. This was done in order to remember and know
how much to collect at the end of the contribution period.
·
The drawing of marks were
also made on human body for different purposes, e.g. Tribal marks to
differentiate members of one tribe from the other, or for beautification of the
body.
c. Beating Drums
Drum beating is another
way of transmitting information from the sender to the receiver. Drums are used
to inform the Villagers of certain invents such as hunting, farming,
competition, death announcement etc. Every event has its unique tune that the
villagers can understand.
d. Smoky fire/Smoke
Signals
This method is used to
pass information by bush burning to alert the people in the environment of the incoming
danger. It is also used as a means of redirecting a lost person to a
settlement, and to a farmer.
e. Making
representation
Information could be sent
from one village to another with the use of representation. E.g. tying a
cutlass with red cloth which will inform the receiver that something bad is
coming, if proper attention is not taken.
f. Town Crier
Information was passed by
town crier shouting the information repeatedly around the town. The town crier
carried a gong (a type of bell) and beat it around the community, or a
settlement. This was a popular method with the kings when they wanted to pass
information to their subjects. This type of information is from one person to
many people at the same time.
g. Drawing diagrams
The diagram will be drawn on the walls
or on the banks of trees. The messages are always understood by the person it
was made for.
h. Representation with objects:
Objects were
also used for communication or spreading information, e.g. Trade by Barter or
sale of farm produce.
·
Trade by barter in this
case is when an article is exchanged for another which is of the same monetary
value.
·
In the case of farm
produce, the items to be sold were on display, and stones placed by its sides,
to represent the price or cost of the item. The interested buyers then put down
the amount of money equivalent to the stones place beside the item.
3. MIDDLE AGE (FEATHER
PEN AND INK)
ü This was between the
twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
ü The period saw major
progress in technology, such as the invention of eyeglasses, gunpowder, silk
the compass etc.
ü This was a period when man
started discovering better ways of improving his life.
The middle age was the era of writing
with feather pen made from bird feather and was used for all their writings.
The feather pen was invented in ancient times. The process of writing was done
by dipping the feather pen into an inkpot. Besides the feather pen, there were
other inventions like paper was developed. The Egyptians used this for writing
scrolls in the middle age.
4. INDUSTRIAL AGE (LATE
18TH OR EARLY 19TH CENTURY)
ü This period was around the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
ü It witnessed the
widespread availability of electronic power, the internal-combustion engine and
factories for production.
Features of the industrial age;
•
Electricity
was discovered during this period,
•
Industrial
production of goods started during this period,
•
Turbines
and internal-combustion engine were introduced
•
The
industrial age witnessed massive improvement in technology
Industrial age is known as the industrial revolution age. There were rapid revolution changes in agriculture, transportation, manufacturing and mining sector across the globe in this era.
The facilities that were used during the industrial age include some of the following:
·
Typewriting
Machine
·
Printing Machine
·
Telephone
·
Radio
·
Television
·
Telex
Typewriting Machine
Typewriter is a machine
used to type messages or information or documents. Any document produced with a
typewriter is neater and durable than the handwritten ones.
Printing Machine
Printed materials are
just like typewritten ones. Printing allows mass production of informative
materials that could be spread far and wide e.g. production of invitation
cards, handbills newspapers etc.
Telephone
Telephone allows people’s
voices to be transmitted over long or short distances.
Radio
Voice information is
broadcast to group of people in geographical location at the same time within
few minutes.
Television
This is used to broadcast
information in form of both voice and pictures to people in different location.
Telex
A telex machine is used
to transmit textual information from one person to another usually over a long
distance.
5. ELECTRONIC
AGE/COMPUTER & INTERNET AGE (LATE 19TH CENTURY)
ü This period started since 1951.
ü It is the period when electronic calculators, electronic
typewriters and the computer system were introduced.
Features of the electronic age;
•
Many electronic
machines or devices were discovered during this period,
•
Computers were made,
•
Electronic diodes, the
integrated circuit, and chips were invented
•
Technology became advanced
·
Fax Machine
·
Satellite system
·
Computer
·
Electronic Mail
·
Internet
They
are discussed below:
Fax Machine
This
transmit text and graphic messages from one location to the other, it might be
within the country or outside the country with the use of series of numbers
called fax number.
Satellite
System
A satellite is an object which has been placed into the
orbit by human endeavor in other to improve sending radio, telephone and
internet signals to any part of the world. Such objects are sometimes called
artificial satellite to distinguish from natural satellite such as moon. It is
used to transmit high volume of data, television broadcasting, as well as
telephone transmission.
Computer
Computers are now used with telecommunication systems for
transmitting information over short or long distances. The information sent can
be text, numbers or pictures.
Electronic Mail (E-Mail)
It is used for the transmission of information over computer
networks. This is like writing a letter or sending information in writing that
can be received immediately it is sent. It can be sent to many people anywhere
in the whole world at the same time.
Internet
The internet is an
acronym for International Network. It is the world
current largest computer network allowing free exchange of information between
one computer user and many others connected to it. It is the latest and most
reliable means of transferring data.
ü
Today, we have entered a new era, the computer age- an
age which owes everything to inventors.
ü
The computer and the
Internet have certainly had a great impact on our society .
ü The computer age is called the digital age.
•
Decrease in the use
of paper work,
•
Use of microchips and
digital technology,
•
Introduction of the
Internet,
•
Use of advanced
technology.
Review Questions
1. The period when stones
and rocks were used as tools is the_______.
• Industrial age
• Stone age
• Middle age
• Electronic age
2. The period when iron
was used for making tools is the_______.
• Industrial age
• Stone age
• Middle age
• None of the above
3. The present age is
the_______.
• Stone age
• Middle age
• Eloctronic age
• Computer age
4. The importance of
technology is to_______.
• Destroy lives
• Produce food
• Improve lives
• Manufacture computers
5. Which of the following
is a feature of the Stone Age?
• Modern technology
• Primitive technology
• Computer technology
• None of the above
Assignment
1. List five different
technology of information age
2. Explain two out of five listed above.
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