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34 Law & Contemp. Probs. 244 (1969)
On the Impact of the New Communications Media Upon Social Values

handle is hein.journals/lcp34 and id is 250 raw text is: ON THE IMPACT OF THE NEW COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA UPON SOCIAL VALUES PAUL BARAN* INTRODUCTION The challenge of describing the manner in which new electrical communications are modifying society and its values resembles the one facing an ant approaching an overripe watermelon: it is appetizing but overwhelming. The task is more a career than a paper. Not having comprehensiveness as a possible choice, we must settle for consideration of only a few of the directions of change which are being and will be wrought by electrical communications. To retain perspective on what follows the reader should remember that the evolving electrical communications technology is only one factor-though a major one-among many bringing on a markedly changed society. The all-pervasive nature of the more powerful communications media is unique, especially when we use the term electrical communications in a broad sense to include efficient use of computers and the automation of mechanical systems, both of which would be impossible if it were not for the new communica- tions technology. To see better where we may be going, let us assume that the technological develop- ments in this field which seem theoretically possible today are in fact accomplished in the future. If we use the future as a vantage point we can speak from a stance which will permit us a better vision of ourselves as a society. To do otherwise is to be too close to the phenomenon. We would be like the puzzled ant who, bobbing on a leaf in a storm, wonders what is happening to his world.' We seek to learn where our leaf is falling--or at least to learn the nature, magnitude, and direction of the winds of change. But before we can take this broader view, we should at least attempt to satisfy our proclivity toward the more narrow-toward identifying specific developments in communications technology which even today suggest coming changes. I, THE CHANGING COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY Listing such developments is not difficult. Nor would it be difficult to combine them to produce the outlines of a scenario for change. Six points in particular would stand out in this scenario: * Institute for the Future, Middletown, Conn. 'The recurrence of the ant simile may suggest both the author's perspective on his subject and his apprehensions about our future society.

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