The Soft Edge: A Natural History and Future of the Information RevolutionThe Soft Edge is a one-of-a-kind history of the information revolution. In his lucid and direct style, Paul Levinson, historian and philosopher of media and communications, gives us more than just a history of information technologies. The Soft Edge is a book about theories on the evolution of technology, the effects that human choice has on this (r)evolution, and what's in store for us in the future. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
THE FIRST DIGITAL MEDIUM | 11 |
THE PRINTED AUTHORSHIP OF THE MODERN WORLD | 21 |
THE AGE OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE AGELESS IMAGE | 37 |
TELEPHONE | 59 |
ELECTRICITY | 69 |
RADIO | 78 |
SURVIVAL OF THE MEDIA FIT | 91 |
HYPERTEXT AND AUTHORREADER INVERSIONS | 136 |
THE OPEN WEB AND ITS ENEMIES | 148 |
TWENTIETHCENTURY SCREENS | 162 |
PAPER FUTURES | 174 |
ELECTRONIC WATERMARKS | 187 |
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN REAL LIFE | 205 |
YOU CANT TOUCH THAT IN CYBERSPACE | 222 |
233 | |
Other editions - View all
The Soft Edge: A Natural History and Future of the Information Revolution Paul Levinson Limited preview - 1998 |
The Soft Edge: A Natural History and Future of the Information Revolution Paul Levinson Limited preview - 1997 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract alphabet artificial intelligence Asimov autonomous bookstore broadcast cable camera capacity carrier waves certainly Chapter cognitive computer screens conveyed copy course created critics critique culture discussion dissemination effect electricity electronic text environment evolution of media hieroglyphics human hypertext icons ideas images impact information revolution information technology initial intellectual property interactive Internet invention Isaac Asimov Karl Popper knowledge less Levinson literacy literally look mass mass media McLuhan media evolution medium mode modem monopolies of knowledge monotheism motion pictures newspaper nonetheless online communication operation paper personal computer photograph physical possible printing press prior programming published radio reader recording remedial media result robots science fiction sense silent movies Socrates SOFT EDGE speech speed story survive telecommunication telegraph telephone television twentieth century unintended consequences V-chip viewers visual word processing writing written