Throughout this course on the History of Information Technology, I have not only learned a great deal about the cultures and societies that shape our world, but the technological advances that made it all happen. Exploring notions such as the impact of printing presses on people of the Middle Ages, to how Big Data can be used in modern times to predict and analyze fluctuations in just about any concept of mankind. . In previous essays, the use of the VMI ePortfolio allowed me to keep track of all my papers, and gave me the ability to reflect on what I learned while taking this course. In this essay, I want to discuss the timeline of events from the beginning of technological advances, to how we communicated, and finishing with how we move our community forward through transporations systems utilizing my past three essays to demonstrate this. Because not only is it necessary to note that culture ultimately shapes society, it is also prevalent to remember that whether it’s concerning transportation, communication, or technology, the history of our culture is something is use as a learning tool for future advancements and further our success in worldwide growth.

Using previous drafts from this class, I will talk first about my communication essay. In this, I talk about how the adaptation of Egyptian hieroglyphs was substantial, relatable, and impactful to our society. Analyzing the timeline of Egyptian communication is, and has been, a complex and demanding task. The Egyptians began to form a pictographic written language about 5000 years ago, which they continued to use for more than 3500 years, until about 400 AD. Eventually, the pictures they used to represent words came to represent sounds. These symbols, hieroglyphs, or “sacred inscriptions” were adapted for use in everyday life, in addition to their important religious/mystical identity. Using the skills I have learned from this course, I can attest that their language differs from present day communication in an extensive amount of ways. Although claiming far more pictures and illustrations and far less organization to an alphabet, we still cannot deny that the egyptians were a hard-working group of intelligent people capable of verbalizing their minds clearly. A remarkable discovery in the progression of technology through the ages, these techniques had set the standard for future communication, hence why our society uses a different form of physical writing similar to what the Egyptians did 5000 years ago.

Next, I will talk about how in my transportation essay I discuss the St. Louis Metro Transit systems and how the fact that they were one of the first pivotal moments in information technology history when our society plateaued towards a technologically advanced system of networking as compared to other societies. Obviously, transportation is imperative for the functionality of any given society. It is what holds communities together and acts as the backbone for the city’s limits. In existence for more than 60 years, the St. Louis Metro Transit is one of the nation’s oldest interstate agencies, but still one of the most impactful. The St. Louis Metro Transit’s vision is to improve the region’s quality of life by providing excellent transportation and promoting economic development, and their mission is meeting the region’s transit needs by providing safe, reliable, accessible, customer-focused service in a fiscally responsible manner. Transportation is important for multiple reasons that include travel, economic activity and mobility. Travel and mobility are difficult without the use of transportation services, and transportation provides an effective way to transport people and commodities from one place to another place. Methods of transportation include buses, planes, boats, trains, cars and other vehicles. Transportation is important for moving food, furniture, medicine, chemicals, clothing and other valuable necessities. Nothing is more important to civilization than transportation and communication, and, apart from direct tyranny and oppression, nothing is more harmful to the well-being of a society than an irrational transportation system. Trade is essential to economic vitality, and transportation is essential to trade. By using the skills I have acquired through this course, you can trace how our transportation system both mirrored and propelled a burgeoning St. Louis into the future, street by street, highway by highway, rail by rail. And what was true then remains true today and for tomorrow: one of the most essential forces that will continue moving the greater St. Louis region forward is a transportation system that moves its customers efficiently and connects its passengers with opportunity.

Lastly, I will talk about my social media essay and how the effects and benefits of social media, particularly Facebook, has platformed a way for our society to become masters of innovation in terms of a professional climate for future innovations, a key call in enterprise transformation, and a channel for societal changes to take place. Looking back on the class discussions and videos from this course, it can be concluded that the very concept of social media is at the top of the agenda for many business executives, social analysts, political officials, and basically every other person existing on Earth today. Decision makers, as well as consultants, try to identify ways in which firms can make profitable use of applications such as Wikipedia, YouTube, Facebook, Second Life, and Twitter. Social analysts use it to decipher patterns in mass communication and the effects it has on the human brain and human ideology. Political officials use it as means of propaganda and influence political attitudes and democratic participation after controlling for demographic variables and the role of interpersonal political discussion in stimulating citizen participation. While every other person in the world uses it to catch up with friends, connect and communicate with loved ones, be up to speed with society’s ever-changing news media, and of course, produce a platform for our own identity through photos and status updates. Through social media, anyone online is empowered by an unrestricted flow of information to add to their knowledge bank. In today’s world, it is undeniable that social media plays an important role in impacting our culture, our economy and our overall view of the world. Social media is a new forum that brings people to exchange idea, connect with, relate to, and mobilize for a cause, seek advice, and offer guidance. Social media has removed communication barriers and created decentralized communication channel and open the door for all to have a voice and participate in a democratic fashion including people in repressive countries. This media outlet accommodates a wide variety spontaneous, formal, informal, scholarly and unscholarly writings to flourish. It enables common interest based groups such as students to work in a collaborative group projects outside of their class. It fosters creativity and collaboration with a wide range of commentators on a number of issues such as education, the economy, politics, race, health, and relationships. Facebook is a perfect example of this, and I look forward to the progress and betterment of society that Facebook so gracefully wields.

Without this course, I would not have been comfortable speaking on topics that even mildly related to how our culture has flourished, nor would I be 100% confident in my abilities to speak on behalf of worldwide innovation and adaptation to new technologies. This course has taught me about history and future of a topic so important to our modern lives.  In conclusion, I can say with confidence that this course and the ePortfolio have molded me into someone who thinks deeper about topics that means so much to us without our conscious thought, and I can walk away with a better understanding of how to view trends and practices which may be too subtle for the average mind.

REFERENCES:

[1] Egyptian Hieroglyphics, Abby Zyk.

[2] St. Louis Metro Transit Systems, Abby Zyk.

[3] The Effects of Social Networking: Facebook, Abby Zyk.