Examine the evolution of technology through the first, second, and third communications revolutions. What were the major advances made during each of these revolutions, and what impact did they have on societies and governments?
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In discussing the first revolution, essays should address such major advances as moving pictures and the telephone, which "prepared the way for a twentieth-century era of mass communications." Later developments, such as the invention of adding and calculating machines and the first computers, led to the so-called information age. The widespread availability and popularity of radios and televisions beginning in the 1950s led to the second revolution, which had far-reaching social and political consequences. Radio penetrated even remote areas of the globe. Governments embraced it as a means of projecting power, disseminating propaganda, and broadening education. Television also increasingly broke down social barriers during the 1960s and 1970s. The third revolution stemmed from the first personal computers and cell phones. Like radio and television, the Internet and smartphones have allowed for the dissemination of knowledge and information faster than ever before. To that end, governments are now accutely aware of the impact of social media and other outlets on political power. For this reason, some governments, such as those in China and North Korea, seek strict control over which information flows into and out of their countries. Other nations, including the United States, are now invested more than ever in monitoring electronic information. Other conseequences include greater difficulty in enforcing censorship and maintaining privacy. Also of concern are the growing socioeconomic inequalities engendered by the phenomenal growth of new technologies, which has led to a digital divide.

Examine the Evolution of Technology Through the First, Second, and Third