INFOCULTURE CL [Library Binding]

Robert W. Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 10, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0395570425 | ISBN-13: 978-0395570425

An illustrated look at the technologies that shape contemporary life features more than 250 color and black-and-white photographs and a text that discusses the history, origins, development, and reception of ubiquitous popular technologies. 15,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Lubar traces the development of the communications infrastructure in the United States beginning with the telegraph, telephone, and radio, continuing with the advent of computer-assisted communications, and culminating in the multimedia hybrids now evolving. Curator of the Smithsonian Institution's Natural History Museum, Lubar has a comprehensive grasp of the engineering and mechanics underlying these developments, but he also analyzes how they have affected the American public. And he does not feel that all this change has necessarily been positive or productive--too often we've simply automated our problems instead of providing good solutions. This is an interesting and wide-ranging study for all technology collections.
- Hilary D. Burton, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Liver more, Cal.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The evolution of the "astonishing electronic infostructure surrounding us all" is the focus of Lubar's historic, contemporary, and prophetic survey. Lubar blends technological facts with public opinion to describe major inventions that have led to today's computer age. Looking back at the suspicious reception of such taken-for-granted items as the telephone or the telegraph gives a new perspective to the possibilities of virtual reality and thinking machines. There is a depth of technical information, but Lubar will reach both the merely curious and the researcher, the latter of whom will benefit from his extensive bibliographies. Denise Perry Donavin

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Library Binding: 400 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (January 10, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395570425
• ISBN-13: 978-0395570425
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,524,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A brief history of the rapid evolution of info technology, December 24, 1999

By 

steven j forsberg (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: INFOCULTURE CL (Library Binding)

This book, packed with photos and illustrations, provides a concise, not-too-technical, overview of the evolution of information technology and its impact on our society. It serves as a good adjunct to more scholarly books on the subject and should keep the interest of anyone who is a fan of technology. The frequent graphics and photos should particularly interest younger readers who may not have much scientific or technological background.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Books on IT History Ever Written, February 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: INFOCULTURE CL (Library Binding)

One thing that I think is lacking in a a modern computer science cource is a good foundation in where allthis technology came from. The computer is just another Info Machine, just like the TV or radio. In 50 years time it will be somthing else that has got america's wallet and interest. This book looks at that veary history, what technology was of the past andwhat it most likly will be in the future. This book could serve as a Text Book for any course in computer history if there was one. Color Photos on practically every page make it ideal for visual learners, but it is also cram packed with text for the Conventianal learner.