Given that communication makes up significant parts of our daily lives, the evolution of communication technology throughout the past few centuries is vital in understanding our modern day interactions and what it means to us. The Information, by James Gleick, begins by exploring the use of one of the first modes of communication – the African talking drums, and the complexity and importance it played by transferring information from one individual to another, or even one village to another. The idea was that, as opposed to the normal rhetoric, these drums acted more than just a signal – they were able to talk and send a message. Being one of the first forms of communication, it shows how, despite its evolving nature, the idea of communication has always been constant. It is simply the transfer of information or knowledge from the sender to the receiver, often times many receivers.

However, more importantly, communication is the art of conveying a message through different mediums, whether it is through speaking, writing, or even through other technologies. It becomes a language in itself due to its uniqueness and need for interpretation. For example, Gleick refers to the cuneiform tablet as one of the most ancient forms of information technology with its distinct writing that didn’t fall under systems that were pictographic nor alphabetic. And, what is interesting about the medium is that even though you understand one form of medium, another form might be foreign to you. A perfect example, which was referred to in the book and one that I have observer through personal experience, is the Chinese script. Created almost 8000 years ago, it unifies the oral languages spoken in different regions of China through its writing. To this day, no matter which part of China you go to, if you understand the script, you would be able to read the street signs, etc. That perfectly exemplifies the medium of communication as a language in itself.

Moving on to present times, communication has gone a long way, especially through the influence of modern day technology that are the machines we see around us. The use of computers, mobile phones, electronic tablets and watches all introduce new mediums of communication for us, and eventually changes the way we interact with one another, yet the idea of communication will always remain the same. Nevertheless, it will definitely continue to evolve and impact our lives.