“ TODAY THE INFORMATION EXPLOSION: TOMORROW. . . ?” 1977 EDUCATIONAL FILM MEDIA, COMPUTERS SM10015

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This 1977 color educational film produced and directed for Coronet by Lawrence Levy explores the way information transfer has changed throughout history, from early oral traditions to inventions and technologies of the modern “information explosion” and its effects. The film begins with busts of two statue heads singing (0:21) to demonstrate oral information transfer through song or story. A drawing of a person copying a book by hand (0:24). An animation of Johannes Gutenberg, who invented the printing press in 1440 (0:29). The invention of the printing press changed information availability, since books were more widely available. Animation of books weighing down a ship (0:57). Animation of a hand tapping a telegraph, which was invented in 1836 and increased the speed of information transfer (0:59). Drawings of a series of new inventions start at 1:16: an early telephone, camera, phonograph (1:19) wireless radio, sound recording, a Columbia record (1:23), typewriter, early lightbulb (1:30), and television. At 1:46, title cards with digital screen text: “TODAY, THE INFORMATION EXPLOSION: TOMORROW…? [THE CHANGING SCENE SERIES]” Employees work at Mission Control; a view of the 1972 Apollo 16 (?) launch (2:14). A woman typing on a mainframe type computer with monochrome monitor, magnetic tape drives, and punch tape software input and output (2:32). The New York Times newspaper coming off an industrial color printing press (3:06). Telephone operators working at a switchboard (3:45) and in long distance calling centers. Closeups of telephone cables and microwave transmitters (4:00). A communication satellite in space (4:36); black-and-white TVs (4:50); a TV studio at CBS 2 News (5:02). TV coverage of the 1977 Chicago mayoral special election, where Republican city council member Dennis Block lost to Michael Bilandic (5:19). Jay Feldman, TV News Director at CBS Chicago talks about how the news industry gets information (5:52). An Associated Press teletype machine (6:03). TV footage of the Save Our Schools protests to keep public schools open amidst desegregation (6:54). Walter Jacobson, a CBS TV reporter talks about how “objectivity is a myth” and the information explosion has made it hard to determine what is news (7:04). A WBBM CBS Channel 2 news van (8:14). The CBS studio playing the ten o’clock news, showing Jacobson reporting on a June 4 police shooting in Humboldt Park that killed two on Puerto Rican Independence Day (8:35) and desegregation protests at Hubbard High School and Dawes Elementary (9:10). The narrator discusses Canadian communication theorist Marshall McLuhan’s phrase “the medium is the message” and how it has altered communication (10:12). People dance at a nightclub as the film explains how new clothing or dances spread quickly (10:48). Students in a library; the camera pans to a closeup of the shelves (11:18). A man leans on a car, speaking into a CB radio (11:32); business executives conduct a video conference via long-distance phone lines (11:56). Students in rural Rocky Mountain schools stand in front of a map and watch each other via a TV network (12:20). Four TVs, one showing Eckrich and Kmart advertisements (12:46). Dr. Howard Shiemsky (?), a psychiatrist, talks about how selective inattention can be used to deal with information bombardment (13:00), and can lead to mental health issues if we are too overwhelmed. The film ends by zooming out on a view of Earth from space, saying that the information explosion has allowed us to achieve a “global consciousness,” but the question remains how we will deal with it.
Credits: Camera: Jim Mahoney, Sound: Scott Smith, Editing: Jay Tannenbaum, Animation Graphics: William Biderbost, Animation Camera: Ron Crawford, Computer Titles: Mel Schwartz
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[@apl175]

12:57 "We can constantly being bombarded by information of all times...particularly in modern times." ---- I wonder if he had any idea of what was to come.

[@collegeman1988]

No. The closest thing that I’ve seen that was pretty accurate to predicting computers in people’s homes and Internet commerce is a film titled 1999 A.D. a film made in 1967. It is available to watch on RUclips.

[@jonathankleinow2073]

Couldn't find much on Jay Feldman at 5:53, but Walter Jacobson, featured at 7:00, has quite the colorful Wikipedia article. Still with us at age 86, too!

[@Bruce12867]

And that's former Bears wide receiver Johnny Morris delivering the sports at 9:28. Morris is also still with us at age 88.

[@jeffb.2257]

Excellent video to reflect upon.

[@deltaecho5470]

There are some key truths in this video. You know there's some truth in this since they wouldn't allow this to be shown in schools today.

[@cetocoquinto4704]

Fast forward 2024 a student in my country cant even remember the name of his school but knows whats the last hour trending in facebook..😂

[@four4eyes]

We always know what's going on , but we can't stop it from happening . Nowadays we only know more bad things are continuing to happen . Wake me up when we can actually do some good with all the information .

[@jaminova_1969]

The future past! They got the political social media / propaganda part right!

[@hakureicirno6059]

12:37 "The earth has become a global village."
I always thought the word "global village" was created in 1990s-2000s with the widespreading of Internet.

[@djtall3090]

I thought the same thing about "Global Village"

[@titoqwentezproductionz3406]

they always tell us in advance don't they

[@TheListOf]

Yes, they do. Symbolism will be their downfall.

[@Cheezburgercatz]

Intelligent ppl who are well versed in the history of and development of technologies just recognize the patterns that persist and how they're exploited by power structures... it's not that spectacular, what is spectacular is how we always ignore their warnings bc shiny new object syndrome or corporate greed / s_distic applications of said tech

[@Cheezburgercatz]

@@TheListOfor you can like, know what's actually at play and not fear monger over hypotheticals when the reality is far worse.

[@TheListOf]

@@Cheezburgercatz Symbolism will be their downfall...

[@checktheskies5040]

Some say a higher realm entity uses us all so we can think speak and thus manifest things into really... just saying. This day and age nothing is off the table in case you have not noticed. Arcons if I remember correctly? ❤

[@Georgina-lv9bt]

1977 "We can constantly being bombarded by information of all times...particularly in modern times."
2024: "Hold my beer"

[@My_in-laws_condo]

What’s a newspaper?

[@8ersoul8]

I have a collect call.......😮😅😂🎉❤

[@kayipyau8171]

For children,made family fun at McDonald's.