The Telling Image The Changing Balance Between Pictures and Words in a Technological Age

Profound changes are taking place in our society as our methods of communication come to depend more on pictures and images and less on words and numbers. These changes affect a wide range of fields, including science and technology, commerce and industry, medicine, education, and the media. Many commonplace activities have also been affected, from shopping and travelling to leisure and entertainment. This highly readable volume brings together the most current information on the history and impact of information technology. It explains the importance of sight and sound in human communication, the role of pictures and words, and the changes brought about by the advent of digital computers and television. The book goes on to examine the evolving forms of communication in education, science, engineering and the practice of medicine. This work will interest professionals in many disciplines along with teachers, administrators, policymakers, media workers, and all those concerned with the future of the electronic revolution.

1. The Communications Scene 2. The History of Words, Numbers, and Pictures as Records 3. Words, Numbers, and Pictures in Childhood 4. Words, Numbers, and Pictures: Sorting and Indexing 5. Pictures and Words in Engineering, Physics, and Chemistry 6. Pictures and Words in Biology and Medicine 7. Pictures in Everyday Life and Study 8. The Way Ahead: The Future of Pictures