COMMS 300

New Media and the Future of Communication

Please note: this is archived course information from 2020 for COMMS 300 .

Description

How is communication changing in the digital age and how will it change in the future? Digital platforms and devices have profoundly affected the way individuals, organisations, communities and governments communicate.

In this course we explore the impact of twenty-first century developments on the communications landscape. In particular, we consider how the web, mobile communication and social media have altered not only the way we communicate but also the ethical controversies surrounding digital communication. Such ethical issues include: privacy; human relationships; conflict and harassment online; copyright and piracy; and the power of new media corporations.

But we do not restrict our attention only to the present - we also look forward to developments in technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, wearable computing and smart cities. We explore the likely impact of such developments on the nature and ethics of communication in the future.

This course is designed not only for new media enthusiasts but equally for those who may find themselves sceptical, bewildered or ambivalent in the face of rapidly developing communication technology.

Assessment

Coursework only

Availability 2020

Semester 2

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s) Associate Professor Luke Goode

Points

COMMS 300: 15 points

Prerequisites

15 points from COMMS 200-208 and 15 points in BA courses

Restrictions

FTVMS 203, 314