THE IMPACT OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE COMMUNICATION INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA

(A CASE STUDY OF NTA CHANNEL 8 ENUGU)

ABSTRACT

Scientific and technological development is the wheel upon which modernity evolves. As science and technology churns out new wonders, the world and life in it takes a more complex form. It is the gate way to information dissemination and the improvement in the Acknowledgement of communication as the grease that lubricates the frictions of social life.

This project work takes a look at the rate of development of the communication industry in Nigeria as a result of the increasing development in the area of science and technology ever since science waded into communication, communication has taken new dimensions, information dissemination has become a lot easier. It is now possible to communicate pass across vital information is second between persons separated by millions of filometres apart.

Chapter one of the text looks at the origin of science and technique as well as its debut into the communication industry in the application of scientific knowledge to the development of communication. It also looks at the main objective behind the carrying out a research of research work on this particular topic.

Chapter two is a critical review of related literature . here works of other writers in the field of scientific and technological developments in communication are reviewer, relating their  views on the matter to the research topic at hand. It looked at the orign of the mass communication industry in Nigeria comparing the achievements of the industry decides ago and its performance today in the twenty first century against its counterparts in the developed countries of the world.

The third chapter states the research method used in carrying out a research the research work to arrive at the results. This research process used includes research design, the sample the method of data collection and analysis of the data collected and the result of the entire research work. charts and other illustrations were used in explaining the results to a lay man’s understanding.

Finally, chapter five bears the summary of the entire research work as well as recommendations of areas of further study in the field of communication.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The development of science and scientific observations.

Science is a systematic knowledge of natural and physical phenomena which explores truths by observation, experiments and conclusions. The origin of science data as far back as the days of the early non whose accidental discovery of fire triggered off the curiosity in man.

The rotational pattern of the day and night, its relationship with movement of the sun, monnon, stars, seasons of the year etc are some of the natural phenomena that captured the famly of the early man. This crave for knowledge became the driving force behind the growth of science.

The evolution of scientific methods of enquiry gradually began to unravel the mysteries surrounding these natural phenomena and at the same time providing answers to man’s quest for improved environmental status. Around the 15^th – 18^th centuries BC three was this radical scientific revolution. This was a great Step towards the attempt by man to conquer his environment.

APPLICATION OF SCIENCE IN TECHNOLOGY

          The learners encyclopedia defines technology to be the utilization of scientific knowledge to arrive at a system of  production which involves the technical, engineering, managerial, administrative, marketing and consuming aspects of the economy.

This is to say that armed with the knowledge of early and recent scientific discoveries, man has continued to churn out new technological inventions, some of which would have mystified the early scientist.

Science therefore, is the core foundation of technology.

Examples abound of application of scientific knowledge to technological inventions.

• The early mans discovery of fire by striking two stones is today applied in the production of cigarette lighter.
• The law of floatation and up thrust by Archimedes is applied in designing and building of ships and submarines.
• Newton’s laws of motion is applied in the manufacture of automobiles etc.              
• The knowledge of projectiles is utilized in launching missiles, bullets, rockets and even in sports (short – put and javelin).

APPLICATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN COMMUNICATION  

          “Communication basically means sharing ideas, information, opinions or experiences between people” (Okunna, 199). It can be intra-personal (within oneself), inter-personal (between two or more people), or mass commercial (involving large number of people). Ever since science and technology invaded the communication industry, communication has become simpler.

It is now easy to pass on information in seconds between person separated by millions of kilometers apart. Scientific and technological developments in communication have been very pronounced. Technological ingenuity has produced the telegraph, telephone, radio, television, newspaper and even books.

However, these mass media as they are known today have developed over a number of centuries.

THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN COMMUNICATION

          Gradually, the first humans began to communicate through pictographs drawn on walls of caves or on trees or stones. These messages reflected prehistoric peoples conception of their life and environment.

Pictographs was thus the earliest form of written communication. With time these pictographs revolved into symbols which became increasingly stylized until they are developed into alphabets.

This marked the beginning of recorded history (Bittner 1989). This was followed by the development of hicorglyphic writing by the Egyptians in 3100 BC. The stage was therefore set for emergence of the forerunner of the modern print media.

Books

The first book “the book of the dead”, was written in Egypt in 1580 BC (Sandma et al 1976) but for a long time books did not actually become “a mass” medium they were hand copied. They were in very short supply and very expensive. This situation however, charged drastically when in 1450, Johann Gutanberg of Mainz, Germamy invented a metal movable type. This break through in technology, revolutionzed the art of printing and ushered in the European age of printing when the famous Gutenberg bible was printed.

Newspapers

Chronologically, books were quickly followed by Newspapers. The earliest publication that could be called the fore-runner of the modern newspaper appeared in China in 500AD. It satisfied the literacy class who yearned for news rather than books.

ELECTRONICS- RADIO               

Although the principle of the motion picture was discovered in the 19^th century, the 20^th century signaled the era of the electronic communication. It was in this century that the principle developed into motion picture when the ability to capture moving visual images with the camera was perfected. They also discovered how to capture movement and sound on film (Bittner 1989).

Radio on the other hand owns its origin to the perfection of wireless transmission. According to Bittner, just as 20^th century dawned, a system was perfected by which electro magnetic impulses could be sent through the air without wires carrying voice transmissions over long distances. This new invention was to become “Radio”.

TELEVISION

          The television came into existence in 1920’s though its root were discovered in the 19^th century. The beginning of modern Television technique and the basis of television transmission was the “iconoscope”. This device was invented in 1923.  The iconoscope tube used electrons to detect and transmit pictures instantly and its invention transformed Tv into an electronic medium. Before then, television depend on the mechanical reproduction of visual images.

Thus, the communication industry has really come a long way. Today the industry can boast of highly sophisticated technological equipments found in telephone, radio, newspapers, magazines, e-mails etc, all forming a complex web of global communication. By their powers combined the world as a whole has been ‘reduced’ into global village.

 

• STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

The impact of scientific and technological development on the communication industry in developed nation today is really applandable but can same be said of its developing counterparts like Nigeria. The high level of information technology (InfoTech) in the world today has earned this era the name “the information”. Has Nigeria come of this age?

As this study looks into how far Nigeria has gone in adapting to the level of technological advancement in the communication industry today, the following problems became so glaring.

1. There is a lower level of communication network in Nigeria compared to the developed counties.
2. There is a poor quality out-put in the available communication media in the country.                   
3. Nigerians have very little knowledge of information technology.
4. Lack of trained scientist in the filed of communication development.

 

• OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Having identified the research problems of the study, the following are therefore what the study aims to achieve at the end of it all.

1. To find ways of improving the communication network in Nigeria.
2. To discover ways of effecting better quality output in the different areas of mass communication.
3. To find solution and advice the government on how to benefited the people on the use of information technology.

 

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The aspect of this study that specifically sets it apart from others already done is the area of ‘timing’.

Other research works done in this area in the past may not have witnessed the latest improvements in the communication industry both globally within this 21^st century and in Nigeria within this present regime. Due to the high level of information technology a today, this particular study has better access to global and national information as regards to technological development in communication.

This particular study therefore is in a better position to compare and contrast the level of effect these advancement have on the Nigerian communication industry and as such serves s a more adequate reference material both to the authorities and to future researchers. It sets a solid foundation upon which future research work can be based.

 

1.5     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This research work is geared towards finding answers to the following research questions.

1. How far has technological development improved the communication industry in Nigeria.
2. How aware are Nigerians of information and communication gadgets available in the world today.
3. How much attention does science and technology receive from the Nigerian government.

 

• RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Hi:     The communication industry in Nigeria is technological under – developed?

Ho:    The communication industry in Nigeria is not technological under – developed?

H2     Science and economic is neglected in Nigeria?

Ho     Science and economic is not neglected in Nigeria?

H3:    Nigeria lack knowledge of information technology?

Ho     Nigeria do not lack knowledge of information technology?

 

CONCEPTUAL DEFINITIONS

The impact of scientific and technological development on the communication industry in Nigeria.

The chambers twentieth century dictionary defines he above key words as follows:

Scientific:             Pertaining to knowledge ascertained by observation and experiment, critically tested, systematized and brought under general principle.

Technological:     Pertaining to the practice of any or all the applied science that have practical value and or industrial use.

Development:      The act of process of bringing to a more advanced or more highly organized state.

Communication: Act of succeeding in conveying one meaning into others.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS

These are definitions of the key words in relation to the research topic.

Scientific:             Relating to systematic knowledge of how to enhance communication, obtained by observations and experiments.

Technological:     Application of the systematic knowledge of improved communication to produce gadgets and equipments that actually improve communication.

Development:      Improvement in the acquisition and application of systematic knowledge of enhancing communication.

Communication: The field of information dissemination both t intra-personal and inter-personal and mass level.

 

Simply put, the above operational definitions of key words defines the research topic as: How much the improvement in the acquisition and application of systematize knowledge has been able to help or enhance the dissemination of in Nigeria.

 

 

1.8     ASSUMPTIONS

In carrying out a research this research work, certain assumptions were made though subject to error they form the anchor upon which this work is tied.

1. Nigerian is aware and responding although at a show face to technological development in different sectors of the economy, hence the desire to find out how these developments have affected the communication industry.
2. Measuring the journey so far in communication technology advancement world initiate the motivation for further improvement.
3. Nigeria has the basic potential (human, financial and material resources) for greeter technological development, all that is required is proper motivation, management and allocation of these resources to the appropriate channels.

The above assumptions were made and this research work stands to prove them right or wrong at the end.

• LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Like every other research work done in this part of the world, limitations abound. There are very few research centers.

The few ones around have little or nothing to offer. As a result of this finding materials for this work was a lot of troubles. The few available materials were either obsolete or irrelevant to the study.

The issue of poor transportation network ws also a problem. Reaching the different areas where one has the possibility of getting relevant materials was such a tedious work because of the poor transport system.

Again the low level of in technology in the country hindered our access to global information as it relates to the topic. There are very few centres where one can browse through the internet for information. Generally, many Nigerians are totally ignorant of the information technology available hence just few people could be of help towards this research work.

Finance was another major problem that threatened the success of this work but all the above troubles not withstanding, with dedications and competence, this project work as brought to a successful conclusion.

Faced with the myriad of problems above, we had to limit the study to a manageable size using only the media houses in Enugu state to determine the level of technological advancement in communication industry in Nigeria.

We focused mainly on the broadcast media. We used the what, why, when, where and who question formula to limit the problem.

What –         A study of technological development on the communication industry.

Why –         To determine whether the media houses are adopting to these technological advancements.

When –        Currently.

Where –       Enugu state

Who –         Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)

The process of reducing the problem to a workable size has also established some firm limits to the research.

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