Genealogical Analysis of the Radio; A Communication Technology Artifact (Essay Sample)
In the third and final Micro-History assignment, you will once again select a communication technology to explore thoroughly. Then, you'll write a 3-page paper using either a genealogical or historiographical approach.
Micro-histories are fairly short, but they require careful research, analysis, and reflection to be effective. Follow these steps to complete the assignment.
Select: To begin, you'll need to choose a communication technology to study. You can choose from the list of suggestions provided for each assignment, or you can identify another communication technology and propose it to your instructor.
Find an Example: Then, you'll need to find an example of that communication technology—you can do so by visiting an online museum exhibit or archive, or you can find an example in person (by visiting a local museum or library, for instance, or by finding an example out in the world around you).
Research: Once you have chosen a technology and located an example, you will need to do some research. Find out more about the type of communication technology you have chosen, as well as any information you can gather about your specific example. (Hint: if you are viewing a library archive or museum exhibit, you should be able to consult the catalogue to find out information about your chosen artifact, including where and when (and sometimes, by whom) it was created.)
Write: Finally, write your micro-history document. The document should have two parts: the first part is descriptive, and the second part is analytical.
topic options:
e-Readers
Message boards/online billboards
Digital videos (e.g., Vlogs, TikToks, or Vines)
Tweets
Telephones (landline or mobile)
Text messaging
Blogs
Radio
Music Video
Records/Audio Cassettes/Compact Disc/Mp3
Podcasts
VHS/DVD/other home technologies for viewing films
Animation
Video games (e.g., live online play)
Micro-History #3: Radio
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Micro-History #3: Radio
Description of the Radio
The radio is a communication technology artifact that relies on radio waves for the transmission of telegraph signals. The radio is a common technology in modern society, and it is hard to meet someone that has not used, seen, or heard of radio regardless of age. However, this was not the situation some centuries ago as communication technology was invented during the 19th century (Huurdeman, 2003). Despite its development, the radio took some years before becoming a household fixture. The radio has a fascinating history since it revolutionized how people communicated and connected over short and long distances.
I have interacted with this communication technology artifact on numerous occasions. The radio is fitted in almost every car, and I often interact with it while in the car. Additionally, many Americans have radio receivers in their homes. The radio receivers fitted in most cars have knobs used for adjusting various frequencies depending on the one you want to listen to. The radio receiver I interacted with had two knobs, one for adjusting volume and the other for adjusting frequencies. The receiver was made from plastic and was produced in the US. The radio receiver is a copy of many others of its kind as numerous companies manufacture radio receivers. Despite being invented some centuries ago, the radio remains significant today, which is why most cars are fitted with radio receivers. Through these receivers, people get the news across the country, which shows how it is important to transmit information. The radio was invented to enable wireless communications between long distances, and this is the role it continues to perform in society today despite various technologies being
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