Reviewed Paper Volume 2 Issue 8 April 2015 International Journal of Informative & Futuristic Research ISSN (Online): 2347-1697 The Role of Information Communication Technology in Paper ID IJIFR/ V2/ E8/ 072 Page No. 2965-2970 Subject Area Key Words Mass Communication Information Communication Technology (ICT),, Radio Production, New Media Dr. Abid Ali Assistant Professor & A-V Production Incharge Institute of Mass Communication &Media Technology Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra, Haryana, India Abstract Communication Media hereby acted as a mirror of society. Civilizations and the culture development goes vis a vis. Historically, Speech has a limited distance range of communication within the family and communities. Then, printing extended the range of communication. Telegraph helped the transmission of writing messages, almost instantaneously, and telephony from 1876 onwards facilitated the transmission of speech. In early nineteen century, the world witnessed radio broadcasting for information transmission had been established. In the 1950s began the transmission of picture along with voice for broadcasting. In these days community radio seems to be making waves in a big way. This paper explores the power of community radio as a communication tool. It also explores the role, importance and applications of ICT in community radio broadcasting. The research methodology for this study is descriptive study, with strong observation methods in the said area. Even telephonic interview was conducted to gather necessary data. 1. Introduction Man as a social animal finds his existence as a consequence of interaction between him and his social-culture environments. The programming capability of man provided him with an edge over others species in animal kingdom and he succeeded in evolving various complex forms of media of communication for expansion of his resources as well for having better control of his requirement. Media of communication thus acted as a mirror of society.to communicates with one another is a compulsive urge of human beings. Civilizations and cultural progress to the extent, communication has made them possible. Speech has a limited distance range of communication within the family and very closely living families helped the primitive communities. After speech the next important development was writing.it helped preservation of idea, thoughts, agreements and their transmission from generation to generation, until paper and printing were invented, even writing could help only www.ijifr.com Copyright IJIFR 2015 2965
to a limited extent for communication between different communities and societies. Printing helped the multiplication of information and knowledge consequently; printing extended the range of communication. But they could not influence the rapidity of transmission.it was only from the middle of the last century that rapid transmission of communication by electrical means became possible.telegraph helped the transmission of writing messages, almost instantaneously,and telephony from 1876 onwards facilitated the transmission of speech,enabling the dissemination of information and knowledge very quickly. Telegraphy and telephony are however means of communication from one individual to another, from any to any and could be said to be private means of communication is transmitted by telegraph or telephone could be known to millions only when printed and distributed through newspaper or otherwise. The next quantum jump occurred with the invention of the radio and its utilization for broadcasting of information from a central source to any and everywhere equipped with a radio receiving device. This is communication from one to many.. In early nineteen century, the world witnessed radio broadcasting for information transmission had been established. In the 1950s began the transmission of picture along with voice for broadcasting. Television increasingly caught on. The black and white pictures were themselves a wonder, but television became an arresting marvel with color transmission.now in these days a wide range of electronic communication technology which can bring about meaningful revolution and improvement information transmission are available.but in all of these radio is considered to be the most powerful medium of mass communication in India and the chief and cheap source of information. Radio broadcasting began in India in 1927, with two privately owned transmitters at Mumbai and Calcutta. In 1936 it was renamed All India Radio.Now AIR maintains proximately 450 channels and transmits in 24 different languages and dialects. There are also commercial (FM) and non-commercial radio stations are ruining that s why this study was conducted and this article will explore the power of this strong communication tool, and the roll, importance and applications of ICT in community radio broadcasting. 2. Methodology And Data Collection The research methodology for this study is descriptive study, with strong observation methods in the said area. Even telephonic interview was conducted to gather necessary data. As the nature of this study is descriptive, the tools used in this study to collect data are the ones most supportive to descriptive research. Following sources and tools to collect the necessary information are chosen: Observation Information from All India Radio Information from internet.books 3. Outcomes Information Communication Technology Information Communication Technology means correct information quickly communicated to many people with the help of latest, fastest, and effective technology. ICT means not just computer as we assume it is the combination of computers, internet and satellite. Now the world is divided into two. One part is affluent in information, the other poor in information. At present, the nation that does not have any way or knowledge to acquire information through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is invariably poor. In past few years, there has also been a severe change in the 2966
definition of literacy. The citizen able to use or having access to Internet, computer, telephone, radio and other technologies, is a digitally literate citizen, the ones unfamiliar to use or not having access to these are digitally illiterate. This new dimension of illiteracy has added up in our society in this age of ICTs. Consequently, in the third world, Communication Technology provided us a new dimension of radio in the forum of community radio, and the convergence of ICTs with community radio can provide a powerful support for harnessing and communicating knowledge for development. A radio station for the people, by the people and of the people. The government of India announced its intention to establish 4000 community radio stations. With the government of India allowing community radio stations in India 2006 a new chapter has begun for those who have been working towards creating media and technology access for communities. and to empower ourselves with an understanding of how to use these technologies to highlight our concerns,our ideas and our culture and traditional practices World Communication report covered a section on the growing movement of community radio, identifying as a medium to give voice to the voiceless, and as a process of enabling marginalized communities to express their views. provides a unique medium for citizens to share their views with the community as thus mitigating the myths and misconception present in the community. The notions of transparency and good governance take on new dimensions and democracy is reinforced. But it is also true that radio is a technological medium-and that it is a calls from communities and civil societies and different organizations working with radio to have an understanding of technology, the equipment, and the process, operation and successful running of a station. It is too easy to forget about the technology while we exult in the joy of hearing our own voices and our ideas over a speaker or radio set, but it is important to realize that the technology in radio is what it allows us to preserve these thoughts and send them out to our listeners. How amazingly the sound we are hearing is captured, joined together, corrected and sent out to the little box in front of us. How does a programme get made and go on air. To understand this, it is important to have an overview of the entire process of radio broadcasting. The process of making and broadcasting radio programmes combines teamwork, creativity, punctuality and most important technology. Radio broadcasting includes five discrete processes: i.) Research and Pre- production :it includes the ideation about the programme, and preparing for the production) ii.) Production: It includes Recording or gathering the sound that will be included in programme. iii.) Post-production : means Editing, or selecting the best portions of the recoded sound and assembling them together in a logical and coherent fashion, and finalizing the programme iv.) Transmission or broadcasting: it includes Sending the programme on air, so that listeners can listen to it on their radio sets. v.) Feedback: Getting listeners' opinions and inputs on the programme that was broadcast, so that future programmes can be improved. In this whole process technology plays an important role. Without technology it can't imagine the concept of community radio. 2967
4. Let's understand where the technology plays a part within each of these five process I. ICT and pre-production: The first part of research & pre-production is not a particularly technology intensive phase. But understanding of computers-especially the ability to write document, and do research on net, use telephone to make arrangement could be the primary technological requirement in this phase, as is one ability to use a telephone to make arrangements, talk to people and set up the production phase. II. ICT and production &Post production- Production the very first part of radio broadcasting system is the conversion of the sound we want to preserve into electrical energy, so that it can be stored (recoded). This is achieved with a microphone, a device that can converts sound energy into electrical energy that is called audio signal. Once the sound is converted into electrical energy, we cannot only store it and recreate the original sound from it a later time. We can make changes in it in different ways. The audio signal, as it is called, can be amplified, or made louder, most importantly; it can be edited and joined to other audio signal. The microphone is usually connected to a device that stores the audio signal in a retrievable form. These devices, known as recorders, which ranges from small portable units to very highly and large accurate models. Recorders recode these audio signals in analog or digital medium. In third stage of broadcasting, post production phase is more technological. in this process we will edit and mix the audio signals with help of editing\ mixing console or a computer using suitable software.if we are using modern digital equipment to edit, the process may involve converting digital data, which can then be manipulated on a computer.we may also use a variety of signal processor filters, equalizers, limiters at any point in this process to make corrections to the quality of the audio. The place where this whole process is done is called studio, a small recording studio, recording room and cabinets to store audio tapes is needed to house the equipment: Production equipment are listed below: Studio console (multifunctional equipment) with built a telephone hybrid, Two studio monitor speakers, Two dual auto reverse cassette deck, One CD changer, Five headphones, Five dynamic microphones with windshields, Two utility mixer, 3 microphone stands with flexible arms, Two microphone desk stand that is flexible, Five portable cassette recorders with XLR (a connecting cable) mic inputs. Five dynamic microphones Automatic voltage regulators for equipment and computers, Two computers, with digital editing software, Digital wall clock, Telephone connection. Therefore it can be concluded that above whole process is technology based which is used for community radio. This is all because of Information technology. III. ICT and Transmission: After production of a programme next step is transmission This process is also the most purely technological step of entire broadcast process, transmission involves the combination of the final audio signal of our programme along with a radio wave of highly specific and identifiable 2968
characteristics, and the transmission of the combined radio signal. The three primary items of equipment required to do this are a playback source to play the final audio signal (CD player, cassette deck), A transmitter to combine the audio signal with internally generated radio wave, and an antenna that radiate the combined radio signal into air. At the listener's end, the step requires the use of a radio receiver set- more often shortened simply to 'radio' to catch or receive the signal we have sent out. The radio receivers allow the listener to tune the set to receive the specific wave that we have broadcast, and extract the audio signal from it. The extracted audio signal once again in the form of electrical energy, is then subjected to a transduction process in a loudspeaker or headphone devices that change the electrical energy back into sound, so that we can listen to it. Therefore it can be concluded that above whole process is technology based which is used for community radio. IV. ICT and Feedback In the last step 'feedback' of broadcasting technology plays a important role. Simple because feedback processes don't need any technology at all. The simplest feedback process is to ask listeners to write letters to the radio station and then the technology part becomes important if we ask listeners to email or phone in their comments (in which case we need an internet connection and a computer), telephone line or mobile connection possibly can be used. Then attaching it with a recording system so that we can receive and store comments that are phoned in, and we can also connect callers directly to the studio for a 'live' phone in programme where they can be heard or recorded as a part of the programme. so this is a summary of the way the technology, creativity and teamwork that go into producing a radio programme go together. 5. Conclusion & Suggestions The developing countries in collaboration with large business organizations should chalk out a phased programme for introduction of new communication devices into their organizational structure to make communication effective. The most significant new technologies are those based on the silicon chip, the laser, fiber optics and set of technologies known as bio-technologies. The managements in developing countries must realize the importance of new communication technology for speedy, quick, correct and low cost transmission. So communication tools especially ICT are actively being used across the world to reach out to communities. Radio especially community radio seems to make waves in a big way. It should like to explore the power of this strong communication tool, especially for the rural communities, and the convergence of ICTs with community radio can provide a powerful support for communicating knowledge for community development. But the low level of ICT skills observed in radio stations in sub reign is the result lack of staff training. Training needs are not given in details but concern all the different IT fields generally digital production is first in the list of demand. In fact staff should get up to date training to able to use the latest equipment installed in station in both the control room equipped with new console, etc. and in production department. The need for technical training is also mentioned by a number of stations to ensure the maintenance of equipment when is subject to use under difficult condition, particularly in rural areas. References [1] Communication Today, vol.11,no,1(jan-march,2008) [2] Arvind kumar,the Electronic Media. Anmol Publications,1999 [3] Lynne s Gross,Telecommunications. An Introduction to Electronic Media,Wm.C.Brown Publishers,Fourth Edition [4] Media Vimarsh(Quarterly) Sept-Nov.2007 2969
[5] Jetendra Kumar Sharma,Didital Broadcasting Journalism,Authorspress 2003 [6] http://mib.nic.in/information&b/codes/licenradio [7] http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/community%20radio/temp [8] http://wireless.ictp.trieste.it/itu_workshop/participants. htm [9] Wikipedia.org/wiki/category:radio_technology [10] http://www.mib.nic.in [11] www.communityradiotoolkit.net [12] http://www..becil.com [13] N.Ramakrishan, CR,A user's guide to the technology,unesco(2007) 2970