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Concept Note |
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Concept Note |
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Digital technology, particularly the smart phone, is an
integral part of the modern everyday life. The World
Bank in its 2016 report noted that 40 percent of world
population can access Internet and new users get online
every day. Even among the poorest 20 percent of
households, nearly 7 out of 10 have a mobile phone. The
onslaught of digital media in the 21st century poses new
challenges and questions for communication scholars. The
divides and the disparities of reach and access and
their attendant challenges of justice, equity, human
dignity and rights for diverse and unequal societies of
Asia, though long recognized, needs innovative and
creative solutions in a digital environment.
From smoke signals to satellites to information
superhighways, communication has changed in physical as
well as philosophical context. What makes 'digital age'
different from its predecessors is the synchronicity,
physicality, continuity, climate, context in the process
of communication. Individuals can easily get carried
away into the self-generated realities which may not
demand validation from “real” life. The interactions are
real or virtual, physical or para-social, individual for
self or for others are all the questions to be
investigated and explored. The “researched” and
“researcher” face crisis since the role of technologies
precedes the process of research. “Big data” does not
demand any procedure or planning. The challenges of
communications as well as communications research in
digital age demands interrogation and exploration from
Asian perspective where culture and communication are
interwoven.
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