Recording Information - Historical & now!

Knowledge and information recording in the past

Recording information today seems to be far easier and more reliable, with multiple techniques available with people these days. However, it was not always the case.

Even before the known recorded history, knowledge was passed on across generations through word of mouth. Selected people were responsible to pass on their knowledge to others through years of verbal training and sessions. It had its own disadvantages, where knowledge could be lost or twisted due to interpretations and prejudice of people. However, as human beings learnt to write and express through symbols and self-defined alphabets, knowledge sharing finally could move out of people-dependence. Mythological stories, existing traditions & way of living were recorded on walls of caves, large rocks, man-made monuments, dried and hardened leaves etc. Initially, sharp stones were used to draw and write, which, with time, gave way to specific sharpened sticks. This was around 4^th millennium BC. Again, since the there was no specific set of alphabets used across the world, knowledge from that era is open to interpretations, sometimes substantiated with archaeological evidence if any.

Times changed and with scientific innovations and technological innovations, information recording became simpler and more specific. Introduction of typewriters and such recording mechanisms made it easier for people to write and record information. 19^th Century brought with it great innovations in this field. Now Photographic method & audio recordings could be used to record information in analogue (oral) form along with photographic evidence of the same. Now information was more trustworthy and believable. These improvements reduced the variables such as individual interpretations (of facts). Further enhancements like introduction of video-graphy methods allowed people to record the events and evidences in real-time, and as it happened. This was a big improvement over still photographs and oral recordings previously done separately. Now one could record the events, which enabled visual as well as audio recording of events using one instrument. However, it still needed bulky instruments to record & unreliable cassettes with magnetic tapes, which needed space and effort to carry and store.

And then the digital revolution happened and introduction of computers changed the world like never before. Now one could not only record events using smaller instruments but also could store the same using safer & sturdier instruments. But then “internet” happened! This now enabled everyone to access knowledge from their own location. Introduction of internet is singularly responsible and has had profound impact on the spread of knowledge as we know it today. Knowledge is now not limited to people who were interested and made effort to get it. It was now available to everyone in their bedrooms and could be accessed with a few clicks of buttons anytime anywhere!

In summary, recording of information has seen a paradigm shift over centuries. From passing information & knowledge using people through oral means and limited to only certain group of people, it is now at a stage where any and every one can record information easily and spread the word to anyone and everyone who is willing to know! We surely have come a long way!

Thanks

(Prepared for Ruhin Raghivanshi.. Class Vth)