A Taxonomy of Communication Media.

Rudy Bretz

ResearchPublished 1971

Defines and describes the communication media, distinguishing between information and instruction and between instructional media and instructional aids. Criteria are proposed by which communication media may be distinguished from nonmedia, one medium from another, and a single medium from a multimedia application. A two-dimensional classification is suggested: in one dimension, 7 classes of media are distinguished, based on ways of representing information; in the other dimension, telemedia are distinguished from recording media. All the major media available and soon to be available--28 in all--are described in terms of the characteristics that determine their best uses. Intended primarily for media users and practitioners, the report uses standard audiovisual terms wherever possible. Each term is defined when first used and is included in a glossary prefixed to the text. Local versus central production of program software in instructional media systems is discussed in an appendix. (Also published by Educational Technology Publishers, 1970.) 192 pp. Ref. (MW)

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1971
  • Pages: 192
  • Document Number: R-697-NLM/PR

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Bretz, Rudy, A Taxonomy of Communication Media. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1971. https://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R697.html.
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