Communications Technology and Personal Identity Formation

In the move from pre-literate to modern society there were few technological advances and the speed of mechanical devices was slow as well. The sensory shift occurred between an emphasis on the ear in the oral society to the visual in the modern literate society. The few changes and slow movement insured that individual and societal reactions to innovation were delayed and absorbed over a considerable amount of time. People were able to develop new competencies as changes in organizations stabilized.