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We speak of the 'bandwidth' of a given 'channel' of information. This refers to the number of 'bits' of information that can pass through a given 'channel' over an agreed time. The term derives from a technologically-driven agenda that led to the 'digital revolution'. Key theories underpinning this idea include 'Information Theory' (Shannon, **) which derives from John Locke's notion of 'channels', which, in turn, can be traced back to Aristotle's idea of 'canals'. All of these notions imply a view of communication as a discrete, linear, serial flow of atomised 'units' of information. Arguably, this 'canalised' model of communication is problemmatic if it discourages us from understanding discourse as a co-creative, shared, parallel 'field' of meaning, interpretation, and action.
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Page last modified on Thursday 22 of June, 2006 17:10:20 BST by JohnWood.
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