There is an accelerating technological convergence between telecommunications, computing, information products and mass communication.  This convergence is, of course, the very process which points to the information superhighway.  On the one hand, we have a rich collection of information and data; on the other, we have a wealth of potential users who have been so far, barred access to this information for a number of reasons.  Through computer networks, telecommunication channels and electronic technology, it is possible to open up this access.  Unfortunately, not everything that is possible is actually carried out in a country like India.  The question here is whether all the possibilities will be enlarged to cove and benefit the general public at large.  A number of obstacles stand in the way of such a development-economic, political and commercial.

If the information aspect of this has to be strengthened the obvious precondition is that the government has to formulate and adopt a new and dynamic information policy, based on an open attitude and a high degree of transparency in public affairs.

Communication technology mergers with the computer

In an already complex world of business management, the computer has made its entry.  It has become a vital necessity to managers in this age of communication and information explosion.  Managing information will have a significant bearing on the national rate of industrial growth and Indian Industry’s competitiveness locally and globally.  There are experts who believe that managing information requires rationality, analytical ability and the capability to dissect and comprehend a flood of data.  However, when one considers current trends it becomes evident that data has not only to be creatively interpreted and understood, but also put to good use.  The creative ability to use data effectively makes information a valuable resource.

The merger between the computer, telecommunications and information media has given birth to the prospect of multimedia services which offer interactive computer-based applications and combine text, graphics, audio and animation features into a media experience for users.

The following three technical advances are proving vital for interactive communication.

1.       The ability to cheaply translate all audio and video communications into compatible digital format.

2.       The ability to transmit large volumes of digital signals.

3.       And finally, new compression and mass data storage methods.

The development of interactive computer technology will offer users greater control over what they see, when they see it and what they do with it.  Since most computers allow two-way textual interaction and television broadcasts one-way images with sound, when they are combined we get the best of both worlds-a two-way computer-like interactivity with text, graphics and sound.

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