Page 15 - DLIS105_REFERENCE_SOURCES_AND_SERVICES

Reference Sources and Services

Notes positive growth year after year. It is most likely that the printed edition and the Internet edition of
newspapers will co-exist, and in developing countries printed edition will possibly enjoy more
readership.
Computerisation of data gave birth to computer printouts, as data in computers is not safe. Virus
can corrupt any file resident in a computer. Crashing of hard disk is also not uncommon. That is
why the practice is to keep backup in a floppy or a Compact Disc (CD). More often than not, a
floppy become unusable due to a variety of reasons and a simple scratch on a CD can make the
entire data in CD inaccessible. In such a situation, the wisest step is to keep a printout on paper. If
everything in electronic form gets corrupted or destroyed, the printout comes to our rescue. At
least, the data is there. It can be inputted to computer whenever needed. However much we go for
electronic media, the need for printouts is likely to be there always.
Maps are used by teachers, students, military personnel, travellers, common men and many others.
Normally big size maps are hung on the wall for ready reference. The size of a computer screen
being small, normally we are to see a map part by part in a computer whereby we do not get the full
view of the map. Reducing the size of the map five to ten times we may get the full view sacrificing
its readability. Of course, using a device called Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), we can project a map
on a big screen and get its full view, but LCD is a costly equipment normally used by sophisticated
educational institutions. The sum and substance of the matter is that the ease with which printed
maps can be consulted, its electronic counterparts cannot be ignored. Hence, printed maps will also
stay.
Conclusion—Summing up we can only say that there is no immediate threat to print media. In
future, in some cases print media will dominate, in others non-print media. It can be safely predicted
that both will co-exist for a long time to come.

What do you mean by periodicals? Explain with example.

1.4 Non-Print Media

We shall categorise non-print media as conventional, electronic and cyber media.

1.4.1 Conventional Media

The conventional media can further be categorised as oral, audio, visual, and audio-visual media.

Oral
Once upon a time oral medium was the only medium that the human beings used to communicate.
Even today we communicate maximum amount of information through oral medium. In our houses,
offices, schools, colleges, universities, market places, practically everywhere, we use this medium
for communication. No physical medium (except air) is needed for short distance communication.
We just speak and others hear. By using physical medium like telephone, microphone, radio, and
television oral communication can be transmitted over long distances. In oral medium we
communicate information in different modes as discussed below.

One-to-One
This happens when two persons talk to each other. Talks between husband and wife, father and
son, a teacher and a student, friend to friend, are examples of one-to-one communication. Many a
time a reporter interviews a VIP. This is also a case of one-to-one communication.

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