Presents the views of two experts on McLuhan's effect on communications theory and research. Levinson maintains that McLuhan performed the Socratic job of identifying the important issues in the communications field, while Gordon argues that McLuhan was a pseudointellectual known more for his guts than his talent. (MER)

Lists and annotates 20 books and eight periodicals about word processing. (RL)

Outlines the British teletext information dissemination system and some of its practical uses. Discusses innovations being developed and considers the system's application in the United States. (JMF)

A national conference of 24 college and university presidents and communications experts on the changing role of higher education in society is reported. The transformations occurring in the field of electronic communications are also discussed. (PHR)

Describes the organization and functioning of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT). Attempts to evaluate the international institutional matrix of the organization. Highlights some policy issues and the implications of growing domestic and regional systems. (JMF)

Traces the development of American policy on broadcast satellites from the early 1960s to the present. The American position is that regulation of direct broadcasting satellites is premature at this stage of technological development and would undermine the concept of free flow of information. (JMF)

Discusses plans for development of direct broadcasting satellite systems in several European countries. Presents economic advantages of satellite broadcasting over terrestrial television systems for advertisers as well as equipment producers. Outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the spillover effect. (JMF)

A survey of employers in the nonbroadcast telecommunications areas indicates that job opportunities exist in these areas for graduates of radio-television-film departments. Employers are looking for generalists with writing and oral communication skills. (JMF)

Summarizes conclusions of a report to determine whether computer conferencing improves productivity of geographically separated researchers. Examines how computer conferencing affected how, when, where, and with whom people work. (PD)

Presents the Third World approach and calls for self-reliance and sovereign control in the informatics field. (PD)

The project demonstrated that a minicomputer control system could serve a large number of families simultaneously. Reliable telephonic data transmission between computer and home-based teaching machines was achieved, families accepted the placement of equipment in their homes, and children interacted with automated devices on a daily basis.…

Examines the reactions of various New Yorkers to a twenty-three day phone service blackout in that state. Results indicate that the blackout affected their feelings of connectedness with and control over their environment. (MH)

Describes how one school district was able to efficiently install fragile telecommunication cabling throughout its high school and save thousands of dollars. Discusses solutions to some common cable-management problems. (GR)

Because the Supreme Court has put severe limits on the use of the concepts of national security and protection of women to justify censorship, the predominant strategy has become censorship to protect minors. This article examines the legal concepts of obscenity and material harmful to minors, restrictions on broadcasting, and challenges raised by…

Discusses the availability of radio "cybercasts" on the Internet, either in real time or on demand. Topics include problems and opportunities, copyright issues, equipment and software needed for listening, and searchability of sites. Provides an annotated list of radio-related Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), including music, news,…