Digital Disparity among the U.S. Army and Allied Developing Country Armies in Relation to Location on the Literal-Visual Cross-Cultural Continuum

Abstract

This report describes the digital disparity among the U.S. Army and allied developing country armies in relation to location on the literal-visual cross-cultural continuum. Digital technologies are recognized as spawning intercultural challenges that exist regarding the disparity in digital backgrounds among U.S. and developing country coalition forces impacting the planning and conduct of military operations. Related challenges exist within the U.S. Army education and training system and operationally for developing countries as observed via uneven adaptation of digital technologies in developing countries. The author addresses increased emphasis on visual imagery over literal messages as it relates to U.S. Army cultural initiatives in varied contexts. As the U.S. becomes a more visually-oriented society, via web based and new communication technologies, literal forms of communication generally having more emphasis on critical thinking are being displaced by the visual domain stressing more imaginary associations. Thus, the visual dominates at the expense of the literal and imagination presides over critical thinking. Yet most Army cultural education is conveyed via visually-oriented technologies.

Journal Title

Iowa Journal of Communication

Volume

Issue

First Page

226

Last Page

240

Language

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Schnell, James A. (2013) "Digital Disparity among the U.S. Army and Allied Developing Country Armies in Relation to Location on the Literal-Visual Cross-Cultural Continuum," Iowa Journal of Communication: Vol. 45: No. 2, Article 10.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/ijc/vol45/iss2/10