Converging Technologies; Information Systems and Communication Studies:A Story of Separation and Reunion

We contrast assumptions of communications theorizing with those underlying information systems to emphasize that the convergence inherent in contemporary ecosystems of digital technologies, online services and the proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICT) are bringing scholars from these two intellectual communities together while challenging their understanding of one-another’s scholarship. To do this we advance a simple framework to organize the contrast. We started by looking back at how one theory could be considered as an origin for both studies and how they have been further separated over decades because of different conceptualization and understanding differently over long time. It is no wonder that the theory has been claimed and called both “Theory of Information” and at the same time by some, “Theory of Communication” by others. We look at that difference from man perspective and draw the boundary between two communities. We believe the new emerging technologies have brought back both theories a back together; which we label and discuss as a reunion. We bring few examples to support our story. In short, this paper is the story of birth of two fields of studies from one theory, their separation over many decades and recent reunion of them with rise of new digital technologies.