Book excerpt: Communication Technology Update and Fundamentals, now in its 17th edition, has set the standard as the single best resource for students and professionals looking to brush up on how communication technologies have developed, grown, and converged, as well as what’s in store for the future. The book covers the fundamentals of communication technology in five chapters that explain the communication technology ecosystem, its history, theories, structure, and regulations. Each chapter is written by experts who each provide a snapshot of an individual field. The book also dives into the latest developments in electronic mass media, computers, consumer electronics, networking, and telephony. Together, these updates provide a broad overview of these industries and examine the role communication technologies play in our everyday lives. In addition to substantial updates to each chapter, the 17th edition includes the first-ever chapter on Artificial Intelligence; updated user data in every chapter; an overview of industry structure, including recent and proposed mergers and acquisitions; and sidebars exploring sustainability and relevance of each technology to Gen Z. Communication Technology Update and Fundamentals continues to be the industry-leading resource for both students and professionals seeking to understand how communication technologies have developed and where they are headed.