Charles and Ray wanted A Communications Primer to inspire greater appreciation of the broad meaning of “communication” and to advocate the breakdown of barriers between various disciplines. Charles and Ray’s goal was to interpret and present current ideas on communications theory to architects and planners in an understandable way and encourage their use as tools in planning and design.
A Communications Primer was the first film produced by the Eames Office to include outside consultants and resources in significant ways. The film was based on the communications theory outlined in the 1949 book, The Mathematical Theory of Communication, by Claude Shannon.
The film uses Shannon’s Input/Output diagram and the theory of signal processing as its basis. Elements of the film were included in the Eameses’ Sample Lesson presentations at the University of Georgia and UCLA. It was subsequently refined and completed.