Lesson Six Title: Communication Technology Module 1: Gathering and Processing Information Term 1: October 06 th 2010 Communication Studies

Communication Technology Technology is the application of science. A microphone is an example of how the science of the amplification of sound is created. Some technological tools were actually created for communication.

New Technology Technology is being improved everyday. We witness this fact in amount of new tools and equipment that are being invented. Each level of civilization leaves a heritage of devices (i.e. Smoke signals and drums have been replaced by the internet and the telephone).

New Technology It is often assumed that Information and Communication Technologies can offer new and improved means of inter- personal communication.

New Technology (can you identify these items?)

Impact of Technology on Communication- Changes: There’s been a movement away from face-to-face meetings / communication. Instead, people and businesses use video conferencing, Elluminate (incorporates chat and presentation conferencing facilities) and virtual conferencing (Second Life). Technology is more portable and people have and expect constant access to the internet. Communication is virtually instantaneous (compare versus snailmail). Communication is less rigid and less inclined to conform to traditional standards and rules. It’s less formal. Mistakes are common. Acronyms are also common.

Impact of Technology on Communication- Benefits: Speed / time – money can be saved because it’s much quicker to move information around. Cost – it feels free to send an (although it isn’t); it’s certainly cheaper than phone calls. Video conferencing saves money on flights and accommodation. Online communication brings families / friends together across distances. Education – it’s accessible and there’s lots of free information. Community – it can reduce isolation and provide support systems for people who need it. It’s available 24 / 7. People can do shopping / banking / chat at any time they like. They can communicate with people on the other side of the world while everyone in their own country is asleep.

Impact of Technology on Communication- Challenges: Reliance on technology – people don’t bother learning to spell because they use spell-checker etc… Loss of face-to-face may mean loss of some communication skills and loss of the personal touch. There are risks attached to the unknown / hidden elements on the internet (you don’t necessarily know who you are talking to). Reliability of information – everyone’s posting so just because something’s on the web doesn’t mean it’s reliable. Viruses, fraud and identity theft are all risks for people using the internet.

Impact of Technology on Communication- Challenges: There are costs associated with maintaining equipment and keeping equipment up with contemporary software. Addiction – some people get addicted to web / games etc.. which increases their social isolation and can cause health problems.

Social Network Sites Since their introduction, social network sites (SNSs) such as MySpace, Facebook, Tagged, Cyworld, and Bebo have attracted millions of users, many of whom have integrated these sites into their daily practices. As of this writing, there are hundreds of SNSs, with various technological affordances, supporting a wide range of interests and practices. Facebook, which is the most popular social network site in the Caribbean has over 500 million member as of July 2010.

Social Network Sites (Cont) Social network sites help strangers connect based on shared interests, political views, or activities. Some sites cater to diverse audiences, while others attract people based on common language or shared racial, sexual, religious, or nationality-based identities. Sites also vary in the extent to which they incorporate new information and communication tools, such as mobile connectivity, blogging, and photo/video-sharing.

Some Questions (Homework) What changes to language have cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, and live chats brought? How can storage devices like cds, dvds, and flash drives make communication more effective? Is communication more effective when we are seeing the person we are interacting with? How can devices that record images make communication better?