The Material Form of Communication Technology

All technologies have physical form. From screen size to keypads, speakers to headphones, their "form factors" inform their use. The "materiality" of a medium is a factor of its effectiveness and functionality, its transformative potential, as well as how it amplifies human perception and activity. When it comes to communication, these form factors in turn shape human factors (aspects of social and interpersonal interaction).

* What are the technology's modes of user interaction?
* What of the face does it translate, extend, and amplify?
* In what ways does it amplify certain facial gestures and features?
* With what kinds of distortions?
* Is the technology's interface to our perception and expression adequate?
* In what ways do limitations of the device itself (e.g. phone keypads and SMS) constrain and inform communication passing through it?


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THE MATERIAL FORM OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Life is changing faster than can one can envision. Technology is altering people’s lifestyles and work standards every day. Offices are going ‘green’ and paperless and the distances are getting lesser with each passing second. Cultures are coming together. Relationships take on different meanings and valuing. Varying time zones no longer stand in the way of being productive in any work environment as people of varied color, belief and race become part of one large workforce.


Modern technology has paved way for the creation of a myriad of new communication tools, sites, hardwares and softwares. At the same time, enhancements and additions are constantly being made to existing devices to maintain the highest quality of communication possible. Modern technology presents varying modes of user interaction and the choice depends on where you are, how much time you have and how much, if any, you prefer to pay.

Technology’s Modes of User Interaction

Different communication tools have played a significant role in this whole technological revolution. Computers transmit messages with each other using LAN (local area network). A LAN only expands to a short distance. However, using telephone lines or radio waves, LANs can connect with other LANs, allowing for long distance communication. Technologies of communciation can be separated into two categories, synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous communication, like instant messages, voice-over internet protocols (VoIP) and videotelephony (e.g. video chat and/or video conferencing) allows for communication in real time. Asynchronous communication, such as emails and websites (blogs, social networking sites, etc.), allows users to communicate at their convenience.

The difference plays a critical role in the nature of the interactions people have through them. In asynchronous communication, a secondary medium is required with which to record the interaction. This obviously involves a high potential for message distortion (at sending and receiving end), as well as for the production of artifacts belonging to the medium. These artifacts can themselves obscure or confuse communication (Chan, Adrian, 2009).

Instant Messaging

Instant messaging (IM), a common synchronous CMC tool, works best for sending quick messages to another person. It enables users to communicate with each other on the Internet via short written (or sometimes spoken) messages delivered almost immediately after the content is created. Instant messaging is a less cumbersome form of email as well as a faster way of facilitating complete conversations in real time. MSN, Yahoo, Facebook and America Online are a few of the services that offer messaging tools and programs for their users.

Voice-Over Internet Protocol

Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP), another example of synchronous computer-mediated communication, works similarly to telephones, except VoIP uses high-speed Internet technology to function instead of a phone line.


Videotelephony

Videotelephony comprises the technologies for the reception and transmission of audio-video signals by users at different locations, for communication between people in real-time. Videophones were the earliest form of videotelephony, dating back to initial tests in 1927 by AT&T, while videoconferencing saw its earliest use with the company’s Picturephone service in the early 1970s.

During the late 1930s, the post offices of several European governments established public videophone services for person-to-person communications utilizing dual cable circuit telephone transmission technology. In the present day, standalone videophones and UMTS video-enabled mobile phones are usually used on a person-to-person basis. Telepresence systems are newer, more advance subset of videoconferencing systems meant to allow higher degrees of video and audio fidelity. Such high end systems are typically deployed in corporate settings. Personal computer based web cameras are an often modest form of videotelephony, usually used for point-to-point videophone calls.


E-mail

Electronic mail, commonly called e-mail, has become a commonly used asynchronous CMC tool. It is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the same time, just like in an instant messaging mode. Today's email systems are based on a store-and-forward model. Email servers accept, forward, deliver and store messages. Neither the users nor their computers are required to be online simultaneously. All they have to do is to be connected only during the course of sending or receiving message to make use of it.


Blogs

Blogs, which is also short for "web logs," act as public diaries. Blogs work well as a communication channel for sharing ideas. The users' ability to comment on blog posts creates an opportunity to obtain feedback on ideas or topics posted

Social Network Service

A social network service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people who share commonality in varying aspects and degrees (e.g. interests, activities, etc.). A social network service essentially consists of a representation of each user (often a profile), his/her social links, and a variety of additional services. Most social network services are web based and provide means for users to interact over the internet, such as e-mail and instant messaging. Although online community services are sometimes considered as a social network service. In a broader sense, social network service usually means an individual-centered service whereas online community services are group-centered. Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, activities, events, and interests within their individual networks.


On Technology Extending the Face, Amplifying Gestures and Falling Short in the Process

Communicologist Marshall MacLuhan said that technology should be understood as a means of extending the human sensory apparatus and that all man-made material things can be treated as extensions of what man once did with his body.

Technologies are able to represent or transmit limited expressive range, using the voice, vision, hearing, and or writing. Which of our perceptions they amplify conditions how we use them, and for what purposes. We might not notice the manner in which our perceptions are telescoped and focused when we use technology for communication (Chan, Adrian, 2009).

However, there is no substitute for real life human relationships. Hence, in as much as computer-mediated and web-mediated communication tools extend and amplify facial features and gestures, the entire communication processes are subjected to pockets of limitations in the course of interaction which may result to isolation or mere misunderstandings.

When you communicate virtually or by phone, your communication is more limited than it is when you communicate in person. For example, talking to someone online through instant messaging excludes the use of body language, voice tone and eye contact from the conversation. The possibility of them finding it difficult to communicate their message verbally, be unable to understand what people are saying to them or be unable to read the various non-verbal forms of communication which signal whether a person is interested or not in what one is saying, is practically high.

Bottom line is that the less face to face communication you have with people, the more your social skills will suffer. The impact of these poor social skills can then make it difficult for a person to form meaningful and lasting relationships outside the virtual world.





Chan, Adrian. (2005-2009). Gravity7. Retrieved from http://www.gravity7.com/articles_investigation14.html.

Self-Improvement Advice, Tips and Ideas8. (2011). The Effect of Technology on Social Relationships.

The Estate of Corinne and Marshall MacLuhan. (2011). MacLuhan’s Global Village. Retrieved from http://marshallmcluhan.com/.

Towards Global Integration: A Blissful Cul de Sac

I believe that the predictions made by Frances Cairncross in her "Trendsetters Guide to New Communication" are no less than a fait accompli as all are already happening now right before our very eyes.

The advent of new media, not to mention the plummeting com­puting expenditures, has already transformed distance, eroded borders and time and realized the creation of a homogenized world. What I really find interesting, however, is her foresight as to how Communities of Culture remain afloat despite the trend for homogenization brought about by the globalization as facilitated by the communication technology. I would even translate such as a solid cognition by the author that that local cultures could and should survive in the midst of globalization, exactly as what one Theology professor at Vidyajyoti College of Theology in Delhi has to say about the issue…

“… homogenization brought about by globalization is superficial and is limited to the material level of the consumer goods used by people and a certain consumer culture that is artificially promoted by the media. It does not radically affect how people relate to each other and how they find meaning and purpose in life. It leaves largely untouched the freedom and agency of the subjects in creating and changing culture, both as individuals and as groups.

Culture is not a static reality. As the adage goes: people make culture, culture makes people… Cultures are constructed by people. People are not mere objects of cultural influences, but subjects who can sift various influences and reject or integrate them…

Since cultures are people, homogenization can only mean the mechanization of the human. Cultural diversities, as expressions of divine and human freedom and creativity, will have to be protected and defended. Pluralism is a value. Homogenization can only be pathological. If we can humanize capitalism and science and technology and make them socially responsible on the one hand, and respect the diversity of peoples and their cultures on the other, then globalization can lead to global community marked by unity in pluralism. It will be built up through dialogue in mutual respect leading to mutual enrichment.”


- Michael Amaladoss, S.J.
Global Homogenization:
Can Local Cultures Survive?


Cultural diversity will remain and the best shot for remaining competitive is to make the adjustments to deal with the realities of operating in a global economy. Precisely why as the economy and the world marketplace become increasingly interconnected, the more the organizations and business entities focus on global workforce development, cultural training and language learning as an investment that brings immediate valuable returns.

Communication Technology: A Catalyst of Revolution

REVOLUTION

The noun REVOLUTION has 3 senses

1.a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving

2.the overthrow of a government by those who are governed

3. a single complete turn (axial or orbital)

The seat of power lies where the monopoly of physical resources is. This, as our world history could attest, has made those nations falling short of expertise, knowledge and wealth become easy target for colonization at least some hundred years back.  The tyrants dictate while the powerless follows. The quest for liberty and equal opportunity even remains elusive for those who have revolted and regained their independence as a nation in the latter years.

Fast forward to this day and age when physical labor slowly becomes minimally important and knowledge creation becomes the source of value and wealth, we have communication technology to thank for the democratization of the world. The new media has made the communication of information more and more participatory in nature and gone are the days when knowledge and control were primarily in the hands of the few. The networking and interactive characteristics of communication technologies has transformed the receivers of information as content providers themselves, literally empowering them to highly influence both local and global governance, culture, media and trade.

In the light of shared and equal access to knowledge resource, communication technology provides platform for historical decolonization process -- giving power to communities and individuals in the overall context of global human, economic, environmental and culturally negotiated spheres. Indeed, the communication technology in its present form deserves to be called revolutionary as it paves way for the shift of power – from the dynamics of powerful versus powerless to a shared universe that is healthy, beneficial and equal footing regardless of class and race.