Communication is a two-way process in which people arrive at a mutual understanding through encoding and decoding information shared. The two parties communicating also encode and decode thoughts and feelings where they produce and allocate the meaning. In general, communication is the process of linking individuals and institutions. In business, communication is important and is a main purpose of administration. Organizations cannot run devoid of communication amid the different levels, departments, and personnel (Lundsford 34). It is communication that keeps any conversation going; otherwise, a conversation cannot take place without communication. Normally, communication is not a conversation between two or more people; instead, it also involves the people communicating understanding each other. Modern communication has been affected by a number of factors, one of them being the modern technology. The recent advancements in technology have had a radical force in the way people and groups talk. While technology has played a significant role in communication, it still has positive and negative impacts on it (Lundsford 45). The paper shall explore the in-depth analysis of communication and how it is affected by technology. Further, it shall review the positive and negative effects of technology on the process of communication. According to a number of surveys and studies conducted on the effect of technology on communication, it has been established that technology has a negative effect on the quality and quantity of face-to-face communication. Although it also affects other communications negatively, face-face communication is the most affected communication. Progressively, technology has become an integral part in communication and how people communicate with each other. In fact, technology has increasingly replaced face-to-face communication and how people communicate (Lundsford 56).
Owing to the fast growth of technology, it is feared that individuals may be engrossed into the digital world and forget their roles in the real world. Most businesses nowadays do not happen face to face as much as people would like to. Instead, most businesses are carried out through conferencing, emails, among other means (Hanh 23). With many companies having multiple branches across the world, workers are now communicating virtually which makes technology a very important aspect of running a company. And because most businesses and institutions use technology to communicate, the society has no option but to embrace it. There are a number of ways where technology has taken over and revolutionized communication. The first way is through the use of email addresses. Sending of email addresses has replaced the use of handwritten letters and memos which took long to deliver. Nowadays, companies and institutions use email addresses to communicate with clients, workers, and shareholders (Hanh 27). Technology has also affected communication through social networking sites. There are many internet sites where people can share information and socialize. Some of the sites include Facebook, twitter, MySpace, among others. These sites also permit people to share photos, ideas, and information regardless of the physical location of the individuals. Technology has played a crucial in different sectors of communication in the society. Technology is continuing to develop with time and it is expected that communication will also continue to evolve. For example, technology has been used to hasten the process of communication between different parties. The speed of the internet and the little cost of the service have enabled every person to have access to the internet regardless of the financial abilities. It is clear that communication in the 21st century is not possible if technology is absent.
There are many positive effects of technology on communication than there are negative effects. Technology has given people tools not only to communicate and share ideas but also to express opinions and feelings. First, technology has enabled people to keep in touch and communicate. Over the past many years, technology has done a lot in making the world a global village thus making communication across the world easier. For example, telegrams have replaced letters; phone calls on the other hand are faster than telegrams. Phone calls are also convenient because they are faster and also allow users to hear each other’s voices. The evolution of mobile phones has led to the creation of cell phones which are portable and can be moved around with the person (Calton 295). The cell phones do not depend on phone lines as it was the case before. A person can call and send a message in any location as long as they have a network. This makes it possible not only to manage a business in absentia but also to provide any type of solution that is needed. Nowadays, cell phones even have the abilities to receive emails and send back at any location as long as the gadget is connected to the internet. This is clear evidence that technology has reduced the hustle and bustle that was initially involved in the process of communication. It has not only made the process fast, it has also made it less costly. Online communication is the other efficient method of communication in the current era. This is achieved through sending emails and chatting using the social media networks. This is made possible by the availability of the internet which provides a platform where people can send photos, information, ideas, among others (Calton 298).
The current technology is also used t do business. The technological advances that have an effect on the personal communication also have beneficial effects on business. Communication is effective and efficient nowadays whether people are together or thousand miles away. International companies allow their employees to be scattered throughout the globe but will still hold efficient meeting and discussions on matters that pertain to the operations of the company. This is achieved through video and teleconferencing. Also, business networking is made easier and possible by the social media and online networks which are specifically designed for that purpose, such as LinkedIn (Nisbett 12). Further, companies can expand their scope and market by ensuring that they maintain an active online presence. Technology in communication has also helped to overcome disabilities for the disabled people. For example, hearing aids have helped boost the hearing ability of the deaf, making it easier for them to comprehend any type of speech. On the other hand, cochlear implants restore hearing to the completely deaf individuals. People with the speech impairment disabilities have been assisted with speech-generating devices which enable them to express themselves (Nisbett 26). These are some uses of technology to ensure that communication occurs between individuals despite their disabilities. As evident, technology plays a crucial role is ensuring that an efficient and effective communication occurs between individuals or groups of people. For people who have suffered a locked-in syndrome, technology has made it possible for the creation of a functional brain-computer interface system which restores the ability of people to communicate. As the ability of people to communicate improves, so is the reach of their message. This is particularly crucial in activism and politics (Nisbett 34). For example, photos and videos recorded on the cell phone can easily be shared online through websites like Facebook and YouTube.
There are also negative impacts of technology on communication. First, technology has made the current generation to lack the essential interpersonal skills of communication (this is the idea of expressing ideas and opinions face-to-face). This is caused by the high frequency of communication through texts and messages. Texting and messaging has an effect on the non-verbal communication as well. The lack of face-to-face communication has eased the non-verbal grasping power of people. Technology also weakens the family relations. Most of the times, teenagers are glued to the phone while engaging their friends on the social media platforms. While they become increasingly attached to their online friends, their relationships with their parents are deteriorating. This is killing communication between parents and their children because parents are not techno-savvy like their children (Nisbett 36). Nowadays, socializing among people has also weakened and very few social meetings and get-togethers are held. Most people are now exceedingly bothered about their online life than their real social life. Technology has also resulted to an unlawful use and addiction to technology. The modern design of communication has brought many problems with it. People have now become addicted to their cell phones and the internet which results to a number of anxiety disorders. Those people who are addicted to the internet feel lonely and secluded. Also, some people take the advantage of the anonymity provided by the internet to communicate with people on false accounts. This practice has done a lot of harm than good in communication (Lundsford 34). It is manifest that technology in communication is a double-edged sword. It highly matters on how people use technology to advance their course. However, technology is supposed to be used for sane purposes and not malicious motives.
Works Cited
Lundsford, Andrea A., John J. Ruszkiewicz, and Keith Walters. "Everything’s an argument with readings." Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s (2004).
Hanh, Thich Nhat. The art of communicating. Random House, 2013.
Calton, J. M. "Dialogue and the Art of Thinking Together by William Isaacs." INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS 9.3 (2001): 295-297.
Nisbett, Richard E. Mindware: Tools for Smart Thinking. Macmillan, 2015.
