Most people can’t imagine a world of technology use in communication. The amount of time and energy put into sending the simplest messages before communication technology is more than can be described in 140 characters or less.
Things are a bit different now. The incorporation of technology into different types of communication has made it easier than ever to share information. Even though there are an overwhelming amount of gadgets, software, and tools associated with communication technology, it is not uncommon for the modern-day communicator to be an expert at them all.
But if you’re not an expert, don’t fret! This guide to communication technology will lay out the basics that you need to know to be a successful communicator in the age of technology.
What Is Communication Technology?
It sounds pretty straightforward, but let’s define it so we are all on the same page. Communication technology refers to all the tools used to send, receive, and process information. In today’s fast climate, efficiency and convenience are the keys to successful communication technology. Each communication technology device has impacted the way information is circulated, and they continue to improve the communication experience.
Types Of Technology Use In Communication
Technology has reinvented the way people communicate. Originally simple devices have evolved into communication channels that create connections worldwide. There are four main types of communication technology that have contributed to the ease of sending messages: telephone, radio, television, and the internet.
Telephone
The telephone revolutionized verbal communication. People can talk to each other from any place in the world, strengthening relationships and eliminating the worries of long-distance communication. Speaking with someone across the country can be done just as easily as speaking with someone down the street.
As technology advanced, the device upgraded from “telephone” to “mobile phone.” What used to be a heavy piece of equipment can now easily fit in your pocket. Not only is the modern telephone portable, but the features and capabilities are also advanced.
As the telephone progressed, it adopted new types of visual and written communication. Today, text messages and electronic versions of photos are regularly sent using mobile phones, increasing the possible amount of information being shared using phones.
The telephone introduced a brand new approach to verbal, written, and visual communication, and exciting new features continue to change the technology use in communication games.
Radio
About twenty years after the telephone, communicating using the radio came into play. Another innovation in the realm of verbal communication, radio is used to reach sizable audiences, as opposed to just one person on the other end of a phone.
The radio’s ability to reach a large audience at a low cost continues to motivate a lot of communicators to take full advantage of the tool. Information providers, such as advertisers and newscasters, spend substantial amounts of time communicating with their massive audiences using radio technology.
Radio technology transformed the way information is delivered to large audiences and continues to strengthen mass communication.
Television
Television is another way to reach extensive audiences, but it brought a new perk to the table: visual technology use in communication.
Some information is hard to describe using just words. Television provides audiences with the best of both worlds: information and visuals to accompany it. This advantage caused the television to replace the radio as the leading tool for mass communication.
Today, there are thousands of television channels that communicate information on almost any topic: history, sports, news, science, fiction, and so on. Whether it be for entertainment or cold hard facts, people are constantly turning to television for information.
Advances In Technology Use In Communication
Modern civilization depends on advanced communication technologies. The application of electricity to communications with inventions such as the telephone and the telegraph meant people could send information instantly over long distances. More recent advances such as satellites and the Internet have extended communications worldwide and made global news and information commonplace. Communications technology continues to improve with each passing year, bringing more informed choices to you at lower costs.
Satellites
Although radio waves carry signals reliably, long-distance transmissions are complicated by the ionosphere, a layer of thin, energetic gas that lies above the breathable atmosphere. Satellites solve the distance problem by receiving radio signals in space, amplifying and retransmitting them to ground-based receivers thousands of miles from the original source. In the 1960s, networks of satellites permitted the first instantaneous, worldwide communications.
Internet
The internet removes the need for communicators to have a separate device for each different type of technology used in communication. With the Internet, you can do it all in one place.
As the queen bee of interaction, the internet successfully combines all types of communication technology and houses them in one place. It provides the largest array of information and communication sources known to man.
The tools available on the internet make any type of communication effortless. Verbal and nonverbal communication can be accomplished with video conferencing software. Written messages can be sent through email. Electronic versions of pictures can be sent to and from any internet device.
Customer communication software is another example of one of these tools. While other gadgets help make communication between a business and its consumers easy, certain tools can often be considered hybrid – bringing together different types of communication.
Live chat is a rare hybrid tool that combines all types of communication – verbal, nonverbal, written, and rich media – through audio and video conferencing software, instant messaging, and file-sharing capabilities.
Customers can place orders, ask questions, or troubleshoot issues through live chat, all on a single customer communication platform. This gives them access to a business and allows them to connect with an agent whenever they have a query. With live chat software, it’s never been easier to connect.
Technology use in communication has made connections among people stronger than ever. But in order for those networks to run smoothly, the collection of interactive devices being used also need to be connected. This is known as information and communication technology.
How Social Media Is Changing Communication For The Better
Social media is revolutionizing communication because it brings a new level of efficiency to influencing social change. Social media campaigns led by individuals, nonprofits, NGOs, government, or businesses can illuminate social issues, environmental concerns, and positive philanthropic deeds.
The best part is that social media also enables two-way conversations. Consumers can interact with brands in a public setting, and brands can garner trust by communicating about their sustainability and CSR programs. These conversations can then be shared across the social web by any number of the more than 2.1 billion social media users worldwide.
The jump from traditional communication and marketing avenues to social media is uncomfortable for many businesses because social media interactions are much more public and fluid. Similarly, there is a learning curve for many companies as they start using social media as a business tool.
Brands no longer live in a world where they can hide behind a wall of private communication and continue to push inquiries, concerns, or problems aside. The way of the future is for brands to respond to, engage, and build trust with their stakeholder communities, even if it means exposing the good, the bad, and the ugly elements of their activities.
Similarly, brands that recognize the importance of using business as a change agent and purveyor of positive values will thrive in both the social and physical worlds. Social media is empowering a growing number of companies as they take steps to more responsibly care for their employees, communities, and planet. It’s also allowing values-driven consumers to engage with companies for the purpose of creating a better world.
Advantages Of Technology Use In Communication Internet:
Technology has changed the way we communicate in so many ways. It has also changed the way people conduct business, and the manner we conduct our personal and social lives. We can easily text, talk and email through a link to anyone all over the world. In fact, it is now possible to visit any part of the world virtually. The education sector has also improved significantly because it is now possible to acquire a degree from any institution all over the world if you have a computer and internet connection.
On the other hand, internet communication has created numerous problems that appear to increase as technology advances. The list of advantages and disadvantages of internet communication can be endless, it all depends on the track you choose. For example, you must be cautious about how and to who you give your personal information. You should also question the sources of your information to determine whether it is the truth or not.
So What Are The Advantages Of Internet Communication?
Speed And Time
Through internet communication, time and money are saved. This is because it is much cheaper and quicker to transfer information around. It also becomes faster and efficient to contact a business partner or a relative. We can now communicate with anyone around the world through emails and text messages instantly. The internet has also provided face-to-face communication, thanks to Skype, social media sites, video conferencing, and many other ways offered by technology use in communication companies.
Job Creation
One major advantage of internet communication is the creation of new and exciting jobs. System analysts, computer programmers, web designers, hardware and software developers, and many other new opportunities created by information communication technology (ICT).
Globalization
The internet has indeed brought people closer, and also helped in economic growth. It has also brought down geographical and language boundaries. The universe has become a global village due to information technology, permitting countries such as Japan and Ireland who are separated by language and distance, to share information and ideas with one another.
Cost-Effective
It is cheaper to send an email to another country than to make a phone call. The internet has also helped to systematize business practices helping businesses to cut costs.
Improve Education Sector
The internet has made it possible for numerous computer programs to be shared with different generations in different parts of the world. Important information such as health, business, and environmental facts are easily available to any person with an internet connection.
More Business Opportunities
Information communication technology (ICT) has made it easier for businesses to be automated allowing customers to contact them 24/7. This means that a company can be opened anywhere, anytime, allowing clients to make purchases from different countries.
This makes business easier and more convenient. For example, the use of ezTalks has helped many businesses work together instant and simultaneously. Companies using ezTalks are able to share and access large files without delays, get updates in real-time, and ensure every staff participation no matter where they are or at what time.
Eliminates The Cultural Gap
The internet has helped to bridge the gap. People from different nations can easily communicate with each other, allowing the exchange of ideas and views.
Clarity
With high megapixel images and video, and high-quality audio systems clarity in communication has helped improve the quality of one’s conversation.
Proximity
Technological advancements have made the world a smaller place to live in, everyone can be connected with each other, just by the use of a smartphone.
Dissemination
Technology use in communication: Take social media, for example, it is such a large and accessible platform where spreading information, broadcasting news, or sharing knowledge, has been made much more efficient
Mass Communication
Organizations, like schools and businesses, use electronic communication to share information with a large number of people. Businesses can send mass emails to employees in order to inform workers about things like rule changes and important meetings. Many academic institutions use mass communication in order to maintain a well-informed campus.
In case of an emergency, such as a spreading fire or the presence of an armed assailant, mass communication can quickly inform people of the situation, giving enough notice to allow people to take the necessary actions to stay safe.
Social Relief
Computer-mediated communication can be socially beneficial. For people who are socially awkward, computer-mediated communication such as online forums and chat rooms can help create a more fulfilling social life. For example, someone who fails at personal relationships because he speaks before thinking about the consequences has more control over Internet communication. He can read back his statements before posting, which will likely reduce the number of awkward moments the person creates.
Technology use in communication offers other benefits, as well. Dating websites, for instance, can relieve some of the frustration involved with dating by allowing you to view the profiles of potential dates so you can determine who is the best match for you. This can save you both time and heartbreak.