In the last couple of decades, various communication technologies have not only been invented, but also spread across the globe. This trend has taken by storm both personal and corporate communication, with computer-based applications being the most widespread. Internet chatting and teleconferencing have replaced the traditional meetings that used to be held in a conference room.
Virtual conferencing has also become a popular communication technique in corporations. Some of the issues that have led to increased technology communication include portability and accessibility of internet and computers.
Communication gadgets have been reduced to convenient sizes and this has influenced many people, who now use them in place of traditional methods (West and Turner 392). The availability and easy access to the internet has also influenced the use of communication gadgets.
Communication has changed from a traditional time-dependent activity to an instantaneous thing. This has greatly influenced people’s choices, with technology becoming more reliable as time passes. The flexibility in communication has also enhanced communication. The rigid forms of communication used in ancient times such as letter writing, have been replaced by technology-based communication systems, which are less demanding and less formal (West and Turner 392).
The adverse effects that technology has had on face-to-face communication are immense, given the fact that communication skills have been greatly affected. Due to the informality of online communication, students and young individuals are unable to spell words properly and write correct grammar. Sentence structures have also been affected by this overreliance on communication technology.
When writing a short message using a phone or a computer, individuals tend to care less about spelling mistakes because there are a host of applications that automatically rectify them. The informality brought about by the current communication technology has also affected inter-generation relationships.
Due to the respect and fear associated with face-to-face interactions with elderly persons, this mode of communication helps young people to learn to differentiate and respect the age differences. On the contrary, the current communication technology has virtually no concern for age or status. It has thus encouraged moral decadence and promoted rotten values and cultures (Settle-Murphy 1).
Authenticity of information cannot be evaluated in communication technology as it can in face-to-face communications (Garson 90). In face-to-face communication, it is possible to detect foul play and deceit, but it is very hard to do so in the case of the current technology.
Facial and body expressions during communication tell a lot about the speaker and the information being exchanged. Body expressions of the caller or receiver cannot be possible to see in the current modes of communication, unless they both have a webcam. The availability of malicious software used to hack and alter online content, also makes technology communication unreliable to some extent.
The personal touch that is present in face-to-face communication is lost in this overreliance on technology. Deceit and impersonation is another problem common in technology-based communication (Garson 90). Individuals can easily fake contacts and voices of targeted persons and use their information to dupe unsuspecting recipients.
This makes technology-based communication risky. Use of machines to communicate may disalign the fundamental psychological principles in a human being. It creates alienation and personal feelings may be lost. Psychological detachment from ideal aspects like talking to a lifeless gadget may influence greater damages to the user.
However, technology also has some benefits that lack in face-to-face communication. One such advantage is the availability of internet communication at all time (West and Turner 392). Face-to-face communication requires planning and is therefore time consuming. Technology breaks the distance barrier to communication and saves one the travelling cost incurred during face-to-face interactions.
Although technology has enhanced communication by making it more fast and accessible, it has lost the fundamental communication objectives and instead introduced a culture of deceit, arrogance and laziness (West and Turner 392).
Works Cited
Garson, G David. Social Dimensions of Information Technology: Issues for the New Millennium. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Inc (IGI), 2000. Print.
Settle-Murphy, Nancy. Open Communication, Mutual Respect Keys to Intergenerational Harmony. 2011. Web.
West, Richard and Lynn H. Turner. Understanding Interpersonal Communication: Making Choices in Changing Times. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.