Technology
has made our lives easier and has helped speed up ordinary tasks in our daily
routine. For example, a microwave helps food cook faster; the internet allows
us to receive information faster and helps us stay connected with our friends,
family, coworkers, etc.; a laptop computer allows us to have internet access
all around the world; a cell phone lets us stay in touch with one another. Overall,
technology has allowed us to do our tasks at a faster pace and use our time
doing other things.
Even
though technology is fast, it does have multiple downsides—one being it has replaced
in-person conversation. Technology has its faults and therefore should not be
relied on 100%, especially to replace conversation between live individuals. Talking with others via computers or cell
phones lacks personal contact. One could misread someone’s sarcastic comment
and take it very seriously. Don’t get me wrong, having these devices has
allowed us to meet new people and stay in touch with others, but it has
negatively affected face-to-face contact.
Patti Wood, a communication consultant,
was asked if social web sites were spoiling verbal conversation; she observed
the following: “The idea of being present in the moment is disappearing.
Oftentimes we devalue our current situation — the friends and family around us,
our surroundings and setting — for something going on somewhere else, somewhere
that seems far more interesting than what is right in front of us”
(Snow, 2009). More people are spending more time using the internet and social
websites to communicate with one another rather than in-person contact. Social
skills are beginning to decline.
According to Hunter, the American community is
collapsing and we are relying more on non-physical means of communication.
Therefore, the values of each connection are lessened and there are not as many
benefits. It is important, however, to keep in mind the importance of
face-to-face communication (Hunter).
Hunter, Brad. "The
Subtle Benefits of Face-To-Face Communication." Stanford University. Web. 17 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.stanford.edu/class/symbsys205/facetoface.html>.
Snow, Blake. "Are
Social Web Sites Spoiling In-Person Conversation? — Tech News and
Analysis." GigaOM. 1 May 2009. Web.
17 Jan. 2012. <http://gigaom.com/2009/05/01/are-social-web-sites-spoiling-in-person-conversation/>.
I agree that a lack of direct personal interaction is detrimental to a person's social skills and removes some of the finer points of interaction. However, technology has come a long way since the very first text was sent. Texting certainly still has a huge number of limitations, not limited to the inability to read emotions perfectly from a line of written word, although I would argue that some of that stems more from the transition to texting shorthand than a direct result of spoken to written word mistranslation, but it also allows you to communicate with others when you might not necessarily be able to talk due to others around you. In addition, the variety of forms of communication now available for instant access seems to me to in a way have removed some of the limitations of a lack of non-verbal communication cues. For example, Skype is free and only a click of the mouse away, and allows you to see the person you a speaking with and hear their voice in real time, removing both the limitation of traditional phone calls and the even greater limitations of texting in one fell swoop. Even so, there is a time and place for everything, and in-person face-to-face communication is still an extremely important skill to cultivate.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely about face to face communication becoming less important in our society due to technology. But your blog got me thinking...What about skype? Is that technically considered face to face communication? Today in one of my classes we were discussing a professor who wanted to hold office hours via skype instead of in the office, which brought this to my mind. I am unsure about this answer after pondering it. I am thinking the answer is yes and no becasue yes, skype is a way of face to face communication in a way, but at the same time you can just shut off the conversation by hitting the end call button unlike a normal conversation in person. Just curious of your opinion on skype as a face to face communication.
ReplyDeleteI agree that their needs to be face to face communication no matter how advanced technology becomes. If people lose the ability to talk to eachother it will end up in a alomst devolution of our soicety. But what about like talking over the phone or skype when there is more personal interaction? What are your thoughts on communication through those means? Im just curious if you feel that Skype is face to face communication or if you consider it artificual?
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