1. Defining Communication and CMC environments COMM 4320 Michelle Read

2. What is communication? Most simply, communication is the providing and/or exchanging of information, knowledge, etc. Communication can be done through symbols, such as pictures, letters, words, etc., and verbally and/or visually (e.g. gestures). Several models of communication have been created to explain how communication most often occurs: 3. Shannon & Weaver, 1949 Linear ModelC h a n n e lShannon and Weaver (1949) explained communication in terms of sender, channel (the device, which could be air) and receiver. The initial three step process includes the sender codifying his message, sending the message, and the receiver then decodifying the message. Noise can be occur during transmission and interfere with communication. Examples of this one-way model of communication include lecture, mail, email, text messaging---any communication in which immediate feedback is not possible. 4. Schramm, 1954 Interactional Model First, C h a n n e lTHEN, C h a n n e lThe Interactional Model expands upon the basic linear model, by recognizing that communication can, and is often, a two-way streetHowever, there is still a clear time for sending/receiving. It is a social interaction. Examples of this type of model include instant messaging, or a Q/A session. This model also allows for participants environment, individual backgrounds, etc. and how that might interfere with understanding. Shared meaning is more likely to occur in the overlapping areas. 5. Barnlund, 2008 Transactional Model The transactional model illustrates communication as a reciprocal process with 2 or more people who are in a constant give/take process. The channels might vary (e.g. verbal/nonverbal (gestures)), but back/forth simultaneous communication is occurring. Again, individual experience, knowledge and background is considered and the greatest shared meaning comes in the overlap. Sometimes members are so in sync they are finishing each others sentences! Have you ever been thinking about what you want to add while someone else was talking? Examples of this type of model include everyday conversations or video-conferencing. 6. Importance of Non-verbal communication Assumes face-to-face (f2f) communication or video-conferencing. Examples: gestures, eye movements, blank stare, facial expressions Particularly during feedback, the recipient is likely giving nonverbal cues before the sender is finished transmitting. Through feedback, we adapt our communication based on the response of the receiver. For instance, if you are talking to someone and they are looking at you with a blank look on their face, you may think they dont understand what you are saying. You may adapt by trying to explain it another way. If they are looking you in the eye and nodding yes, you probably think they understand or agree. 7. Communication TimelineIn the beginning, business had to be conducted in person, and then by telegraph and phone. The modern fax machine (1970s) was considered a great invention! BTW, did you know that the first wired transmission of a picture was back in 1846!?With the development of the Internet (beginning as early as the 1960s), by the late 80s and 90s, we were able to communicate asynchronously via email. This was soon followed by other asynchronous activities such as wikis, blogs and blog commenting, and synchronous activities such as chat.Today, we can communicate and collaborate more effectively with larger numbers of people, both asynchronously and synchronously, via tools such as virtual worlds, Video conferencing, web conferencing, document and presentation collaboration. 8. Technology on Communication Computer-mediated communication has evolved from textbased interaction to rich virtual interactions as a method of interpersonal communication. As technology develops, the concept of CMC continually expands. Although the technology changes, interactivity remains a key reason why Internet communication supports interpersonal communication. Behind all Internet communication are people communicating with each other, either directly or through software design. Internet interactivity occurs as interpersonal interactivity, informational interactivity, and human-computer interaction (HCI) 9. Technology on communication, cont. Today information interactivity transpires through the Web, which adds a graphical interface to the Internet. The Web combines elements of informational interactivity with interpersonal interactivity because increasingly older CMC genres, such as chat and discussion groups, are being integrated into Web sites. HCI is the way people interact with their computers, and it is based on human communication and behavior patterns. Program developers design interfaces to be conversational. Moreover, technology constantly changes - people often react to new technologies in the same way they react to new people. 10. Technology on communication, cont. With the introduction of avatars, virtual spaces and voice recognition programs, computer interaction is becoming even closer to human interaction. In the future, it will become increasingly difficult to distinguish between interpersonal interactivity and HCI on the Internet. Language is the primary way in which people communicate with each other. Internet characteristics alter the ways in which people use electronic language. Electronic writing adds graphic markers or emoticons to compensate for the lack of visual information. As a result, electronic language alters written correspondence to communicate more effectively. 11. Discussion Post responses in the Discussion board. Compare exchanges/conversations through a bulletin board or forum (what we are doing in here) to that of instant messaging (chat). What are similarities and differences? How does synchronous versus asynchronous influence the conversation? Have you had experience with both? Which do you prefer ? Why? What nonverbal cues would you look for in f2f situations in judging whether someone likes you or likes what you are saying? How do these translate to a computer-mediated environment? What cues would you look for in judging whether someone likes you, or what you are saying, in a computermediated environment?