Human+communication+and+interaction

toc Anyone who has access to any form of media has heard about technology in some way or another. No matter where we turn, we are barraged with evidence that digital technology is affecting virtually every aspect of our lives. The design and introduction of new technologies has in many ways enhanced the process of [|human communication and interaction].

Communication is a fundamental social process it is more than the mere transmission of messages. Communication is human interaction among individuals and groups through which identities and meanings are shaped. Communication rights are based on a vision of the free flow of information and ideas which is interactive, and non-discriminatory and driven by human needs. =Communication Model=

The communication model was developed by Shannon and Weaver (1949), a model which reduces communication to a process of 'transmitting information'. They developed a model of communication which was intended to assist in developing a mathematical theory of communication. Shannon and Weaver's work proved valuable for communication engineers in dealing with such issues as the capacity of various communication channels in 'bits per second'. //Shannon and Weaver's communication model.//

Each component of the communication model has positively benefited from new technological developments and have therefore resulted in improved communication overall. An augmentation at any level of this model will lead to a more effective process in the creation and understanding of various messages. There are some limitations technology posses which will be discussed.

=Analyzing the Compenents of the Model=

In communication there is always a sender and a receiver. At least there is an intended receiver. Both the sender and receiver are different and have their own world formed by their experiences, their perceptions, their ideas. So the same event will be perceived, and interpreted differently. For the consideration to communicate to appear at all there must be some kind of shared space. The participants must have some kind of concept of each other's location and of a possible channel of communication existing between them. They must agree sufficiently on this to agree that communication is taking place.

=Sender=

The sender will have some kind of message they want to convey to the receiver. What is desired to be communicated would be some kind of idea, perception, feeling, or datum. It will be a part of there reality that they wish to send to somebody else.

=Receiver=

The receiver is the person who perceives, and interprets the message. The message will form a concept of what the meaning of the message is. It might or might not be what was intended by the sender. In successful communication the perceived message will be very close to the intended message by the sender. However, the sender will only know through feedback if the message comes back in some form. One can never take for granted that the receiver will interpret the message the same way as the sender intended it.

=Message=

The message put simply is the actual encoded message that is transmitted by the medium. There is a surface meaning and a deep content meaning. The medium is what the message is transmitted on. The phone system, Internet, and many other electronic systems use wires. A connection needs to be made in order for the message to be conveyed. For a given message from a sender to receiver, the “medium'' is everything the message traverses, no matter what that is.

With improvements to the channel of communication you will have the ability to select the message you wish to receive and effectively transmit messages. However, there are so many different formats and mediums emerging to allow the message to get across time and space more efficiently. Also, diffusion of technology is spreading very fast and the convergence of other technologies is emerging so the message will be able to be transmitted with less time. If the message portion is enhanced the receiver will be able to understand the message more effectively and in turn send feedback right away.

=Context=

Context refers to the social and physical aspect of the model, it is the meaning of the message also it’s the environment in which the communication occurred and any perceptions which may occur. This is an important factor of the model. The message can be interpreted quite differently within different contexts. Social contexts have a key influence on what are perceived as appropriate forms, styles and contents. In other words, context is a "frame" through which we view a message. This part of the model is where the meaning is uncovered.

=Noise=

Technology does allow the sender and receiver to access the information instantly. However this can be a negative thing because it becomes easy to send a lot of information and this creates a complex environment. The important messages may get lost, it’s like finding a needle in a hay stack. Also the message can sometimes get lost, with noise. For example interference, battery drainage, and power outage are things that can affect the message to be delivered. The context also depends on the situation that the person is in. So if the person does not have access to up-to-date technologies the message will also get lost. New technologies and a more profound understanding of communication rights have the power to make information and knowledge more readily available to people everywhere and to transform social and political processes. Global communication remains far from universal, with most of the world’s people still excluded from meaningful access to communication, information and the media. Fortunately, with government funding allows 3rd world countries to have access to the internet, this hopefully reduces the gap. Overall advancements in technology will defiantly increase the context and allow a more clear and concise understanding.

The growth and development of information and communication technologies has led to a wide diffusion, thus increasing the economic and social impact. Although the Information Age has many upsides, one of its major downsides is information overload. Indeed, the amount of information easily pushes the limit of what people can manage. Also there are some challenges with noise, the message will not be able to be received or the sender will not be able to receive feedback. We must continue to find ways in which to minimize noise in order to achieve the benefits technology has to offer in terms of communication processes. There is also very little supervision over the ways in which information can be offered and there are no rules governing the form of information.

=Concluding Remarks=

To have effective communication one needs to take all the factors into consideration. The different realities, the space the communication takes place in, verbal as well as non-verbal messages, the intended meaning versus the perceived meaning. The communication model incorporates four components that need to work together in order to ensure clear messages are being relayed throughout the interactions occurring between the sender and receiver. Noticeably, if each component of the communication model gets enhanced the overall communications will increase. For the sender the message needs to be clear before sending it out. The receiver needs to be able to receive the message fast to be able to send feedback. The goal of technology is to provide knowledge with the least amount of energy to achieve the best results. Technological innovations have strengthened relationships by providing people with different ways in which to communicate thus increased out networking. The model stresses the act of making meaning and the importance of the socio-cultural context this can be achieved by technological advancements.

=Examples=

The following are examples human interaction technology that has improved communication overall. They will be examined using the communication model:
 * E learning is distance learning through the internet, it provides productive alternatives to traditional learning environments.
 * Wearable computers are tiny computers that people can wear to help manage, sort, and filter information.

To view additional components of this model please see: Human Communication and Speech Chain Model

=Works Cited=

Underwood, Mick. “The Shannon-Weaver Model” 2003. Cultsock. <[|Source]>.