Concepts essays

13. Communication is not complete upon receipt
“A major disadvantage of email and similar asynchronous communications systems is that, often or sometimes, human users assume that when a message has been received, then it is automatically going to be acted upon or read or similar processed by the human(s) to which it was sent. While computers are very good at automatically processing information, humans are not. Equally, a website is not complete when it is created and presented: it has to be used. Websites are, basically, a very indirect form of communication and so, if we wish to use the web effectively, we can apply the same lesson: simply visiting a website is not sufficient…doing something with it is what closes the circuit of communication.”

It would be silly to even think of someone putting in hours of work to create something that’s going to sit in storage till it eventually gets thrown out. It would seem dafter to us if the worker would be a clever person with talents and abilities that could be put to good use.

So then what’s the purpose of working hard on anything? The reason that we work hard for anything is for the deep pleasure and satisfaction of seeing it be put to use and fulfilling that for which it was made. The more use is made out of it, the more we are happy about the hard work we put in, and would be willing to once again apply the same effort to something.

Sometimes it’s hard to know to what extent your handiworks have been helpful to people and served its purpose. But everyone can appreciate the knowledge that something they have spent time on, however small, has been significant enough to another person, that they have taking up their time to make use of what we did.

When writing a letter to anyone, we expect a response. The same rules apply to emailing. Although this is what we expect, we must realise that just because we act in a certain way, it doesn’t mean that others do. Emails are received in abundance. People send emails far quicker then they would pick up a phone, or perform another method of communication.

It’s therefore inevitable that responding would be low. People have so many emails to respond to that they just pick out the important ones, and leave the rest for the sender to just assume the email has been read and the relevant action has been taken. With emails no one can assume it was read and acted upon. Of course, this is wrong and the correct way to treat anyone would be to reply to an email you have received. Since this is the way we like to be treated, we have to have the initiative to act the same way. Even if it for our benefit, we’re sometime lazy to help even ourselves.

We live in a world that has been taken over by technology, we’re used to just receiving only the best in the task that we want carried out. Machines behave exactly as we expect. We therefore apply this attitude to everything.

When visiting a website we have to appreciate, that it was created to serve a purpose and anything short of that would be a disservice to its maker. Information that we have read doesn’t immediately fulfil its purpose. Only when action is taken due to it, does its true purpose be fulfilled.

We must therefore conclude, that with the understanding of how something achieves its purpose, we must try to take in all the potential that the world provides around us. By acting on the hard work that others have done for us, we have truly benefited ourselves and others.

Links:
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page6120.cfm :

Above is a link to an article written by Eve Fox and Karen Matheson, trying to explain the reason that non-profit organisations, email fundraisers, marketer etc. have received a decline in the responses to their emails. It describes their area of concern, their explanation of the matter and how they went about checking if their fears were anything to be wary of. It provides the user with a clear and concise chart showing their findings. It is a great site as it gives a link at the end, helping the user fix their current situation, and helping them towards a better future.

http://dealeradvantage.cars.com/enews/07/08/bda_3.php :

Above is a link to an article written by Ralph D. Ebersole from a website called ‘Deal Advantage’ which has the motto of, ‘news and tips to drive online success’ which is exactly what it does. It is a fantastic read about the reasons why one should never pass up an opportunity to answer an email, and the reasons why one should never put of replying to later. It really broadens the concept of the importance of answering your emails, teaching us how it could only be a benefit to ourselves if we do. It also gives ’10 best practices that turn emails into sales.’

7. The impact of text-based real-time chat
“You might think that, with the widespread availability of telephones, an internet-based system of real-time communication involving the typing of text messages would be hardly used, or at least, of little relevance. You would be wrong. Real-time internet-based text chat is a significant part of contemporary internet use. The question then to be asked is: what is the difference here that makes this mode of communication popular; and then what impact does it have of the kinds of communication and social interaction that take place? Setting aside cost the main differences are…….. Whether this effect of real-time communication will survive the rush towards AV conferencing is a moot point. However, a skilled Internet user will appreciate that text is, in some circumstances, a highly effective mechanism for communication. In particular, because text can be captured so much more easily than speech, it provides a mechanism for preserving and reflecting on conversations.”

When the facility of being able to conduct a conversation by words became available to mankind, many people felt that they would never be able to get used to having such a ‘cold’ form of communication. Some even felt that it was in a way degrading the gift of being able to use speech to communicate with another human.
Yet despite all these reasoning, chatting online has become increasingly popular and is becoming even more so as time goes on. Why is this so? What’s in chatting that appeals to everyone?
If one would say that chatting has become a favorite due to the fact that people are using the computer more and have no time for ‘real life’ conversing, they would be greatly undermining the facility and the concepts that it represents. Although it’s true that people are spending more time by computers and on the internet, chatting on line appeals due to many other reasons as well.
We live in a world where many people have problems with their self-esteem. Children in classroom have show that this is a point of concern. People feel that they’re always in competition with everyone else, and the fear of failure hangs upon people, especially teenagers and young children. This has developed into a problem of being able to conduct a ‘normal’ conversation. People are scared that they are not showing themselves as someone of a correct and admirable intellect level and that they don’t appear to the other person ‘on the ball’ enough.
When one sits at home; behind the safety of their computer, in familiar surroundings, they feel secure, and aren’t so threatened by the dangers they think lurk in society. They can write text at their own pace and can think through carefully what their next line is going to be before they write it. No one is judging them by appearance, mannerism or tone of voice.
Furthermore, when one writes, the words can hit their mark much stronger then speaking. The words that appear on the screen, once written and sent, are there to stay. They are recorded forever, and nothing can truly erase them. Speech on the other hand, can be forgotten, and memories can be disorientated.
When one has an appreciation of what real work is they realize that the gift of recording you actions and spoken words is unique. If one wants to truly perfect themselves in their workings and human relationships, then reviewing what one has done, and trying to find areas to improve on, is the first step towards this goal.
Even though chatting online has all these benefits, the impact that it has had on human relationships has been huge. People speak to each other much less then they used to, and the closeness that can only be achieved through words, has become scarce.
We have to realize that every mode of conduct has its values, but also has its negative points. We have been given so many ways to do so many things. Using a variety of ways to communicate, will have the result that we will truly understand what it means to converse with someone else and will be able to truly use the gift of communication to fullest potential.

Links:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Online-Chat-Rooms---More-Than-Just-Virtual-Friendship&id=1588590 :

Above is an article written by Kevin Laura about the facilities and the benefits of the chat room. It describes the rapid growth of chatting online, and the changes and improvements that have been made. It is an important read to anyone who is unfamiliar with the way chat rooms work, and need a quick and clear overview of what it is all about. It also explains certain rules and why they should be kept. It has great links to all types of chat rooms, as well another fantastic link to an article for younger users about basic chat room safety.

http://www.chatdanger.com/chat/safetyadvice.aspx :

Above is a link to a website that tells you exactly what chatting online is all about. It is a really personal site, and it tries to relate directly to you. It has personal stories as well as 10 safety instructions about chatting online. It also has great links to information about all types of methods of communication on the internet. A real eye-opener, to anyone wanting to broaden their knowledge about the internet and what using it entails. It also provides you with a direct link to contact them. You can tell them any concerns you have, ask any questions and share any personal stories with them. An A1 site.

2. Your audience's use of communication
“Many effective email practices depend on understanding how the audience for your messages will use the information you are sending them, or more precisely, how you wish them to use it. (‘Use’ here includes many different things). This concept is quite different from thinking about what you are telling your audience: it requires you to think about what the recipients of email will do with that mail……… To be effective, you need to signal to your audience what you would like them to do; you need to help them to understand your intentions and expectations.
Thinking about how audiences use Internet information is also very important for website designers; but, since most people are website users, we can also usefully extend the concept to include the processes that we need to consider when we use websites. Furthermore, all communication involves the development of both messages and intentions of use, which can run counter to, or differently from, received messages and received uses.”

Using the internet as a form of communication, is becoming more popular as each day passes. World wide people are utilizing the computer to conduct and perform the myriad of tasks we humans perform, almost without thought, numerous times each day. It has therefore become a high priority that when writing emails as a form of communication, one does so with integrity and precise forethought.
Upon beginning writing an email, one needs to reflect as to the purpose and reasoning of it, so to ensure that the maximum benefit it derived as a result of it. Fully contemplating this concept deeper, one can begin to appreciate the power of each ‘simple’ email, and the consideration that needs to be put in, before it is sent off.
If this so for an email, how much more does this apply with a website or other major uses of the internet. A web-designer needs to have intelligence and common sense, to workout the exact core of the website, and what outcomes are desired to come out from it. Making use of the facility of the internet to its fullest potential can generate results that can not be achieved through any other means. If one does put the necessary thought into the makings of their web-page, it could achieve any results that one requires.
Why am I making the web-page? For what reason does the information need to be conveyed through specifically this form? What age group and I targeting? What gender, countries, personalities….?
These are just a few questions that need to be considered before making a web-page.

When writing an email, one can expect and demand a reply, but with a web-page, it is possible that no reply can ever be received even though hundreds of people could have seen and made use of it. The users can put to use anything that has been displayed on a web-site, for any purpose they so desire. Therefore, information that is written publicly through this form, can and in most likelihood will be passed on and utilised.

Users have the privilege of viewing the web-site as many times as they like, keeping tabs on up-dates and changes. If you want the user to comment upon the information s/he has just learnt, then you have to provide them with the motivation they need. This could be done by providing links to email and the like. If you want them to invest the matter further, demonstrating its importance to them, providing links to other websites and proving their reliability, could be a way to achieve these results. Information must also be stated clearly so it can be understood by anyone.

In conclusion, if someone would simply make a webpage without any forethought, its potential would be greatly diminished and it would be a great pity for its capacity of achievement to be lessened. If one fully appreciates the power of his work, great results can be achieved and used to help people all over the world.

Links:

http://www.stanford.edu/group/siqss/Press_Release/press_detail.html :

Above is a link to an extremely interesting study on the internet. It shows what people do on the internet, and what percentage does most of. It has great graphs showing the differences and regulations of their findings. It also explains very clearly the impact of greatly using the internet, explaining each point in detail. It also explains why the results are like they are. It is a truly fabulous piece, of a complete overview of all areas of the usage of the internet. A must for anyone trying to understand deeper, what society is doing now-a-days, how they spend their time, and the impact it is making on everyone.

http://www.sayeconomy.com/how-to-make-a-web-page-step-1-planning/ :

Above is a link to a truly amazing piece of writing. For those who want to get an idea of what the planning stage of making a webpage is all about, then here it is. It truly gives you an idea of the importance of planning especially when it comes to web-design. It also has links to great articles on any topic that you can ever dream of wanting to know about as well as to videos to help you understand all topics. You can even respond to your impression of the article. A great site to surf around in.

19. Public and Private
“All public asynchronous conversations carry with them private sub-texts and possibilities. While an email message to a list goes to everyone, very often we forget the extent of our audience (which can be many 100s more people than appear to be on the list). We focus on the individual or individuals with whom we are directly communicating and can become blind to the increasingly 'private' nature of list messages. As a result, discussions can become too narrowly focused, or too personally contextualised, thus alienating other list members.
Pre-Internet communications are so neatly divided between very private and very public that it is not surprising we have trouble mixing the two so thoroughly as happens on the Internet. Once again we see the ‘invisibility of difference’: when we receive, in a public forum, something which deeply concerns us individually, we might well believe the message to be directed at us personally even though it is also appearing on 1000s of other monitors around the world. We can also see here the importance of the spatialising metaphors used to create illusions of shared space: if the Internet is imagined to be a place full of people, rather than a network of one-to-one relationships, then it is easier to avoid damaging public displays of behaviour better suited to individual correspondence”

As part being human, we naturally form opinions of things and observe the world around us. Once we get into the habit of viewing something in a certain way, it is extremely difficult to get out it. Even though we can see we were wrong and the basis of what we gleaned from our observations, were false, once we have planted this image in our mind, we have to work really hard to correct it.

When one thinks of the word ‘communication’, most people think of talking and face-to-face conduct. Therefore when we use the internet to communicate, most people just apply the same rules and methods. Unfortunately this can be the cause of many problems. There are many basic differences between the two methods of communications and if one uses them in the same way, they could infringe on basic etiquette and what is considered the norm. Miss-understandings are inevitable, and people could be hurt and insulted without intention.

When speaking to a human, it’s very easy to imagine the person you are talking to, even if you have never met- through tone of voice, mannerism etc. Therefore you’re more inclined to see them as a person with feelings and emotions and treat them as such. You can also clearer see the boundaries that you mustn’t overstep and have been taught ever since youth what the norm is and what is expected from you.

When one uses the internet as a form of communication and utilises the facilities that it provides, these clear boundaries become hazy and blend into what is ‘right’ and expected, to what is optional. Seeing the person, you are for example, chatting to, as a person, also becomes difficult, as the conversation is completely word based and every chat and email generally looks the same.

When it comes to the most important matter of all, and consideration is most needed, it becomes very easy to overlook implementing this point. Even though humans write letters, which in itself is more expressive then talking, in the way that it can be read and re-read and theoretically can be shown to anyone, no one wants their personal matters and feelings to be on display.

Bearing these two concepts in mind, one can begin to appreciate the difficulties to successfully and correctly correspond via the internet. On one hand you must realise that it’s a person you are corresponding with, although on the other hand, you are used to writing in a non-emotional form. Yet one can understand how angry one would be if their private matters where sent on a list email to 100’s of people.

In conclusion, utmost care has to be implemented when communicating in writing. People are still people, even behind the words they write. People want to feel that their rights are being treated with the correct respect, and no one is overstepping any boundaries. Rather be safe then sorry. A persons’ privacy, is something that no one has the right to infringe on.

Links:

http://www.indywebshop.com/bestpractices/2006/10/25/talking-to-clients-phone-vs-email/ :

Above is a link to a great article all about the differences between talking on the telephone and writing an email. The pros and cons are clearly written out and there is even a ‘winner’ after each aspect is discussed. Completed with a great conclusion; for someone who wants to know all about this topic before s/he makes a decision of which one to use more, it is a definite must. There is also a response section and furthermore, it has a great archives section and topics list which can take you to more fabulous posts, all clearly dated, written in by anyone and everyone.

http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/2052/genddiff.html :

Above is a great link to an article which takes the concept of the difference between writing and speaking just that little but further. It explains all about the differences between males and female in relation to online communication. It also has a link to a transcript of a talk made by Susan Herring, made in 1994 talk, at a panel called Making the Net *Work. It also has a link to a great piece of writing called “Cross-Gender Communication in Cyberspace.” which discusses a survey which was sent to both men and women online. It also provides great links for anyone wanting to broaden their knowledge in this area.

References:
Ryan, S Scott, B Freeman, H Patel, D (2000) The Virtual University. UK: Kogan Page Limited.
Edmonds, G (2007) The Good Web Site Guide 2008. Great Britain: Clays Ltd, St Ives plc
http://www.magportal.com/c/net/social/
http://www.callforaction.org/privacy/