How do we communicate? We use body language and physical gestures; we create sounds to
convey feelings or explain experiences. We use language &
grammar. We use these tools and techniques in order to relate to one another;
to share and understand each other. Communication has
evolved from hieroglyphics on a cave wall, to emojicons on a Facebook
wall; and although the technology has evolved, the purpose has not.
So, what has technology done for us in the realm of communication? As communication-devices
have evolved, the presumed availability of one another has increased. Because we are considered to be “continuously available” we've adopted new styles of communication, which help us manage our constant social connectivity. Email and text messaging are two examples
of "availability management". These new styles of
communication attempt to emulate social conditions prior to being "continuously available". They allow the user to respond at their own pace and according to their own schedule, which has created a discontinuous and fragmented work ethic. Operationally, what makes this style of communication successful, or unsuccessful?
A traditional style of communication would consist of a continuous blocks of time coordinated and reserved between two individual's schedules. This block of time would be uninterrupted and the attention would presumably be focused on one another. The contrasting style of communication allows for user flexibility and freedom. Digital technology gives us the ability to slice, distribute, rearrange, and allocate our focus in order to compose personalized micro-schedules for communication. This ability to operate at a personalized pace enables us to more freely calculate the priority level of any given communication at any given time.
How does this style of communication effect human behavior? If responses are rehearsed and edited, does this remove us further from genuine human interaction. Does this dilute our ability to react or improvise; or does it exercise our ability to be fluid, flexible, and free?