This article focuses on the strength of online relationships and how they are compared to communication and strength of face-to-face relationships. In a general sense, the article concludes that face-to-face communication is much stronger and effective than any computer mediated form of communication. I found it interesting that the article mainly states that people feel closer and more connected to people they see face-to-face than those who they communicate through an electronic basis. Face-to-face communication allows a person to see the other, interact, read body language, and the response is immediate. Electronic forms of communication lack these instantaneous feedback queues that provide lots of information during a conversation.
However, this article was written ten years ago, and much has changed since then. Skype and other forms of video calling have allowed face-to-face communication to become a reality through electronic devices. Notes, documents, and many more can be shared instantly, just as if someone was talking to another face to face. Technology has become so advanced that this type of communication is talking swarm in the business world. I would love to see this article updated to take into consideration video calling and its changes it has made in perception to electronic communication.
"Face-to-face communication allows a person to see the other, interact, read body language, and the response is immediate. Electronic forms of communication lack these instantaneous feedback queues that provide lots of information during a conversation."
ReplyDeletePerfectly stated, my friend. I've always felt that. That is probably why, as I've blogged a couple of times now, I'm still getting used to sharing so much of me on Fb. It is a challenge for me to 'imagine' the missing cues...'how am I being received on Fb?' is really what my problem is. In the email only days in which this article was written, it was easier, in my opinion, than today sharing sometimes EVERYTHING (you know who you are!)on Fb. Just bam, info sharing, and done. Now the Internet has evolved into this sharing media mecca, and it's disturbing to some of us. Yes, Jewels, maybe the older some of us ;-).
'See' ya'all manana...Sharxjay.
I agree with with you totally and i believe that electronic mails are not as personal which makes it hard to keep the conversation alive for a long time. I usually only use emails when communicating with my coach, professors, business related and with people I am not as close to. Though I believe that electronic mails are very useful and powerful when communicating with the older generation since they are not as comfortable to use skype and facebook. I usually communicate with my family and older cousins through emails. I totally agree with you that it will be interesting to read articles regarding the new technology devices where people are using devices such as skype where communication almost becomes face to face.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I really enjoyed reading your post about "quality of online social relationship". I agree with you that email is not as personal which makes the relationship harder to build and of course, to maintain. I hate using email because you never know who will read it. You might accidently send it to the wrong person! I think older people have a better way of communicating because they know how to talk to others which makes it interesting because our generation is so different from theirs! I think many of us have a hard time talking to people in person because we're so used to communicating via through facebook, aim, email, text, blog, etc. Technologies have changed our lives so drastically that I can't even imagine how it would be like ten years from now.
ReplyDeleteI love skype! I agree with you when you blog about the article being a bit out dated. Your blog comment made me think of a couple whose only means of communication is the internet; such as travel for work or war. They might use Skype, Facebook, or even email to keep in touch and still feel very close to each other and even keep their relationship stronger because they don’t see each other every day! I personally prefer to see the person face to face but think that you can still hold a very close nit relationship with someone if you are not able to see them in person. Your blog was very interesting, the video advances such as Skype certainly did not occur to me. Thanks for the “food for thought!”
ReplyDeleteThe data is still being collected my friend. Technology is advancing fast and I suppose its up to us to research it. But that comes later; as it stands, yes face-to-face relationships are unsurprisingly more effective at establishing as well as maintaining relationships due to the cues sent and received by all parties. Still, its interesting to think about what will advance and how. Will this always be the case? Nevertheless, relationships with people you have never met can be started utilizing any medium. The development of technology will only increase the odds of this happening. The above posters are right however, the ease of video-chatting will change a few things.
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