Written by Joonas and Tiina
Due to technological advances and computer-mediated communication becoming popular, we are forced to use computers for most of our communication. For example banks and governmental institutions (at least in Finland) offer most of their services online. Five out of ten most popular App Store applications are used for instant messaging which shows that we are most likely communicating more online than offline.
Communication occurs between people and is divided into verbal and nonverbal. Non-verbal communication consists of different body languages such as expressions, gestures and looks. Communication is always culture-related which makes it important to know different culture. If verbal and non-verbal communication are in a conflict people are inclined to believe the message of non-verbal communication.
The way communication has changed is when the various cadgets became part of everyday communication. CMC (computer-mediated communication) means communication between people via computers. Examples of CMC include emails, instant messaging and online forums. Social media and CMC are easy to mix up but these two distinguish between interactivity, mobility and accessibility. However, both have changed social relationships a lot and a great deal of research is made of the change. Due to instant messaging and use of smart phones we have to be available around the clock. The pressure to answer immediately is very high since others can see if you have read the message and when you read it. The around the clock availability has lowered the boundaries of contacting and it increases social anxiety. Nowadays it feels like an achievement if one can stay half a day without reading her messages.
The big question is how non-verbal communication can be noticed when communicating with gadgets. This way of communication is partially replaced with emojis with both pros and cons. Emojis are relatively simple as such but they add their own tone to the message.
The middle-aged and parents use the emojis differently than younger people. For example they can add an emoji which laughs and cries to a message which is related to death.
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Internet memes are used to communicate more complex feelings but they force us to stay up to date with the meme culture. There is a possibility that the lack of nonverbal communication on the internet has caused the communication to be less about text and more about pictures.
An interesting feature of CMC is that the message can be carefully thought and crafted before sending but at the same time internet is full of examples where people shared their thoughts without any filtering whatsoever. The false sense of anonymity might be one reason but sometimes even a careful message gets shared in a wrong group. From a design perspective the user should always be confident with where their message is shared and what is being sent along the actual content. Since we are pretty much forced to use CMC daily the usability of messaging has become very important.
In addition, the new waves of communication are a challenge. It means that a technological device replaces part of interaction or communication between humans. Example of new waves of communication is a shirt which allows parents to hug their children although they are in different places. Can CMC replace physical communication or not? Can such devices ever replace genuine relationships which are based on face-to-face interaction? How do these devices and this kind of communication affect people’s development?
References:
Ahtinen, A. and Chowdhury, A. 2018. Psychology of Pervasive Computing lecture slides. Tampere University of Technology.
In defence of the emoji: how they are helping us to communicate better than ever
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/emoji-iphone-android-communication-better-than-ever-defence-a7980496.html?amp
Most popular iPhone apps of all time: https://www.businessinsider.com/most-popular-iphone-apps-of-all-time-2018-7?r=US&IR=T
Title photo. https://flic.kr/p/tcAVqi (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Wrong use of emojis. https://www.rearfront.com/parents-used-wrong-crying-emoji/
How ‘seen’ messages on Facebook mess with your mental health
http://www.dazeddigital.com/science-tech/article/38010/1/how-seen-messages-on-facebook-mess-with-your-mental-health
