Proposal on Human Communication and Technology

Introduction

One of the main factors that make human beings vary from other animals is their ability to use speech for passing ideas from one person to another. Unlike the language of other animals the speech of human beings is coded in words, phrases and symbols that make exchange of ideas a very complex issue. Human beings have developed a range of ways for passing messages and ideas that are aimed at enhancing their interactions. Many scientists have come up with variety of ways through which human beings can develop their communication and get rid of barriers that exist due to cultural, personal, political or academic issues. Several theories have been put forward by many scholars to explain human communication and interactions that are vital in all societies. Human beings have used technology in their exchange of ideas to boost efficiency in their interactions. Technology in human exchange of ideas and interactions refers to any method or media used to communicate as well as the machines and skills that are used due to innovations and inventions. This research proposal aims at outlining how human communication has been influenced by the various technologies used.

Objectives

This research proposal outlines three main objectives as far as human relations and communications are influenced by the use of new technology. The first aim is to spot the need to have technology integrated in human communication. Human beings have varied needs that force them to adjust from their normal way of life and alter some aspects of their life in order to cope with the needs of the society. The need to suit human needs has pushed people to advance their communication methods to have efficient method of communicating with others. Human beings have developed their interactions beyond cultural and geographical barriers that have made it necessary to use modern technology to promote faster transfer of ideas from one continent to another.

Secondly, the research aims at establishing the impacts of technology on human communication. This is a very important area of study as it outlines how different people in their settings have embraced the use of technology in their daily interactions. This area of study will analyze the positive and negative effects that modern technology has had on human life. The positive aspects involve the contributions of modern technology to human communication and all the gaps that it has eliminated and includes efficiency, speed, reliability and language translations in communication (Barnes 2002). On the other hand the negative impacts are those issues that have proved to be setbacks to the society due to the introduction of modern technology inhuman communications. These factors include the rise of cases of unemployment, lack of confidentiality and the spread of propaganda in the society through modern communication technology.

The third objective of this research proposal is to establish the factors that have limited the efficient use of modern communication technology in society. These are issues that hinder people from using these new communication tools in their daily interactions with others regardless of their effectiveness in communication (Gill 2010). These factors may arise due to personality differences like level of education, availability of funds to access the new technology and personal preferences. The society can also be a hindrance to effective us of modern technology in interactions due to stringent cultural beliefs that are aimed at promoting and protecting the traditions and customs of its people at the expense of ignoring modernization. These societies view any new technology as a threat to the continuation of their culture.

Literature Review

This research proposal is based on the work of two scholars that have analyzed technology from two varied perspectives. Their work serves as a basis for the research on human communication and interactions with regard to modern technology. The first review is based on ‘Human Communication on the Internet’ by Leonard Shedletsky. The author has advanced several arguments that are aimed at portraying the use of modern technology as an all round evil practice in society. However, the author seems to unknowingly appreciate the need for modern technology through offering an online forum for teaching on the internet and instructors’ course management tools.

The author of this book fails to understand that by having a comprehensive coverage on the side effects of online learning to students will also serve as a manual to them for effective exploration of these side effects (Levinson 2009). The book fails to establish the fact that youths are prone to curiosity and that exposing the negative impacts of the internet with a descriptive analysis offers them an appropriate avenue to put their curiosity to test. This research will aim at outlining the best ways through which modern technology as depicted by Leonard Shedletsky can be used for a beneficial course. In addition, there are some aspects that this author failed to tackle in an explicit but sensitive manner that will have a positive result on the audience (Shedletsky 2003). The main factor to note here is that modern technology is as useful as it is harmful to the society and therefore the underlying issue is how to downplay the negative aspects of this technology to the society.

The second review is based on the work of Stephen W. Littlejohn in his book ‘Theories of Human Communication’. Human communication is a very complex activity and is guided by many factors which include social, economic and political aspects of the society. Since communication takes place in the context of the society it is better to analyze communication using modern technology through the various Sociological Theories of human interactions (LittleJohn 2010). This literature work outlines various theories and their approach to human interactions and the research should borrow various aspects of these theories in studying human communication and technology. The various theories that guide interactions of human beings are also related to the use of modern tools in the daily interactions of human beings (Fortunati 2003). Communication is a very complex activity due to the fact that it involves three major components (source, medium and target). The essence of any communication is not just to pass messages, but to ensure the intended meaning of the message is delivered successfully to the recipient and the use of technology does not give the message any value as far as the meaning of the message is concerned.

Conclusion

This research proposal is aimed at establishing the basis for study on human communication and technology which is a very diverse aspect of human life. Human communication and interaction is compulsory for all human beings and there can never be interactions without communication. The use of technology in communication is indispensable and varies from as simple as the paper and pen communication to the use of internet messages. This proposal covers a very diverse area of study that human beings can not isolate themselves from it since it forms part of their daily lives.

References

Barnes, S. B. (2002). Computer Mediated Communication: Human-to-Human Communication across the Internet. New York: Allyn and Bacon.

Fortunati, L. (2003). Mediating the Human Body: Technology, Communication and Fashion. New York: Routledge.

Gill, S.P. (2010). Cognition, Communication and Interaction: Transdicsiplinary Perspectives on Interactive Technology. New York: Springer.

Levinson, P. (2009). New New Media. New York: Allan and Bacon.

Littlejohn, S.W. (2010). Theories of Human Communication. Illinois: Waveland Press.

Shedletsky, L. (2003). Human communication on the internet. New York: Allyn and Bacon.

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