Communication refers to the activity of conveying information through the exchange of thoughts, messages or information as by the use of speech, signals and other visual aids, writing or behavior. The communication process involves a sender or communication source, the subject matter of communication, expressions used for communicating (encoding), the medium of communication, receiver(s) of the communication and the interpretation thereof (decoding) and feedback. Technology can be defined as the application of scientific knowledge and principles for practical purposes. In relation to communication, technology can be used to refer to the process of constructing and maintaining communication systems.
Communication is the backbone of human interaction and it is, therefore, imperative to have effective communication. The development of communication can be traced back to prehistoric times to a period when communication was basically done by use of symbols mainly painted onto the walls of caves and other early shelters of the prehistoric man. The invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in the year 1875 was the first technological invention that impacted communication to a massive extent. This was then followed by several inventions, for example, the introduction of the first automatic analog cellular phone in the 1960’s. The combining of technology and communication brings immediacy, integration, access and collaboration to several aspects of life.
Technological progress has introduced modern means of communication, for example,
1. Telephones.
This is the transmission of speech over a distance either by electrical signals propagated along conductors or by radio signals. Telephone communication permits communication to be carried on between people separated by almost any distance.
2. SMS (Short Message Service).
This is a component of phone, web or mobile communication systems that
References: 1. www.buzzle.com Article on the impact of technology on communication by Hemangi Harankhedkar. Published: 6/7/2011. 2. www.northampton.edu Article on the effects of technology on communication by Katherine Noll. Published: 12/12/2012.