Conventional vs.

Technology enabled communication

A Comparison

Presented by:

JB Jacob Cochin University of Science and Technology

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Introduction The Three Waves Conventional Communication Methods Technology enabled/ Electronic Communication Comparison Conclusion

What is communication?

Communication can be defined as the exchange of messages (information, thoughts, ideas, emotion, opinions, facts, etc.) between or among two or more persons.

May be intentional or unintentional,

May involve conventional or unconventional signals,

May take linguistic or nonlinguistic forms,

May occur through spoken or other modes.

Communication and business have a symbiotic relationship More business means more sophisticated means of communication Basic ingredients of communication remain the same but the means/ media/ technology of the transmission of message/information have grown at a fast pace.

Business people communicate with a variety of individuals and groups everyday. This is done for the very basic purpose of influencing someone to think or behave in a particular way

Conventional
A way of doing something in a manner that has been used or available for a long time and is accepted from the past.

As pointed out by Alvin Toffler: In the first wave most communications passed mouth-to-ear and face-to-face with small groups

The second wave was based on mass production and needed more communication at a distance. Gave rise to the post office, telegraph, telephone newspapers, magazines, movies, radio, and television
In the third wave the new media of communication are interlinked and fused together, feeding data, images, and symbols back and forth to one another, an age of mediafusion.

Early innovations and conventional Office: Initially face to face communication involving ink, paper and pen The first innovation- the Telegraph facilitated almost instant communication connected by wire.

Then there appeared the Type writer, advanced types of press and the telephone that improved oral communications
In 1900s witnessed the advent of photocopiers, radio, television, electric and later electronic type writers In a conventional office all communication came to depend ultimately on paper.

Cost per copy very high.

Ancient people use pigeons and the kings used race horses to carry messages Time per copy is a lot Numerous documents disappeared from history because they were not

copied
Figure1: Pre-Gutenberg Practical Information Transmission

Lowered cost-per-copy and time-per-copy. Ability to reach large number of people with same message. Physical distribution of printed material was the major cost. Number of readers have to be enough to make newspaper printing economical.

Figure 2: Post-Gutenberg Practical Information Transmission

The ability to serve more people Allow them to send more types of things Primarily interested in the transportation of objects more then ``information'' Needs cheap, reliable transportation and large number of customers to be economical

Figure 3: Postal Service

Content could be broadcast quickly, even immediately. Content can be broadcast to any number of people Expense to put together a professional quality programs is very high

Requires large transmission towers, electromagnetic spectrum must be allocated

Figure 4: Radio and Television

Contents re distributed by having the customers to come to a retail outlet. Economically viable Requires transportation and large customer base like postal service.

Figure 5: Retail Distribution Networks

Similar to postal service Telegraphy is not interactive Telephone Eliminates distance limitations of natural communication. Telephone is Similar to speaking face-to-face Telephone Has online interactive feature

Figure6: Final diagram Practical information Transmission

Face to Face Communication Smoke signal Drummer Meetings Letters, Memos, Notices etc 1. Pigeon carriers 2. Mail carriers Bulletin Boards
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Conventional office was headed by an executive and assisted by a secretary, skilled in taking dictations, typing, filing, attending telephone calls, appointment scheduling and so on. Working in such an office, was centered around paper processing, leading to building up and maintaining literally mountains of files and records, by which communication came to be defined ultimately on paper.

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Technology
General use of scientific knowledge for practical purpose

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Modern business requires modern technology

Any business that expects to thrive today must have at least a basic understanding of the various innovations, programs and devices as well as the knowledge of how to apply these technologies.

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Some early innovations Printing Press Telegraph Typewriter Telephone Radio

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Later innovations (Few examples) Fax Website e-mail Teleconferencing Videoconferencing Satellite communication Cell phones

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Instant messaging Voice mail Bluetooth Online media E-broachers Social site Electronic Bulletin Board

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Reduction in paper work Reduction in workload Reduction in errors Overcoming time constraints

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When speed is needed When you are physically separated from your audience When you must reach a dispersed audience personally When you are not concerned about confidentiality

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People isolation Information overload Less time for organizational activity

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Perhaps the foregoing review of effects of electronic technology suggests that the emphasis has shifted away from basic communication methods of speaking, listening and writing. But after all it is the human mind that dominates. The construction of messages and controlling message formulation is the inborn trait of human seems to be no substitute for the basic writ mind. Hence, hearing and speaking skills.
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