The Overall Effects of Technology

                 Technology has not only changed the way we communicate, work, and consumer information, but has also touched pretty much every part of our lives. From the way students are educated to the interactions we have at home on a daily basis, modern technology has left it's footprint. The video below, outlines how some of these changes have occurred and the positives and negatives that have come with the change.                                 

                                               

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txTbFF_RX10



                     With the seemingly boundless number of changes which technology has created it is important to be able to understand these changes, inside and out.

Source: http://tech.ed.gov/netp/learning-engage-and-empower/ 

                       From the above image, we can see that technology has created an interconnected network of those that surround us. In order to get this most out of this network, we must understand how an when to use certain forms of technology. With the amount of tools and information online now, the hazard is that the technology may not be used to it's full potential or may be being used incorrectly. As communications professionals, it is important to understand that everything is connected and to make technology a strength as opposed to a weakness.

The Importance of Understanding Technology

                   It is great to be able to use new media for social interaction, but it has become so much more important than that. Technology not only changes the way that we communicate in a social environment but also changes the skills needed to function in the work forces.

 source: http://connectiveage.com/2012/06/07/ten-skills-for-the-workforce-in-the-connective-age/ 

                 From the chart above it can be seen that technology has become forefront in our necessary skills. Not only is new media literacy important, but also understanding other cultures which we may interact with in the online environment. In the global village that we live in now, it is not only important to be knowledgeable of the technology that we use but also the perspective of those that we are communicating with. 

                           

source: http://bridgeconsultants.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/10-tips.png 

                With the increase in communications with others from around the world in the new media environment, effective cross cultural communication is an important skill to master. The table above shows a list of ten ways of refining ones ability to communicate cross culturally. No longer is it necessary to get on a plane and travel hundreds of miles to create working business relationships. With the ability to be an effective cross cultural communicator, new media can be used as a huge asset.

The New Water Cooler

            

                      Gone are the days of fighting over the phone with your sibling to chat with a friend on the phone. With modern social media platforms, there are numerous ways to connect with those around you. The image below shows the broad range of social media and the different categories in which they fit. 

source: http://forhiremedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SocialMediaLandscape.jpg

                   With all of these options to connect digitally, it is amazing that people are still communicating verbally. The reality is that social media provides a way for it's users to connect without having to be in the same location at the same time. This connectivity is a major factor in how modern communications is performed. 

source: http://www.thecultureist.com/2012/04/27/a-social-culture-staggering-social-media-statistics/ 

               Looking at the figure above shows the extent that people are using social media. From the figures, it is shown that a great majority of users say that social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family. This is a great benefit of social media and for me is the real draw of these platforms. No matter where one is located or where their families and friends are, they are just a tweet, message or text away. This part of new media has made it much easier to communicate with those that are not easily accessible otherwise.