Communication Technology

Communication Technology – refers to scientific advancements in technology

for the purpose of communicating.
1. The telephone- A telephone is an instrument for reproducing sounds at a
distance; specifically, it is one which sound is converted into electrical
impulses for transmission. (McDermott; 2013)
Advantages:

Interactive Communication Telephone communication can link

various people in an organization through audio conferencing sessions.
Such conference calls can be used in conjunction with video conferencing
to view presentations, ask questions over the Internet or even discuss
issues with other attendees. This eliminates the need for travel, making
them both cost-effective and time-saving.
Long-Distance Communication Compared to letters,
telephone communication is effective across long distances. It allows for
immediate responses and clarification of information. In addition, telephone
communication over long distances is less expensive compared to physical
travel.
Effective Personalized Communication As opposed to
emails and text messages, which are simply words open to interpretation
by the receiver, telephone conversations provide a personal touch and
allows for expression of emotions through tone of voice. In addition,
telephones enable callers to leave detailed and clear messages with ease.
Furthermore, telephones are effective in times of emergencies and natural
disasters. In this regard, individuals are able to give the police and other
stakeholders a clear personalized description of what may be going on.
Confidential Some communications, including those involving
sensitive or personal information, are best handled through personalized
phone calls. Such two-way communication eliminates misinterpretation of
information. In addition, text messages and emails become legal
documents and can be retrieved as evidence even after deletion.
Moreover, telephone conversations ensure that the message is delivered
only to the intended person. This is because the person delivering the
message is certain that the receiver is the intended person. On the other
hand, messages through emails and texts may be accessed by unintended
persons.
Safe Although driving and making phone calls at the same time is
dangerous, the introduction of Bluetooth technology makes doing so much
safer. However, texting or emailing while driving is not only illegal in some
states, but also it's a leading cause of vehicle accidents.
Aid to Businesses Businesses may use telephone calls to market
new products and reach out to new markets. This personalized marketing
strategy enables the business to receive firsthand information regarding the
products and the market in general. Hence, such feedback points out areas
that may need improvement, which is essential in business policymaking.
Telephones are an integral part of the service industries such as hotels,
restaurants and food deliveries. This is because telephones enable
potential customers to call in to make reservations or order meals. In this
regard, telephones are an important link between such businesses and
their target markets.
Moreover, some companies, such as those dealing with electronics, may
set up call centers to assist customers who face challenges with their
products. This not only boosts customer confidence, but also it eliminates
the need for travel to specialized technicians.
Flexible and Relatively Affordable Current mobile phones
have Internet access, which enhances communication through several
platforms, such as emails, video calls and social networks. In this regard,
Internet access through mobile telephones results in communication
efficiency, flexibility and affordability.

Disadvantages:
 Cost- It can be expensive
 Available- may not work if one of the parties does not have a
phone
 2. Cellular Phone- a hand -held mobile phone that transmits messages
by radio waves to an area divided into small sections or cells, each
with its own short-range transmitter/receiver.

Advantages:
The modern phone is an extremely versatile tool.
Modern cell phones are more than just a phone. They are cameras. They
are GPS devices. They are entertainment consoles. They can hold
documents. They help us send emails. Millions of apps allow people to fully
customize their phone to meet their needs as well. If you want to track your
steps each day, your phone can do that. If you need a timer for baking a
cake, your phone can do that. It keeps track of time, connects you to social
networks… and it’s still a phone too.

2. It can be used as an effective learning tool.

A cell phone can help children reinforce the lessons learned at school or
begin the learning process in the comfort and safety of home. Educational
apps, such as ABC Mouse, can take children through an entire grade’s
worth of educational material in a way that is fun and interactive. Children
who can take advantage of this key point can be several steps ahead of
where they are expected to be in school when it comes time for a
formalized learning process.

3. Cell phones teach us about responsibility.

Children can learn responsibility with a cell phone because they are
required to keep track of it. They may be given data limits that prevent them
from accessing games or the internet once that limit is reached. It is an
opportunity to learn how to communicate effectively with others while
disciplining oneself to set it down and ignore it when the time comes. Adults
can also learn responsibility with a cell phone in many of the same areas.

4. They provide a lifeline when there is an emergency.

Before the average person owned a cell phone, having an accident on a
rural road with injuries was potentially deadly. Someone would have to
locate a home with a phone so that the proper authorities could be called.
With modern cell phone access, a phone call can be placed from the scene
of an accident, allowing for a quicker response. Automated text responses
in case of an emergency can be sent out to cell phones as well, like if a
tornado warning has been issued for a specific area. This technology has
transformed how we save lives and how many lives can be saved.
5. It offers another layer of safety.
A cell phone can double as a flashlight in the dark, allowing people to find
their way. Some phones even have a flashlight function built into them.
Phones can be set to trigger an audio alarm if trouble is near. In a worst-
case scenario, one can even use their cell phone as a weapon to protect
themselves. Whether the phone is basic or a top-of-the-line model, the
added safety it provides lowers stress levels while allowing people to focus
on whatever task they may need to complete.

6. Cell phones provide needed information.

Cell phones can be tracked. Apps today make it possible for parents to
know exactly where their children happen to be. If a phone is lost, tracking
allows for it to be located again, even if the phone was stolen. Law
enforcement officials can use cell phone tracking to secure suspects and
potentially prevent criminal activities from happening. This needed
information not only enhances family safety, it also enhances the safety of
society in general.

7. It provides affordable communication for families.

The average cost of a basic landline phone service, which includes
unlimited local calls, but no long-distance calls, is between $15-$30 per
month, depending on what features are wanted. That might include call
forwarding, call waiting, or caller ID. Landlines are useful for DSL
connections or emergency services with direct location information. Cell
phone plans are even cheaper. Tello, for example, offers a plan with 200
domestic minutes, emergency service access, and 200 MB of full-speed
data for just $9 per month.

8. Cell phones simplify the logistics of calling.

Before cell phones were routine, calls were made from landlines that had
varying levels of cost. Some providers offered free local calls. In the U.S.
Midwest, it was not unusual to pay a $0.05 connection fee for all local calls
of any length. Long-distance calls were billed at per-minute rates.
International calls were the same. Even different types of calls could
generate different charges. Most cell phones have simplified this issue so
that consumers no longer need to track how many calls or what type of
calls were made to estimate how much their monthly bill is supposed to be.

9. It makes it easier to access the internet.

Most smartphones today have data capabilities. When activated, the
process of accessing the internet is as simple as starting an internet
browser on the phone. People are no longer stuck on a DSL, a dial-up, or
some other form of a land-based ISP to connect to the rest of the world.
With 4G speeds, real-time data connections make it possible to do almost
anything online that someone could do at home with a more traditional
computer.

10. Cell phones are extremely portable.

Cell phones are so portable today that they are often used as a
replacement for landlines. In 2017, the U.S. Health Department released
survey findings that said 50.8% of U.S.-based households are completely
wireless when it comes to phone service. Only 6.5% of homes use a
landline only for their phone needs and 3.2% of homes do not have a cell
phone or a landline whatsoever. In 2007, only 15% of homes in the U.S.
were completely wireless. The portability of this technology is only
improving, which means people can take them anywhere and be able to
communicate or consume data if necessary.

11. It allows for effective scheduling coordination.

Let’s take a look at the profile of a U.S. family with four children who are all
in elementary school. There are two boys and two girls. The boys are in
Boy Scouts and the girls in Girl Scouts. There are after-school activities
every Wednesday. There is soccer practice on Saturday. Baseball and
softball practice are Mondays and Thursdays. Games are on Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday. Cell phones make it possible for the parents to
coordinate their schedules to manage these events while being able to
contact coaches, leaders, teachers, or coordinators about schedule
changes that may affect attendance.

Disadvantages:

1. Cell phones can create a technology addiction.

The average person checks their smartphone about 100 times per day.
They check their phones even if there haven’t been any notifications given.
If boredom sets in, the natural solution is to check the phone, even if there
is nothing to do on it. Not having a phone can create personal anxiety for
some people as well. It can be so problematic, in fact, that some people
may prefer to isolate and communicate through their phones instead of
talking to people in-person.

2. It can be used to exploit others.

Children are especially vulnerable to the exploitive acts of others over
smartphones and similar technologies. Social and messaging apps allow
people to pretend to be anyone online. They can convince others to meet
with them or send them suggestive photographs. Over 40% of teens have
either sent or posted sexually suggestive content using their cell phones.
For girls, nearly half of them do it as a joke. Those pictures can be shared
with others, even though the image may be considered illegal pornography,
and only 8 states have enacted legislation to protect children from this
process.

3. Bullying is more frequent with cell phones.

Cyberbullying is much more destructive than the traditional forms of
bullying that previous generations encountered. With traditional bullying,
you were generally safe once you made it home. With cyberbullying, you
can be contacted by a bully at any time, no matter where you happen to be.
As long as the phone is turned on, there is an opportunity for a bully to
harass you in some way. With data access, bullies can even post
disparaging comments for the entire world to see without a person’s
knowledge. About 1 in 4 students admit to being cyberbullied at least once.

4. It eliminates chances for privacy.

The convenience of cell phones can be extremely helpful. It can even save
lives. It also means that people never really get a chance to spend time by
themselves any more. When there is a cell phone around, there is an
opportunity for someone to talk to you. Features such as a Do Not Disturb
make it possible to shut down notifications, but there is no denying the fact
that less alone time leads to higher levels of stress and anxiety.

5. Cell phones create distractions that limit productivity.

Multitasking is something that most people do not perform well. Just 2% of
the human population is believed to be a “super-tasker.” That means they
can go from new task to new task without losing any productivity. For the
rest of the population, transitioning between tasks can lose up to 15
minutes of productivity each time it happens. Looking at a cell phone is a
switch of tasks, which creates the potential of lost productivity. Checking a
phone just 4 times at work could result in a 1-hour reduction of productive
work time.

6. They create waste.

About 5% of the waste products that are dumped into landfills or similar
facilities today are outdated electronic items. The most common item in this
category is an old cell phone. About 70% of old cell phones could be
reused, but fewer than 1 in 5 of them are actually recycled. Modern
smartphones contain numerous toxic materials, such as hexavalent
chromium, that can build up in the environment and even in the human
body. That doesn’t even include the lithium-ion batteries that are used to
power most modern phones. E-waste is increasing at a rate of 8% per year,
but regular waste increases at just 1.2% per year.

7. Three words: texting and driving.

Over 650,000 drivers use their cell phone while driving, even though laws
against using them are increasing throughout the world. Over 300,000
injuries on highways are attributed directly to the use of a cell phone while
driving. In the United States, 25% of all accidents now are because of
texting and driving at the same time. Drivers who are texting are 6 times
more likely to be in an accident than a drunk driver. Cell phones have
created these problems. 11 teens die, on average, every day because they
text and drive.

8. Cell phones are still not cheap.

When Motorola received final approval of the first commercially-viable cell
phone 10 years after mobile phones were invented, the retail cost of the
phone was $3,995. That was in 1983. Using a standard inflation calculator,
that is the equivalent of $9,942 in 2018 monetary value. The prices of top
cell phones have come down since then, but they are still not “cheap.” The
iPhone X retails for $999. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 retails for $950.
Even with carrier subsidies, people need to earn a certain income level to
afford the best phones that are on the market.

9. It increases opportunities for cheating.

Children can take their cell phones to school and use it to access
information that is required for a test. Adults can take their cell phones to
college courses to do the same thing. Basic searches make it easy to find
required information in a very short time period. They can even be used for
stealing IP from businesses and other nefarious purposes. Cell phones
create numerous temptations for people that can be difficult for them to
resist, which can lead to trouble for them that wouldn’t be present if the cell
phone wasn’t around.

10. Good kids can turn into bullies with a cell phone.
The anonymous nature of a cell phone makes it possible to post almost
anything online without personal responsibility. Hateful comments might be
“trolling” for a cheap laugh, but those words can be very hurtful. Kids that
would never bully someone in person can find that online bullying is much
easier to do and pursue it, even if they don’t recognize their actions as
bullying
Email- a commercial service that sends messages on computers via local
or global networks

Advantages:

Easy to Use
Sending an email frees us from the tedious work of managing huge chunks
of data. An email service helps manage our contacts, allows us to send
mails quickly, helps maintain our mailing history and provides sufficient
storage space. An email can be sent from any terminal (computer) in the
world with Internet access.

Environment Friendly
Mails sent by postal service make use of paper. Thus, electronic mail
prevents a large number of trees from getting axed. Using the electronic
mailing service also saves the fuel that is consumed in the process of
transporting letters.

Speed
An email can be delivered instantly and almost anywhere across the globe.
No other mailing service matches the email in terms of speed. You can send
a message/mail simultaneously to multiple users; thus, email service saves a
lot of time.
Provision of Attachments
The feature of attachment allows users to send huge chunks of data in a
single mail. Also, sending attachments with emails doesn’t raise cost as in
postal service.

Easier for Reference

When a person has to reply to an email, he/she can use the provision of
attaching previously sent/received mails. Such mails can be used for the
purpose of reference in the communication process. It helps the recipient
understand what he/she is reading.

Advertising Tool
Nowadays, many individuals and business organizations are using the email
service to advertise their products, services, etc. Thus, email can also be
used as a marketing tool.

Cheap Service
The expenses incurred in using an email service are lesser in comparison to
that in the traditional mailing service. However, the expenses also depend
on whether you have an Internet connection at home or not. Those who
don’t have access to Internet at home can avail the services offered by
internet cafes.

Disadvantages:

Spam
Emails when used to send unsolicited messages and unwanted
advertisements create nuisance and are termed as spam. The activity of
checking and deleting unwanted mails may consume a lot of user’s time.
Therefore, it has become necessary to block or filter unwanted emails
through spam filters.
Generally, spamming is practiced by sending hoax emails. Email spoofing is
another practice which is commonly used for spamming. The act of
spoofing involves deceiving a recipient by altering email headers or
addresses from which a mail is sent.

Hacking
The act of breaking into computer security is termed as hacking. In this
form of security breach, emails are intercepted by hackers. An email, before
it is delivered to the recipient, “bounces” between servers located in
different parts of the world; which is why email accounts are vulnerable to
hacking by professional hackers.

Not Suited for Business

Many a time, business documents go unnoticed amidst large number of
mails which get accumulated in the inbox. Thus, urgent transactions and
especially those which require signatures cannot be easily managed
through emails.
Facsimile- This is a form of telegraphy for the transmission of text and other
fixed images with a view to reproducing them in a permanent form

Advantages:

1. Speedy Transmission: Fax enables transmission of the message,

data, diagram, sketches, and drawing with exceptionally high speed.
2. Accuracy of Information: It helps to send written information to
any place within or outside the country accurately.
3. Legal value: Fax provides a written record of the transmitted
message and it can be used as a document in a court of law.
4. Overcoming barrier: Fax can be sent to any point where there is
the availability of the teleÂcommunication system. There is no hassle
to carry the document physically.

Disadvantages:

. Less Privacy: Fax has less privacy as the transmitted data can be
handled by anyone who is beside the fax machine.
2. Hazy information: Fax may send hazy information due to a
problem with the machine and therefore the purpose of the fastest
delivery will be unsuccessful.
3. Dependency on the telephonic system: Fax uses the telephonic
system to transmit data and if such a system is down then the sending
of data and information face problems.