Communication & New Technologies Chapter Computer Mediated Communication • Digital refers to information that has been translated into a numerical code using the numbers one and zero. • Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) can be transmitted over the Internet/Cyberspace - a technological network system that relays information between computers worldwide. • The World Wide Web (WWW) is a service that functions to move information through Internet technology. • Common computer mediated communication technologies include: e-mail, blogs, bulletin board systems, chats, MMOGS, instant messages, short-messaging service (SMS) or text messages, social networking sites (SNS), and twitter Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) • CMC is pervasive & changes how we communicate with others. • CMC technology is rapidly expanding & has been quickly adopted by communicators. • CMC is used daily in many ways, including: emails and instant messages, finding and sharing information, entertainment, and financial transactions. • Blogs are electronic journals that are created and maintained by individuals in order to share information and opinions. • Podcasts are electronic recordings that are made available using technology so that individuals can transfer the information to personal listening devices. CMC & Personal Relationships • The media deficit approach - CMC communication lacks immediacy and rich message cues compared to face-to-face resulting in deficient or lower quality communication. • CMC is filtered because it lacks nonverbal cues that are important in message interpretation. • CMC lacks psychological closeness individuals feel during face-to-face interactions. • Media richness theory notes that various types of media channels have different capacities for carrying verbal and nonverbal message information. Face to face communication is richest medium for communication. CMC channels of email, texts & tweets are the least rich medium for communicatiom. Media Augmentation • The media augmentation approach contends that individuals use CMC communication to complement or add to face-to-face communication. • Individuals can use prior relationship information to interpret CMC interactions that do not include nonverbal information. • Asynchronous communication can allow individuals to think about their messages. • Lack of cues about a person’s appearance can reduce prejudice, discrimination, & stereotypes when using CMC. • Media is used in addition to face-to-face, allowing different communication interactions when face-to-face communication is difficult or not an option. CMC & The Individual • Individuals have more control over what they do and do not disclose using CMC. • Anonymity reduces the context for evaluating a message, but might eliminate prejudice or discrimination. • Spoofing - an individual misrepresents himself/herself on line, sometimes including slanderous or liable ...

1. Communication & New
Technologies
Chapter
Computer Mediated Communication
• Digital refers to information that has been translated into a
numerical code using the numbers one and zero.
• Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) can be
transmitted over the Internet/Cyberspace - a technological
network system that relays information between computers
worldwide.
• The World Wide Web (WWW) is a service that functions to
move information through Internet technology.
• Common computer mediated communication technologies
include: e-mail, blogs, bulletin board systems, chats, MMOGS,
instant messages, short-messaging service (SMS) or text
messages, social networking sites (SNS), and twitter
Computer Mediated Communication (CMC)
• CMC is pervasive & changes how we communicate with
others.
• CMC technology is rapidly expanding & has been quickly

2. adopted by communicators.
• CMC is used daily in many ways, including: emails and
instant
messages, finding and sharing information, entertainment, and
financial transactions.
• Blogs are electronic journals that are created and maintained
by
individuals in order to share information and opinions.
• Podcasts are electronic recordings that are made available
using
technology so that individuals can transfer the information to
personal listening devices.
CMC & Personal Relationships
• The media deficit approach - CMC communication lacks
immediacy and rich
message cues compared to face-to-face resulting in deficient or
lower quality
communication.
• CMC is filtered because it lacks nonverbal cues that are
important in message
interpretation.
• CMC lacks psychological closeness individuals feel during
face-to-face
interactions.
• Media richness theory notes that various types of media

3. channels have different
capacities for carrying verbal and nonverbal message
information. Face to face
communication is richest medium for communication. CMC
channels of email,
texts & tweets are the least rich medium for communicatiom.
Media Augmentation
• The media augmentation approach contends that individuals
use
CMC communication to complement or add to face-to-face
communication.
• Individuals can use prior relationship information to interpret
CMC
interactions that do not include nonverbal information.
• Asynchronous communication can allow individuals to think
about
their messages.
• Lack of cues about a person’s appearance can reduce
prejudice,
discrimination, & stereotypes when using CMC.
• Media is used in addition to face-to-face, allowing different
communication interactions when face-to-face communication is
difficult or not an option.
CMC & The Individual

4. • Individuals have more control over what they do and do not
disclose using CMC.
• Anonymity reduces the context for evaluating a message, but
might eliminate
prejudice or discrimination.
• Spoofing - an individual misrepresents himself/herself on line,
sometimes
including slanderous or liable statements that are difficult &
often impossible to
combat with legal sanctions.
• Cyberbullying is “the deliberate and repeated misuse of
communication
technology by an individual or group to threaten or harm
others”
• Pseudoanonymity is the practice of establishing a false
identity and can be done
for self-protection or as deceptive practice.
Online Impression Management
• Impression management online is different based on
individuals’
age, self-esteem & personality.
• Younger individuals engage in more online identity
experimentation than older individuals.
• Individuals with low self-esteem are more likely to have
greater
self-disclosure & exaggerate information online.

5. • Popular individuals use technology to selectively enhance
their
self-image & strategically promote their popularity when
relating
information.
• Employers use social networks to evaluate potential
employees,
so individuals should be careful about what information they
disclose online because it is a public forum.
Relationships & Friendships
• Social networking sites (SNS) are primarily used to maintain
existing relationships.
• Internet relationships often develop more quickly than
face-to-face relationships with more rapid disclosure &
intimacy.
• Internet initiated relationships benefit from face-to-face
meetings early in the relationship to prevent unrealistic
expectations and idealizations.
• On line dating sites provide individuals an opportunity to
meet others with similar interests, fewer barriers to access,
& more rapid self-disclosure and intimacy.
CMC & Work
• CMC in the workplace can reduce barriers in

6. talking with superiors & decision makers
within an organization.
• Employers can use CMC to monitor employee
emails & Internet access.
• CMC can limit access to some types of
information & cause misunderstandings.
Power, Access & Digital Divide
• Approximately 25 percent of individuals in America do NOT
access the Internet or online services.
• The digital divide is a term used to describe the inequity
between individuals that do and do not have access to
technology.
• There are demographic differences in who has access to
the Internet that can largely be explained by examining
variables of age, college education, & income.
• Diffusion of innovations is a theory that explains how new
technologies are adopted or resisted by members of a
society.
Ethics & CMC
• Online Identity - Although deception might be
necessary for self-protection when using the
Internet, one should keep in mind the motto
“do no harm.”

7. • Incivility & bullying is an increasing problem
on the Internet because users can remain
anonymous.
CMC Etiquette
• Mail Etiquette
• Avoid sending or forwarding unwanted emails (e.g. jokes or
chain emails).
• Provide a subject line to give the reader a purpose for your
email.
• Use proper grammar & spelling to show respect for yourself
and your
reader.
• Cell Phone Etiquette – Individuals should be respectful of the
message
receiver on the phone call and other people in the immediate
vicinity
• Evaluating Internet Information – When deciding the
credibility of
information found on the Internet, one should consider the
credibility and
motivations behind a message source (Topic of a separate
lesson)
Slide 1Computer Mediated CommunicationComputer Mediated
Communication (CMC)CMC & Personal RelationshipsMedia
AugmentationCMC & The IndividualOnline Impression
ManagementRelationships & FriendshipsCMC & WorkPower,
Access & Digital DivideEthics & CMCCMC Etiquette