Considering the variety of methods of technological communication (email, social networking, chats, text messaging, etc.) , could frequent users potentially lose their ability to communicate effectively with others in non-technological ways. Could frequent use inhibit students’ development of non-technological communication skills?
Viewpoint 1
No. In fact, it serves as an enhancement. Technological communication has totally increased and enhanced the number of people you can communicate with and the circle of people one knows. Communication as a whole has evolved. It takes the pressure off...it is becoming "a brave new world."
It can be harmful based on one's human tendencies. If one is generally shy / introverted, technological communication can be a way to limit face-to-face contact and still allow a person to communicate effectively. For example, one may be intimidated by asking a teacher a question in class, but find it easier to just email the question to avoid speaking up in class. Good for the person because he/she gets the answer, but bad for the class because maybe that question could have opened up a meaningful class dialog. It is also bad for the person because he/she would never be forced to develop interpersonal skills. Hopefully that is not becoming obsolete.
Viewpoint 3
I don’t think children will lose their ability to relate to and communicate with other human beings in non-technological ways in my life-time. Since the inception of man, people have communicated verbally to get a message across, language has changed and new words have been added to update communication. We have evolved as a civilization and society to be linguists, adapting our language to the time period, defining new objects, creations, circumstances in an attempt to be clearer in our communication. Face to face conversations will always have more meaning and sincerity when complete words are used to express ideas. Using technological shortcuts/abbreviations in a verbal conversation looses meaning.
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