CAS 283: Exam 1

Components of communication : Dynamic

Over time the meaning of word can change with the actual word itself staying the same

Components of communication: Symbolic

ideas must be expressed in our own terms and in our own way

Components of communication: Transactional

it is an ongoing process that happens at the same time for all parties involved

Components of communication: Multimodal

it can use more than one medium to relay a message

Components of communication: Multifunctional

has many purposes at the same time

Axioms of communication definition

Rules and assumptions that are true about communication

What are the axioms of communication

One cannot not communicate

Every message has a content & relational dimension

Communication is contingent upon how we punctuate interactions( order of events)  

Digital(exact) vs. analog( rough) communication 

Symmetrical ( similar) vs. complementary( different)  communication

Verbal communication denotative

common definition of the word

Verbal communication connotative

Different words but same meanings

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

The world is perceived differently by members of different communities and this perception is transmitted and sustained by language 

Language is a primary vehicle of culture 

Example: Colors like the red sea is actually purple 

Nonverbal cues: Chronemics

study of time

Nonverbal cues: Vocalics

Quality of voice; low or high pitch

Nonverbal cues: Proxemics

use of space

Nonverbal cues: Haptics

use of touch

Nonverbal cues: Kinesics

study of movement and gestures

Nonverbal cues: Oculesics

study of eye movement

Nonverbal cues: Olfactics

study of smell

Nonverbal cues: Artifacts

study of the stuff you have with you

Nonverbal cues: Physical appearance

what you look like

What is CMC

Computer Mediated Communication: Transmission of meaning between two or more humans via digital technologies and emphasizing the effects of mediation on human communication processes over specific technology processes. 

What is not CMC

communication that doesn't involve digital devices, like face-to-face conversations, handwritten letters, or non-digital forms of communication.

Interpersonal communication

• Mass communication 

• HMC( human machine communication)  or HRI( human robot interaction)

• Machines talking to each other

How has technology changed communication

Speed, distance, interpretation 

Easier to spread messages to larger groups 

Competing views of CMC: Displacement hypothesis

So many hours in a day and we replace time with friends and family with  scrolling on our phones. 

Competing views of CMC: Increase of hypothesis

The internet increases social interaction/ relationships 

Competing views of CMC: Rich-get-richer hypothesis

The internet only benefit those with strong social skill or large networks 

Competing views of CMC: Social compensations

The internet only benefits people who trouble with face to face interaction( social anxiety) 

Competing views of CMC: Hype vs Hysteria

Individual people actions to technology

• Positive perspective in response to new technology(HYPE)

• the negative perspective in response to new technology(HYSTERIA)

Competing views of CMC: Utopia vs Dystopian

Society actions to technology for better/or worse 

• technology will change society for the better( UTOPIA)

• technology will destroy society ( DYSTOPIAN)

Competing views of CMC: Invisible technology

technology that has become so common that we forget that its considered technology and we dont pay attention to it

Competing views of CMC: Digital natives vs Digital immigrants

Digital natives: Technology has always been around

Digital immigrants : Technology came around later in life

Defining Qualities of the Internet: Packet Switching

Cuts all data ( regardless of type) into packets 

• Labeled with origin , destination, and place within file 

• Each pack travels separately 

• Assembled at the destination( Buffering) 

Defining Qualities of the Internet: Multimedia

Display multiple cues 

• Converge multiple different media 

• Add human elements to interaction ( is this always a good thing?)

Defining Qualities of the Internet: Hypertextuality

Interlinking of information/ text

• Use of hyperlinks

• Moving away from static text

• Information chunking  

Defining Qualities of the Internet: Interactivity

The extent to which source and receiver interchange roles and exhibit reciprocal influence 

Defining Qualities of the Internet: Synchronicity

Real-time rather than delayed message exchange 

• Chat rooms 

• E-mailing 

• Online gaming 

• Texting 

• Face-to-face 

Defining Qualities of the Internet: Customization

Tailor content to fit your interests , needs, goals, desires 

• Provides organization 

Defining Qualities of the Internet: Anonymity

Extent to which a website includes personally identifiable information

• Whether it can connect postings to a particular real-life individual 

How much information you know about the people you interact with online

Features vs Affordances

Both seek to understand why technology produces outcomes 

Affordances

Action possibilities 

Emerge because of 

• 1.some using technology 

• 2.features of technology

• 3.Contextual nature of use

Relational view 

Dynamic

Features

Objective properties of a technology 

Tools or attributes of technology 

• E.g. camera on a phone 

Criteria Affordances

Not a feature 

Not an Outcome 

Must vary 

Social affordances of the internet: Accessibility

 easy to access, convenient, simple to communicate with others 

Social affordances of the internet: Bandwidth

convey/express emotion , receive cues about how a partner is feeling 

• Examples: Snapchat, FaceTime, Zoom, Facebook reactions 

Social affordances of the internet: Social Presence

Makes it feel like the other person is “ there” , “with you”, or close by 

• Examples: Live Streaming, Facetime, Zoom, Vibrating bracelets for couples, BeReal 

Social affordances of the internet: Privacy

 Expect/keep personal information private 

• Examples: Banking apps , My eyes only, password vaults 

Social affordances of the internet: Network Associations

 Network members can join/interrupt an interaction, makes connects apparent/visible , allows many people to interact

• Example: Linkedin, and Twitter threads 

Social affordances of the internet: Personalization

 focus messages on a particular person adapt/address messages to particular 

• Direct messages on social media

Social affordances of the internet: Persistence

keeps a record , can. Retrieve past messages , communication can last for a long time 

• Facebook memories, snapchat lacks this because snaps disappear, but once saved to snapchat story will appear in your memories, instagram archive

Social affordances of the internet: Editability

Edit/carefully craft messages , create and delete messages before sending , can change mistakes

• Examples: texting , canvas discussion post, editing social media posts.

Social affordances of the internet: Conversation control

Can control the duration of a conversation can end a conversation, can regulate the flow of communication to others 

• Examples: Ghosting people on most dating apps 

Social affordances of the internet: Anonymity

allows people to remain unidentifiable , can take on another identity , cant say for sure whos communicating

• Reddit , 4chat, , yikyak 

Social affordances of the internet: Information control

control how much info you are conveying verbally and nonverbally , avoid topics, filter out info, control how much info you receive from others 

• Pinterest (HIGH) find topics you like , Tiktok can filter out content , New version of yik yak choose communities, streaming on Netflix gives suggestions , Youtube recommendations 

Social affordances of the internet: Synchronicity

Receiver can observe you while you're communicating, instant communication , expect the other person to respond right away

• Text bubbles 

Social affordances of the internet: Flow

Being in the zone” online

• Fully concentrate on a limited field 

  • Great for people with social anxiety  

  • Video games , scrolling on tiktok, reading articles 

 

Pascaline Calculator( Blaise Pascal)

1642

• Manual calculator 

• Calculator that used manual gears 

First working digital computer

• 1944: The ENIAC( U of Penn.) 

  • Filled 1800 square feet of floor space 

  • You have to stand inside the computer

First commercially successful computer

• 1951: The UNIVAC 

  • Could buy it 

Why was the internet first created

The internet was initially created for military and scientific purposes, with the primary goal of establishing a robust and decentralized communication network that could withstand disruptions, such as those caused by war or natural disasters. T

What was the first internet called / who controlled it

1969 ARPANET

Part of Department of Defense 

Internet vs .wwww

Internet = many different systems/protocols 

WWW or Web is one of it

Web 2.0

Increases what was possible in “Web 1.0”

• Architecture of participation

  • Users provide data and exercise control over what’s on a Web 2.0 site

• Search

• Links

• Authoring

• Tags

• Extensions

• Signals

Five phases of digital eras

Internet Era ( Mid 90s) 

Social Media Age ( Mid 2000s) or web 2.0 

Collaborative Economy Age ( Now) 

Autonomous World Age ( Testing) 

Modern Wellbeing ( Emerging) 

The internet of things

Interlinking of objects to the internet 

• For communication , Interaction , & facilitation

Technology determinism

Technology is the primary cause of major social transformations at : 

• Individual cognition 

• Social interaction

• The level of institutions

Technology dictates the construction of society and the way we think  

Social constructivism

Technology is subordinate to : 

• The way it is used 

• Its socio-historical and culturally specific context 

What is technology designed to versus what people actually do with it 

• The application of technology brings about social change 

Adaptive structuration theory

Faithfully or Ironically 

• Use how it supposed to be used or used not in way it's supposed to be

Cues filtered out perspective

Culnan & Markus ( 1987)

• Social presence theory 

• Lack of social context cues theory 

• Media richness theory 

All CMC is less personal than FtF 

Relational info is derived from NV cues that are absent in CMC 

Social presence theory

Social presence= involvement with the target of a conversation 

• Few cues → less social presence 

Less presence= more impersonal , less warmth 

Emphasizes the quality/ connection of an interaction experience 

More social presences better communication

Lack of social context cues theory

NV cues in FtF establish the social context of an interaction 

The absence of these cues deters impression information 

• Does 1 of 2 things 

  • Without cues , people are self-focused and don't care about others hostile 

  • Opens up a world where everyone is able to communicate openly , regardless of position in society 

Media richness theory

More cues=more richness

Rich media are good for equivocal( complex) tasks 

Appropriate match of the richness of a medium task= optimal effectiveness/ satisfaction

• Criteria for rich medium 

  • 1. Ability to personalize messages 

  • 2. Capacity for natural language

  • 3. Potential for immediate feedback 

  • Multiplicity of cues 

Uses and gratifications approach

Traditional theory of mass media thats re-used with CMC technology 

• Assumptions: 

  • Functionalist perspective

  •  Media choice is rational and directed to specific goals/satisfactions

  •  People actively engage in goal-seeking behavior

  •  People are conscious of their media-related needs

  •  People make choices based on personal utility

  •  Researchers should refrain from making value-judgements about media & choices

From where are gratifications developed

developed from various sources, and they are often influenced by individual preferences, needs, and societal factors.

3 broad classes

Content gratifications 

Process gratifications 

Social environment gratifications

Content gratifications

refer to the satisfaction or pleasure derived from the substance or subject matter of a particular media content or information.

• Example: Enjoying a news article because it provides insightful and relevant information on a topic of personal interest.

Process gratifications

Pertain to the satisfaction derived from the way in which information is presented or the process of engaging with media rather than the actual content.

• Example: Feeling satisfied by the interactive features of a website, such as user-friendly navigation or engaging multimedia elements.

Social gratifications

involve the satisfaction gained from social interactions and the social aspects of media consumption.

• Example: Using social media platforms to connect with friends and experiencing satisfaction from the social interactions, comments, and sharing of content.

Ritualized uses of technology

High regard for media , frequent users , use media as diversion 

• Escaping, not paying attention, background noise 

Instrumental uses of technology

Use for a specific purpose( i.e. info) develop liking for particular media , selective use

• Goal driven  and paying attention

Preactivity

 deliberately seeks certain media to gratify specific needs 

Duractvity

psychological involvement/ attentiveness people exhibit while watching

Post activity

 behavior or use of a message after exposure to it

Desmassification

Individuals have more control over what they experience 

Similar to customization 

• Example: Chinese buffet you pick what you want 

Tired communication system

Some messages reach the masses 

Others reach small, special interest groups 

• Example: Chinese buffet but everyone eats the same thing 

Example gratifications

• Diversion: Escape from normal problems, emotional release 

• Personal relationships: Establish/maintain social bonds, companionship 

• Personal Identity: Self-reference , reality exploration 

• Surveillance: Information seeking 

Functional altneratives

• Convenience 

  • Easy to use 

• Content management 

  • Helps you organize information

• Social presence 

  • With people through social media 

Media dependence

The more we rely on a medium to fulfill our needs, the more important that medium becomes 

• Media use → media dependency 

Reinforcing spirals model

The use of a particular media reinforces the needs and preferences that led to its use 

• This helps to sustain those needs and gratifications 

• Like a self-fulfilling prophecy of media use 

Traditional identity

We each have one true, fixed, stable identity

Contemporary view on identity

Flexible , multidimensional, and social constructed sense of self 

• Multiple identities

  • People take on different identities throughout life 

  • We find ways to represent them in the world 

  • Protean

Changes throughout our lives , depending on our moods, plans, who we hangout with. 

Enacting different roles

ideal self:

Things you wish about yourself

actual self

Who think you are 

Ought self

Characteristic  you think you should  possess because someone else has them

Technologies of the self

People talking or writing themselves into being 

• Social networking profiles 

• Blogs 

• Dating sites 

Identity disembodiment

Free from constraints

• separation or dissociation of one's identity from their physical body, particularly in the context of interactions within digital spaces.