What is technological communication? Advantages, disadvantages and potential

Communication is essential for the interaction between species, and has been fundamental in the development of humanity. With the introduction of technology in all areas of our lives, this communication has been completely transformed.

Currently, the term technological communication is booming, and can be applied in any context where information is transmitted. This clearly extends its horizons beyond instant messaging services or digital media.

Therefore, today we propose you to learn more about what is technological communication, its characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. In addition, we give you a series of tips or best practices to make better use of this valuable resource.

Written by

Redaction Team
November 26, 2021
Professional Career, Professional Development

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What is technological communication? Meaning and characteristics

Technological communication or communication technology, according to the portal Definición.de, is the set of knowledge and devices that enable the development of communicative practices.

This concept is closely related to that of information technology. This is why we often see both terms linked in the acronym ICT, i.e. Information and Communication Technologies.

Communication technologies are reflected in services such as e-mail, instant messaging, search engines, cloud services, social networks, content transmission and a long etcetera.

Due to their growing relevance in all aspects of life in society, many experts have studied these communication technologies in depth. This has made it possible to define their fundamental characteristics:

Closely related to information technology and the Internet.
They foster a dynamic, creative and constantly evolving technology sector.
They enable rapid and instantaneous communication between people who may be thousands of kilometers apart.
They are used in the political, economic, social and family spheres. As a result, states, companies and society have increased their level of exchange and relations.

Advantages and disadvantages of technological communication

As you may have noticed in the previous section, the impact of technological communication is considerable. We propose you to learn more about its positive and negative points:

Advantages of technological communication

Let’s start with the many advantages it has generated in society and people’s lives:

Allows the creation of new jobs.
It facilitates better management of human resources in companies, increasing productivity.
It is one of the essential foundations of telework and remote work.
It allows the implementation of telemedicine (e-health).
Facilitates public services to citizens by governments (e-government).
Promotes e-commerce and consumer outreach through digital marketing.
Makes it very convenient for people to get in touch with each other anytime, anywhere.
Allows instant access to numerous sources of information.
It has positively impacted research and study methods, both academic and professional.
Instant communication saves a lot of time and effort.
News is generated and published in real time.

Disadvantages of technological communication

Of course, there are not few disadvantages to mention either. Let’s take a look at some of the most relevant ones:

Reduces people's level of interaction.
It generates distractions that can lead to procrastination and lower academic or work performance.
It is linked to problems related to users' privacy and security.
It has the potential to manipulate, mislead and misinform, especially in the context of social networks and websites.
It promotes Internet addiction.
It can lead to misinterpretation of messages, especially when given through text or e-mails, due to the absence of voice tones or facial expressions.
Influence not always in a positive way to children and young people, who are very impressionable and are exposed to media flooded with violence, addictions, sexuality, etc.
The need for technological devices to implement this type of communication and their programmed obsolescence, make electronic scrap increase considerably, with an extremely negative impact on the environment and people's health.
It has been and will be supplanting a number of occupations unrelated to technology.
It can be used in criminal and negative practices such as cyber crime, cyber bullying, etc.

Types of communication technology

There are many types of communication technology available today.

Some of the most common include email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).

Thanks to the ease of access to devices such as smartphone, anyone can easily use any of these forms of communication.

Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs.

Email is a great way to send text-based messages, but it’s not well-suited for real-time communication.

Instant messaging is perfect for short, quick conversations, but it can be disruptive if you’re trying to concentrate on something else.

Video conferencing technology is great for meetings and presentations, but it can be expensive and requires a good internet connection.

VoIP is a great all-around solution that’s becoming increasingly popular, but it can also be vulnerable to security threats.

Each one makes communication more accesible and allow users to choose one to interact with their counterparts.

Tips for the good use of technological communication

Despite the risks involved in technological communication, the truth is that there is no room for refusing to continue using it. If we did, we would be denying progress.

What we can do, however, is to make better use of it, to avoid as much as possible its negative side. With this in mind, we leave you with the following tips:

1. Learn to recognize reliable sources of information.

As anyone can post on social networks and the Internet, question yourself first if its what you are reading or listening resonates with you. Learn to recognize the news that you are reading and the intention of what is behind it.

That way, you will not panic before any alarmist news, which only seeks to be shared. Nor will you make wrong financial or labor decisions based on fear, insecurity or misinformation.

2. Turn off your phone when you need to stay focused.

Although there are apps that favor concentration like Forest, when you break their principle of operation you will only be punished with a bit of a guilty conscience. Therefore, the best thing to do if you need to work or study is to turn off your phone to avoid distractions.

3. Apply Parental Controls to your children's devices.

Children are increasingly exposed to technological devices from an early age. Therefore, prevent any trauma or addiction by implementing a series of parental controls for browsers, applications and device usage time.

4. Encourage life away from technological devices.

Perhaps your work is closely related to communication technologies, and it is impossible for you not to spend about 8 hours in front of a computer.
However, the rest of the time, try to get away from the screens: try exercising, meditation, sharing with family or friends, practicing a hobby, etc.