Drawbacks of technology.

Technology is constantly changing the way we communicate. Some of these changes have been positive in nature. However, some of the changes have negatively impacted our ability to effectively send and receive messages.With globalization forcing us to keep up with the times or get left behind, it's critical that we understand these potential communication roadblocks as we incorporate new technology into our daily lives.When communicating face to face, nonverbal behaviors provide context clues for the words we use. Unfortunately, the Wall Street Journal found that technologies like email, texting and instant messaging remove these important context clues, and can lead to misunderstandings. Sarcasm and jokes without nonverbal context cues can cause frustration. Though smiley faces with different expressions called "emoticons" are sometimes used to substitute traditional nonverbal cues, they fall far short of what face-to-face communication can provide. With the growth and expansion of technology, a new language has been born, including a variety of abbreviations, such as, "lol," "ttyl" and "afk." While some of these terms have become very commonly used in day-to-day exchanges, some, such as "lmirl," or, "let's meet in real life," are almost exclusively used in internet interaction. If one is not familiar with this form of slang, technology can limit effective communication more than help it. While many would consider the amplified speed in communication via technology a plus, it also presents drawbacks. The speed at which an email, text or instant message can be sent can lead to emotional responses you don't necessarily mean, inflaming the conflict at hand. However, beyond limitations involving conflict, the speed at which we communicate with new technologies can hurt our ability to, "think before we speak," as the saying goes. It is sometimes too tempting to shoot back an email as quickly as possible. In our haste, though, we may find ourselves making a slew of errors, which can lead to confusion over the intended message and damage your professional credibility. As more students acquire cell phones, iPods, and gaming systems, technology's impact on effective communication is becoming more pronounced. As the District Chronicles reports, teachers attempting to convey messages about lessons and textbooks find students are texting, playing, or listening to music. Not only does this mitigate the teacher's ability to communicate lessons, but it hurts future communicative interaction between the teacher and student because of the lack of respect it conveys.
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