Computer-Mediated Communication
Introduction
This paper discusses asynchronous text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC). This term essentially means email, both one-to-one and also one-to-many email based contact lists, computer conferencing climates, bulletin boards and many other web-based communication channels.
As changes happen in technology, the forms of computer-mediated communication keep evolving. The textual emails have got added facilities of adding images, audios and videos these days. Convergence of many technologies has taken place for CMC, that too within the realm of same Web-browser palate. Some examples of good computer-mediated communication in pure asynchronous forms are ICQ, NetMeeting etc. These tools permit more than two types of modes of communication under one roof. The advantages of CMC can tamed with the help of a good system design, easy interfacing and high speed of transmission of messages. The users of computer-aided communication see everything in transparent form and that helps them in focusing on content to be sent rather than the equipment or setup issues for CMC.
How is CMC being used?
The benefits of online and distance education, and the various other models of e-learning, are posited around the notion of going beyond the concept of students and teachers meeting each other in real time. Chat rooms, discussion forums are facilitated via IRC chat and many other web-enabled software programs. Web telecasts of sessions and lecturers can be conducted by teachers over different modes of communication online and students can ask questions to their teachers and also to other students or group of students. Main advantage of asynchronous communication over Internet is that it brings many nationalities under one roof. There is ample opportunity in the study of significant changes which are taking place in real time electronic communications in the development of social presence of individuals and groups and hence bigger…