Social interactionModern communication technology

Dirk Sommermeyer, IAQ e.V.

Themengebiete

• Communication types• Hardware requirements• Software requirements• Installation processes• Operation• Data security

Communication types

• Writing letters• Phone calls• Email• Video telephone (Skype)• Internet forums• Chatten• Instant messaging (WhatsApp)• Soziale networks (Facebook)

Internet-based

Ways of communicating from home (long-distance) with others:

Precondition: Internet access

• Provider– Great variety of suppliers and tariffs!

For inexperienced customers: Choose tariffs with relative low bandwidth and at low costs. This is usually enough to start!

Cost and performance comparison of tariffs are available in magazines!

• Hardware– Splitter and (WLAN-)Router/DSL-Modem

(provided by the internet provider)– Web-enables device (PC, Laptop, tablet,

SmartPhone,…)

Precondition: Internet access

Email

• Great variety of suppliers of free email accounts (google, yahoo, web.de, gmx, etc.)

• Email software or access to webmailer needed• Personal addressing / private communication• Post box principle (the communication partners

read/write whenever they want to)• Email distribution lists possible.

• Limitations– Spam– Sensible information could be monitored by others.

Skype

• „ phone replacement“• Can be used from PC, Laptop, tablet, SmartPhone.• Videocalling possible• In generell free of charge, dor additional services low

fees have to be payed (conference calls, sharing the screen, etc.)

• For international communication very cheap (in many cases free of charge, even the use of video calls)

• Limitations:– Quality of the online communication very dependent on the current

speed of your internetconnection!

Internet forums

• for the exchange and archiving of thoughts, opinions and experiences.

• Sorted by topics and subtopics• Usually public and anonymous• Usually free of charge, even own forums can

be set up free of charge!• Help forums are quite popular! You can ask

questions and receive several contributions to the discussion or proposed solutions.

Internet forums

• Moderated and unmoderated forums are available

• Mailinglists and web forums are (Forum auf Webseite) widespread.

• Limitations– Quality of contributions are questionalbe– Anonymous participants (Interest of people who post

contributions are unclear, e.g. when the quaity of a specific restaurant in town is discussed…)

Chatten

• text-based electronic communication in real time over the Internet.

• Three different forms of chat forums are available:– Server based: a separate chat server is used. Each

user needs the accordant client software.– Webchat: You can chat directly in your web browser. – Instant Messaging: chats take place only between

people who have identified each other in advance and who uses the accordant software.

Instant Messaging (WhatsApp)

• Method in which two or more participants communicate via text messages, similar to chatting.

• The data transfer uses the so-called push method, that means the messages go directly to the recipient (usually on the smartphone).

• The communication partners have to be connected via the internet by using a specific client software / app.

• Users can have their own contact lists and monitor if the desired communication partner is available and ready for a chat.

Limitation• Data safety is not garantueed and controversially discussed!

Social networks (Facebook)

• Each user has his own profile web site.• Friends can be linked to the own profile.• Public messages and notes to photos and

other contributions • can be left..

Social networks (Facebook)

• Personal/private messages can be exchanged.• Friends can be invited to groups or events• The identity of new users are not checked or

verified. • Data safety is very questionable and

controversally discussed

Hardware

• Telephone/Mobile• PC• Laptop• Tablet PC• Smartphone

Telephone/Mobile

• Nowadays wireless handsets.• Functioning limited to the range around the base

station.• Mobile independet from an installed base station.

PC

• Fixed location.• Cheaper than laptops of tablets.• In case fixed location is no problem: Good

value for the money!

Tablet PC

• Mobile und handy, relatively wide display• Can be used for all presented internet based communication types.• Operation easy to learn, many manuals and books available.• Font size / display sizes can be configured.• No keyboard Writing texts / email via the toupad isd possible but

not very comfortable.• Battery loading has to be checked regularly!• Expensive!

Smart phone

• Can be used for all presented internet based communication types.• Free apps for very many communication types and other

applications available.• Mobile (even outside – so WLAN needed!)• Small display / touchpad.• Writing texts/emails VERY laborious.• Contract with phone/internet provider needed, which causes

regular costs!

Software

• For all common communication types and common hardware (PC, tablet, Smartphone,…) good and free software applications are available.

• Installation and operation in most cases in several languages available.

• Help and support in most cases free of charge available, e.g. via help forums on the internet.

Operation

• When selecting hardware and software it should be made sure that font sizes, colors, contrasts and brightness can be adjusted manually.

• In particular, tablet PCs are very simple and intuitive to use, and the relative wide display is a great advantage!

Data safety

• Using any internet related communication, you can‘t be sure that all transferred data is safe!!

• Therefore you should never transfer sensible, personla data as e.g. bank account information to communication partners over the described internet based channels.

Thank you!