Communication Systems

3.5) Issues Related to Communication Systems

• Messaging systems have improved communication, however they have raised a number of issues.• Social context – messages have

difficulty conveying feeling• Misinterpretation – body language,

inflection and intonation and context are not available to filter messages

• Power relationships – an organisational structure could fail if messaging changes traditional routes

• Privacy – Messages can be stored and accessed by unauthourised people.

• Electronic junk mail – unwanted message can use up time and filtering them can often lead to the missing of important messages.

• Information overload – the ease of current messaging systems means that there is a greater volume of information to deal with and people also expect immediate answers to emails, texts and voicemails.

• There are also many issues related to the use of the Internet.• Internet trading raises many

implications including:• taxation – hard to police across the ‘Net’.

• employment – fewer shop fronts and less employees

• the nature of business – 24/7 trading & home shopping

• trade barriers – these barriers become more irrelevant

• Censorship – there is an argument between the banning of content that contravenes a countries’ laws vs the freedom of the Internet.• Many unsuccessful attempts have been made to regulate Internet content. Too hard to police.

• Internet banking – Provides 24/7 home banking services• This leads to a change in the staffing of banks, including job losses and branch closures.

• Radio and television – the way we receive content is changing with radio accessible via the Internet and catch-up TV and streaming video services now providing more and more video content.

• A lot of people now do some or all of their work from home via communication systems.

• This is known as telecommuting.

• Advantages:• greater flexibility in work hours• saving money on transport, food and clothing

• beneficial to people with a disability

• helps families with small children• employer save on overheads, such as building space and furniture

• Disadvantages:• less social and professional contact

• some people feel isolated and lonely

• can blur the distinction between work and home

• the costs of secure connections and equipment