Overview 3: Computer Mediated Communication (CMC)

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Hello everyone,

Let’s learn something new about Computer Mediated Communication.

This is just the basic information that you should know about Computer Mediated Communication or better known as CMC.

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Computer mediated communications (CMC) can be defined as a communicative transaction which takes place through the use of networked, or linked computers. There are two modes of CMC, synchronous and asynchronous. In synchronous mode, all the participants are online simultaneously, which is in real time. Asynchronous mode on the other hand is a mode of CMC where interactants communicate in different time. Synchronous CMC tools include chat rooms, webinars and video conferences. Blogs, email, and discussion boards are examples of how to communicate using asynchronous CMC tools.

As technology develops, the concept of CMC continuously expands. Text-based interaction has evolved to using streaming video as a method of interpersonal communication. Despite the changes, interactivity remains a key reason why Internet communication supports interpersonal communication. Behind all Internet communication, people communicate with each other, either directly or through software design. Internet interactivity occurs as interpersonal interactivity, informational interactivity, and human-computer interaction (HCI).

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Nowadays, information interactivity transpires through the Web, which adds graphical interface to the Internet. The Web combines elements of informational interactivity with interpersonal interactivity because increasingly older CMC genres, such as chat and discussion groups, are being integrated into Web sites. 

Increased availability of the internet has driven CMC growth over the years, especially in the commerce and academic industries. There are many advantages to using these tools; one of the most obvious is that they allow participants time and place independence. This shows that in order to collaborate with others using CMC tools, people are not required to be physically together. Instead, they can reside at their individual locations.

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In addition, by using asynchronous tools, participants do not have to be communicating at the same time. Users have more freedom and save cost as the medium provides time and place independence. Traditional communication may require people to  travel long distances or spend large sums of money attempting to bridge location and time differences (Good Practice 2008). 

Specific to academic use, CMC is increasingly being used for distance learning, or online classes. It provides students with the opportunity to attend classes and events online. It is also, a less expensive of an approach and does not restrict attendance based on location. Most of distance learning programs, which utilize CMC tools find that students are able to receive the same level of education and learning via a computer as they can by attending a class. The true meaning and benefits of collaboration can also be learned through CMC. 

Without being near each other, participants are able to set goals, monitor those goals, share ideas and documents, make decisions and take accountability for their work (La Bonte 1999). Through CMC, students are able to collaborate at a distance, forcing them to embrace the technology and work together. 

The source of this post is from Susan C. Herring article entitled, Computer Mediated Communication : Introduction & Overview. 

Retrieve the article here.

Enjoy!