The eight steps in the communications process become more complex
Sender
One or more people
Encoding
This takes many different forms, combining mental and technological encodings. For example, in this class, your test has to be encoded into a word processing document.
Mechanical encodings add complexity to the communications process and increase the risk of failed communication. The more times a message is encoded, the greater chance that noise or decoding errors will effect the message.
Channels - Mechanical / Technological
Telephone, E-mail, Instant Messaging, Angel
Messages
Could be private or public, depending on the choice of channel.
Messages are easily terminated by ending contact with the channel
Decoding
Is as complex as encoding, with great possibility of noise
Receiver
Could be known or unknown. The chance of unintended receivers increases with each encoding.
This video shows how the danger of unintended receivers increases with the use of technology as a communications tool.
Feedback
Immediate, delayed, or none
The lack of feedback can be unsettling. When you send me a test, how do you know I got it? To ease your concerns, I'll send a reply which lets you know the test was received.
Noise
Environmental - Semantic - Psychological
This video shows, in thirty seconds, the range of dangers in machine assisted communications. There are problems with encoding, decoding, senders, receivers, and noise.
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