The world is getting smaller and faster with the invention of the web-based technology. With just a simple click in anywhere and with the presence of internet connection regardless if it is wired or wireless, your message could be transmitted in a split second, your bills could be paid anytime at the your convenience, the activities you could do are numerous at your finger tips.
I remember when I was still a student many years ago, I had so much excitement getting my first free email address and I instantly emailed my friends in other states or overseas. My email arrived in their inbox instantly. This was unconventional as your message was delivered without any delay unlike sending a letter to your friends through postal service. Later you could even communicate with friends in real-time through chat-room service.
As time changes, web-based communication has also gone through a great evolution and integration leading to the birth of social media. It does not only change the way we communicate at individual level, it also changes the way we communicate at community and social levels. Leverage on this powerful, effective and economical communication, businesses have also adopted social media as their marketing tool to acquire new customers while taking care of their existing customers.
Let's fast forward to present, the trend of getting smart phones and tablets increases tremendously among the home users. This attributes to the revolutionary invention of smart phones and tablets which is more user-friendly and easy to use. It also allows users to download countless applications from the stores either for free or for minimal costs. With this you could be mobile all the time and still do what you need to do without the need to carry a laptop, and the best part is you could do more with your smart phone or tablet which is far more handy than the laptop.
I would say the mobile phone has become a necessity in this modern day. Imagine if you forgot to bring your phone you most likely would make a U-turn back to get it as it has everything you need. You no longer memorize the contacts, appointments, bank account numbers as everything is stored in the memory of your phone. Perhaps one day this gadget might replace human brain!
No doubt technology has brought so much convenience to us and revolutionize the way we communicate, it still has its setback. To be more precise, I should say it is the users' problem. Users need to be more responsible in using the technology so that it would not become an addition or habit. If we do not use the technology carefully, we could lose the human touch with others as we no longer talk face-to-face. It is likely that the younger generation would be lack of communication and interpersonal skills which could only be acquired over the time through continuous effort and practice and these skills are vital in harmonizing conflicts.
It's sad to see both colleagues at work sitting side by side are no longer talking to each other but sky-ping to each other as if they could no longer see each other in the eyes and communicate. It's even sadder to see couples and families are no longer communicating with each other in the cafes or restaurants while waiting for their foods. Instead of engaging in sincere conversation or exchanging topics, they are now focusing on their own smart phones or tablets, playing games, surfing internet or reading. At home, it's even more disturbing that parents are sending texts from ground floor to their children in their rooms on upstairs to come down for dinner and there is no communication at all in the dining room. These examples are real and this is absolutely an unhealthy 'culture' and should be stopped!
Maybe it's time for us to reflect, we need to ask ourselves "what is the basic respect for others?" and "is this an addition or habit?" I think we need to give communication a serious thought as I still believe in the beauty of technology, we just need to slow down a bit to re-educate ourselves in using the technology and the basic respect for others when we are with them.