Technology
is a tool that is used to modify communication to benefit our own
purpose in society. Technology is defined as “the act of making or
crafting, but more generally it refers to the diverse collection of
processes and knowledge that people use to extend human abilities and to
satisfy human needs and wants” (Thurlow, Lengel & Tomic, 2007,
p.25). Through the use of the Internet (Skype, Facebook, email and chat)
we are able to connect with others on a global scale. By connecting
with others globally we are able to mesh our cultures together and
relate to others. Therefore, technology is becoming its own culture and
forcing us to adapt to its constant changes. These changes have a
significant impact on our society and force us to communicate in
different ways. According to our reading, communication technologies are
becoming ever more multimodal (e.g. with videos, webcams, moving
graphics and sound) making us realize that technology is more than just a
game but a way to socially interact with people from different
backgrounds and cultures (p.33). Therefore, technology is bridging the gap between cultures and making the world even smaller.
Reference:
Thurlow, C., Lengel , L., & Tomic, A. (2007). Computer mediated communication social interaction and the internet . London, England: Sage Publication