Information Technology and
Intercultural Communication (ICC)
Marie Ells and Bilyana Martinovski School of Business and
Informatics
University College of Borås
NIC09
Is Computer-Medi@ted Communication Helpful for ICC?
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
A Dream of Instantaneous
Access
IT ICC - A Bridge or a Chasm
A Nightmare in a Labyrinth of Solitude
(Peters, 1999)
Internet is the most popular computer-mediated channel for communication.
The most used language on Internet is English.
Most information is in English (Laudon et al., 2008).
Do we really meet other cultures or are they similar to our own?
Computer-Mediated Communication
Em@il
Mainly used for asynchronous communication, interactive.Feedback usually delayed.
Number of participants is optional.
Through attachments able to emphasize messages with illustrations, pictures, links etc.
(exception: synchronous if participants are at their computer at same time).
Ch@t
Synchronous, interactive, immediate feedback, compatible with other modes such as:cameras, microphone to emphasize message. Number of participants is optional
Immediate feedback is important for ICC as the need to correct possible misunderstandings is stronger. However, asynchronous communication opens possibility for re-
contextualizing, which often functions as a means for reaching agreement (Martinovski, 2007).
Is Computer-Mediated Communication
Helpful for Interpersonal ICC?
It is when we have already met “f2f” and need to maintain relationship.
When participants are placed far from each other physically.
The message has to be clear enough for this kind of transmission.
Web camera in live chat strengthens
synchronous communication when functioning.
The more senses we can affect the better it is for good interpersonal ICC.
What information technology has given ICC is dependent on what is transmitted between participants and on their
needs.
We now have more “communication modes” to choose from, we can tailor- made every message in a suitable way for its purpose. (Whittaker, 2009)
We can satisfy and provide for the needs of the receiver.
We can chose to communicate
synchronously or asynchronously by
using email or a chat room which can be extended with web camera, microphone and smell.
All these modes can provide us with aid for our communication process if we are not able to meet “face- to face”.
We conclude that communication
technology is helpful for ICC although it still keeps us in the dichotomy of the dream and the nightmare of
communication.
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