Page 78 - Effective Communication Soft Skills Strategies For Success by Nitin Bhatnagar, Mamta Bhatnagar

Project Name: Manual for Soft Skills
\\mtpdy01\Womat\Indesign\Bhatnagar-Manual for Soft skills\06-Pagination\06-A-Finals\06-AA-Appl\Bhatnagar_Chapter 04.indd

66 | Chapter 4 ACE Pro India Pvt. Ltd.

new. Skornia points out how TV is a very keen political weapon in elections
as a propaganda tool to sway the viewer’s minds. Wars can be started by TV,
and like the Vietnam War, TV can end a prolonged and obstinate battle by
influencing the viewers in their own living rooms (Andal 1987).
We have recently lurched quite unprepared into the Age of Computers.
This theory of transition is one of accumulation rather than an account
of serially arranged but distinct periods, that is, our primitive ancestors
learned to use signs and symbols very early, and we still use them rather
widely. Speech and language were added; writing was followed by printing
and mass communication. The use of computers is now fast spreading.
Thus, the history of human communication has been one of corresponding
communication systems rather than simply a passing from one to another, as
each of the major media of communication emerged in our society.

The New Technology
New technology signifies the converging technologies of microelectronics
computing and communications. And a consequence of this would be a
mass production of science fictional characters—complex, sinister, and out
of our control. On the other hand social and economic progress also entirely
depends upon this new technology—computer controlled aircraft, computer
aided design, tele-medicine, etc. In a way this is the second industrial revo-
lution. While the first one affected limited areas of the West, the current
revolution promises to touch the personal lives of almost everyone around
the globe because of the vast transfer of technologies that are taking place
between distant nations. The effects will be profound and no less disturbing
to many of those involved, as were the effects of the first revolution. In our
society technological change is justifiably equated with progress and so it
would be pointless to question if it is desirable. Information Super-highways
have revolutionized the style of work, leisure and life of the people though
the years. The chart below shows how the introduction of new technologies
has over the years reduced the time taken to send a hundred words message
from Edinburgh to London.

1760 —— stage coach on rough tracked roads ——— 10 days
1830 —— stage coach on modern road ——— 3 days
1850 —— telegraph ——— 4 minutes
1950 —— telex ——— 1 minute
1980 —— modern data transmission ——— 0.1 second

Oral Communication
It is a known fact that folklore and legendary grandmother’s tales form part
of a chain that extends backward for many centuries, and without doubt will

Bhatnagar_Chapter 04.indd 66 2011-06-23 7:52:10 PM
Modified Date: Thu, Jun 23, 2011 06:32:16 PM Output Date: Thu, Jun 23, 2011 07:52:09 PM
TEMPLATE Page Number: PB