Is Technology Killing Communication?

This is a great guest post by Geoff Reiner of Jump-Point International.  Geoff brings a distinct perspective to each project focusing on customized and sustainable solutions. With big business experience at Toyota Canada and Xerox Canada, Geoff has an innate ability to recognize future opportunities for business growth and development, with a primary focus on implementation.  Additionally, Geoff has worked with a number of small businesses to help them sell current products and develop new products with a focus on passion, excellence, and results.

 A Different World

Technology has completely revolutionized how human beings interact.  From symbols written on cave walls and messengers traveling on horseback across the desert, to blog posts (RSS), instant messages (IM), and tweets flying around the world, technology has completely changed how we communicate.

What do you think? Is technology in fact killing communication?

Lets take a look at Gen Y (a.k.a. Millennials, Net Generation, Echo Boomers).  As these young professionals enter the workforce bathed in bits and bytes (Don Tapscott), there exists a rather subtle lack of essential communication skills.  But wait, how do we define “essential” communication skills?

Is it essential to have the technical ability to connect and collaborate with anyone around the world?  Or is it essential to have the self-confidence to navigate through an interview?  As a member of Gen Y, I am seeing more businesses leverage social media (SM) to learn about, interact with, and service their clients.

Also, with many businesses expanding globally, the propensity to utilize technology (skype, VOIP, video conferencing, SM) has significantly increased in the last 5 years.  How will this change communication in the future and how do we define “essential” communication skills?

Just “Getting By”

With greater accessibility to information and a growing emphasis on technology, Gen Y seems to be struggling with some fundamental face-to-face communication skills.  Basic eye contact, written skills, body language, and even a simple handshake seem like rather daunting tasks.

However, technology is allowing this generation to “get by”.  Essential communication skills are no longer a top priority – they don’t even seem to be relevant!

Mo Money

If I can communicate through various forms of technology, connect with a web developer overseas, get a website designed and create an e-business from my living room, manage client interactions through Twitter and generate new business through various SM tools and search engine optimization (SEO), why do I need any “essential” communication skills?  I’m making money, delivering a quality product and managing clients successfully.  Why change?

How we communicate is changing.

Will technology completely change how humanity interacts rendering the handshake a thing of the past?  And let’s be honest, for Gen Y technology has made communication between peers far more efficient.

For example:

IMO tech kills comm’n!  IM’s, txts, bbm’s & tweets r tons fstr n mor effcnt!!!  AFAIK IANAL but IMNSHO this time i no ive gt it ✔

If at this point you are thinking WTF?  Let me explain with a literal translation:

In my opinion, technology kills communication.  Instant messages, text messages, BlackBerry messages and tweets are far quicker and more efficient.  As far as I know I am not a lawyer, but in my not so humble opinion this time I know I’ve got it right.

Although it may not make sense, you have to admit this new language is pretty efficient!

Human Interaction Trumps All

I will conclude by saying the power of human interaction will never be replaced by technology.  The importance of building trust and authentic relationships through face-to-face communication will continue to be imperative as we navigate through life.  Technology has decreased the gap between message creation and message delivery.  However, the question still remains:  Is Technology Killing Communication?

An example of how technology has impacted our communication:

Author : Troy

Director of Business Development at JumpPoint, Product Developer at Clarity for the boss, a supercharged Speaker and the founder of The Entrepreneurs Journey series. The secret to success is stored in my beard, but I will share it if asked nicely.