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Process of Human
Communication on the Internet
Chapter 2
Shedletsky & Aitken
Human Communication on the Internet
Some Questions Considered
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What happens to our communication because of the
Internet?
Why is looking at human communication on the Internet
important, or is it?
What do we mean when we say that communication on
the Internet is paradoxical?
What is the framework we adopt for looking at
communication on the Internet?
How does Communication on the Internet work?
Concepts considered
 Metamorphosis
 Technological determinism
 (Cyber)literacy
 The interactive nature of communication
What sort of medium is the
Internet?
 Mass medium
 Interpersonal medium
 Personal medium
Information and Communication
 Information— an idea of communication
represented in linear models of
communication;
 Communication— an idea of
communication represented in
transactional models of communication;
Distinctions
 The Internet
 The WWW
Our focus
 Computer-Mediated Communication
 Examples, reading e-mail,
looking at web
sites, discussion on electronic groups,
reading online journals;
CMC
 A human activity;
 Interpersonal communication over the
Internet;
 Much like having a conversation;
 Effects and associations;
 Context;
Contexts and Media Distinctions
 Levels of communication (intrapersonal,
interpersonal, mass communication) and
media distinctions (such as television and
radio) do not make good sense on the
Internet;
 Simultaneity of levels of communication;
Why study human communication
on the Internet?
 Open to new understandings;
 To maximize performance;
 To understand who we are, what we strive
for, and how we evolve as communicators;
Communicaton Media
 Examining the dimensions of
communication that are enhanced or
diminished or even hidden by a medium;
 Communication on the Internet
incorporates:
• Language
• writing
Language and Writing
 Language:
• Represents ideas;
– For thinking
– For expressing
 Writing:
• Records ideas
– To preserve
– To transport
– To distribute
E-mail as a Medium
 No need to be present at the same time;
 We can edit what we say;
 We can take our time in expressing our
selves;
 We can take our time in thinking about the
other’s message to us;
 We are not seen nor do we see the other;
 Our message is preserved;
E-mail as an Interpersonal Device
 We can communicate to satisfy our social
needs for:
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Pleasure
Affection
Inclusion
Escape
Relaxation
Control
The Internet Intensifies
 The Internet Intensifies:
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Mental aspects of communication;
Speed;
Connection;
Change;
Concentration;
Play;
Interactivity;
Models of Communication
 A transmission model;
 A transactional model;
 An intrapersonal model;
Which model best helps you
understand this event:
Note that this is a linear model
Information
source
Transmitter
Message
Receiver
Signal
Received
Signal
Noise
Source
Shannon and Weaver’s Model of Communication
Destination
Message