1. Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC)

2. Towards a definition
Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is defined as any human communication that occurs through the use of two or more electronic devices.
Any system that enables interpersonal communication by means of computers and networks
While the term has traditionally referred to those communications that occur via computer-mediated formats (e.g., instant messaging, , chat rooms, online forums, social network services), it has also been applied to other forms of text-based interaction such as text messaging

3. Scope
Research on CMC focuses largely on the social effects of different computer-supported communication technologies.
Many recent studies involve Internet-based social networking supported by social software.
Scholars from a variety of fields study phenomena that can be described under the umbrella term of CMC. For example, many take a socio-psychological approach to CMC by examining how humans use "computers" (or digital media) to manage interpersonal interaction, form impressions and form and maintain relationships

4. Cont…
These studies have often focused on the differences between online and offline interactions, though contemporary research is moving towards the view that CMC should be studied as embedded in everyday life .
Another branch of CMC research examines the use of paralinguistic features such as emoticons, pragmatic rules such as turn-taking and the sequential analysis and organization of talk, and the various sociolects, styles, registers or sets of terminology specific to these environments.
The study of language in these contexts is typically based on text-based forms of CMC, and is sometimes referred to as "computer-mediated discourse analysis"

5. Communication context
The way humans communicate in professional, social, and educational settings varies widely, depending upon not only the environment but also the method of communication in which the communication occurs, which in this case is through computers or other information and communication technologies (ICTs). The study of communication to achieve collaboration—common work products—is termed computer-supported collaboration and includes only some of the concerns of other forms of CMC research.

6. Out-of-Scope Use of computers to access remotely-located databases
Transmission of text without discussion or argument
Computer-assisted instruction
Computer-based training
Same location one-computer collaboration

7. Borderline Voice mail (???)
Computer-based instruction and some computer-mediated discussion
Remote database access with limited conversation

8. Characteristics of CMC
In CMC communication is transactional. Both people involved in the CMC event are responsible for simultaneously sending and receiving messages.
Highly interactive and complex
Multi-person

9. Cont…
Most of the CMC mediums rely greatly on internet protocols because these are readily available.
There must be congruency between software protocols employed by the sender as well as the receiver.
Convergence is another prominent feature of contemporary CMC platforms.
The advent of social networking, in particular, has facilitated the growing experience of multiple media on one platform.

10. 2 Broad Categories
1)Synchronous : Parties in the communication interact in real time, and each participant is simultaneously a sender and receiver.
2)Asynchronous : Delays occur in the communication interaction and the participants must take turns to be sender and receiver.

11. Platforms Computer conferencing Electronic mail Skype
Video-conferencing
Discussion lists
Bulletin boards
Virtual classrooms
Social networking services
Computer-supported cooperative work

12. Proliferation Academic institutions Government/military institutions
Corporate
All levels of the educational system

13. Issues in CMC Technologies in flux
Learning strategies: replicate or innovate?
Technological synergy
Conflicting theories and philosophies

14. Theoretical / Philosophical Conflicts
Constructivism versus objectivism
Humanism versus mechanism
Cognitive versus behavioral
Social constructivism
Undominated communication

15. Status of Current Research
Mid-1980’s
Initially anecdotal
Usage advocacy
Before … quantitative/positivist
Now … interpretist/critical theory

16. Principal Issues Investigated
General
Democratizing or elitist ?
Quality of online information vis-à-vis that of printed material
Social impact on users
Implementation in distance education and conventional courses
Aspects of software

17. Principal Issues (Contd.).
Teaching and learning concerns
Content and objectives
Learning strategies and tactics
Aspects of control
Effectiveness on learning outcomes

18. Principal Issues (Contd.).
Implementation concerns
Rates of participation
Attitudes and participation styles
Implementation and administration
Staff and support system issues

19. Methods Used Surveys – electronic or conventional surveys
Direct descriptive research on usage, interaction, and transcript information
Conspicuous absence of qualitative and analytical methods and models

20. Findings to Date Problems with equitable access
Widespread distrust of the quality of information
Social impact on users
Perception of intellectual impact
Software-related

21. Findings to Date (Contd.).
Teaching / learning concerns
Implementation concerns

22. Ethical Challenges of CMC
Use or abuse of CMC in the service of other, essentially CMC-external goals eg using computer networks to advertise one’s commercial services or products, striking up electronic contact with women or children for the purpose of establishing sexual liaisons, or making improper use of computer-mediated information by violating copyright or privacy of the sender
What are the ethics of computer-mediated interaction? ie conflicts of interests and potential harm to others which could potentially result from the manner in which messages are posted in public places.
Posting behaviour partially falls under the rubric of netiquette (network etiquette) – it involves more than manners. Netiquette norms have both a moral and a political dimension

23. Future Research (4 Levels)
Policy
Strategic
Tactical
Tool

24. Internet
is a global network of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users worldwide.
It is a network of networks that consists of millions of private, academic, business and government networks of local to global scope that are linked by a broad array of electronic and optical networking technologies.
The World Wide Web is a global information system that allows users to access information from the Internet. Web (many sites linked together) searches can provide a great wealth of information quickly and easily.

25. Benefits
The internet has no centralized governance in either technological implementation or policies for access and usage, each constituent network sets its own standards.
Newspaper publishing has been reshaped into Web sites, blogging and web feeds.
The internet has enabled or accelerated the creation of new forms of human interaction through instant messaging, internet forums and social networking sites.
The internet is allowing greater flexibility in working hours and locations, especially with the spread of unmetered high-speed connections and web applications.
The internet can now be accessed almost anywhere by numerous means, especially through mobile internet devices.

26. Cont…
Business and project teams can share calendars as well as documents and other information.
The low cost and nearly instantaneous sharing of ideas, knowledge and skills has made collaborative work dramatically easier.
The World Wide Web has enabled the decentralisation of information.
Through keyword-driven internet research using search engines such as Yahoo! and Google, users worldwide have easy and instant access to a vast and diverse amount of online information

27. Cont…
Advertising on popular web pages can be lucrative, and e-commerce or the sale of products and services directly via the Web continues to grow.
Data transfer – file sharing is an example of transferring large amounts of data across the internet. A computer file can be ed to customer, colleagues and friends as an attachment.
The printing publications, software products, news, music, film, video, photography, graphics and other arts are found freely on the internet.

28. Disadvantages Overuse of the internet can lead to addiction
Information on Internet Facebook can be available publicly
Information on the Internet is not strictly edited
Practical research and learning is threatened as information is easily accessed online.
Human face-to-face interaction is and relationships are destroyed
Dirty information unsuitable for minors is readily available
Computer viruses can be found on the internet

29. Intranet
An intranet is a private computer network that uses Internet protocol technologies to securely share any part of an organization’s information or network operating systems within the organization.
Sometimes the term refers only to the organization’s internal website but may be a more extensive part of the organization’s information technology infrastructure.
It may host multiple private websites and constitute an important component and focal part of internal communication and collaboration. It is asynchronous.