Modes of Communication and Technical Communication

 Now a days, technology is used in
communication at good extent. Technology has made communication fast and cheap.
There are various kinds of technical communication which are discussed as
below :

Tele Conference :

      Teleconferences are also called as ‘telephone conferences’. In
tele-conference, communication among the participants is carried on through
telephone system. This type of conference is substitute to FTF (Face to Face)
communication/interaction. FTF meetings are many times difficult and costly.
The participants have to travel from the distance to participate in it.
Teleconferencing is a solution to this FTF conference. It is an arrangement
which provides facilities to the speakers from different places to communicate
with one another. There are three basic types of teleconferencing.

1)
Videoconferencing :

   In this communication there is a
communication through video signals with sound signals. In this case picture
phone is used. Sometimes video conferences have been organized in a studio and
different people are connected to one another. Now a days, different news
channels located at difference places communicate through video conferencing. A
person from one place can directly involve in the discussion at another place.

2) Computer Conferencing :

   In 
computer conferencing the participants are connected to one another
through computers. A participant can sit at a convenient time at a computer
with a camera and a microphone, and he is connected through internet to other
participants. Apart from this there is a group of participants who communicate
by making use of keyboard and typing their message as well as reading the
message from the screen.

3)    Audio
Conferencing :

In this system
telephone is used mainly to send and receive audio signals. The intercom system
also helps at local level to organize such conference. Telephone service
provides conferencing facility. A group of persons can register themselves as a
participants in a particular group. They can listen and talk to different
members of the group.

Advantages of Teleconferences :

    
Teleconferencing offers a number of advantages as under:

1)  Time is
saved :

Teleconferences
save the time in traveling from one place to another.

2) Cost and energy are saved :

Because there is
no need to go from one place to another, the expenditure on the travel and
accommodation is saved. It also helps to save the energy of the participant.

3) Many times people including guest speaker normally
don’t attend a distant FTF meeting. They can participate in teleconference because of
such dignitaries’ saving of time we get the benefit of their thoughts. Hence in
teleconferencing the opinion of an expert is available.

4) Teleconferences are not monotonous and tiresome.
A participant is
not forced to sit in the auditorium. So he can participate easily and
naturally.

5) All the objectives of conference are realized. In FTF meetings there is association of
participants and the participants talk to one another more about the personal
details. So the meetings are shorter. In teleconferencing there is no such
socialization. So the meeting can complete its primary purpose.

6) Arrangements for the meeting, the expenditure
and energy used are saved. The supporting manpower is limited .So, it saves human hours also. These
meetings are more effective because a participant does not attend it
perfunctorily as there is no compulsion of attendance. Level of communication
is maximum in this type of conference.

7) Participants are generally better prepared than
for FTF meetings.

8)    Group
members get equal opportunity to record opinion in teleconferences.

9) All the discussion of the teleconferencing can
be stored permanently.

Disadvantages of Teleconferences:

         
Teleconferencing has number of advantages. However it cannot be
considered as a unique alternative to FTF meetings. Teleconferencing has the
following disadvantages:

1) Technical failure is a disadvantage teleconference.
Teleconferences
totally depend on the equipments. So if there is any failure in the equipment
or in the connection the teleconference fails. In face to face meeting this
drawback does not affect.

2) Teleconferencing is unsatisfactory for complex
interpersonal communication. Such as negotiation or bargaining. It is impersonal. So it is very
difficult to create an atmosphere of a group rapport. There is not personal
touch.

3) In teleconferencing the medium is equipment. Many times the participants may not be familiar
with the equipment and may suffer from miss-communication. Moreover, a
participant may lack a meetings skill.

4)  There may
be acoustical problems within the teleconferencing room. This problem will breakdown the communication
process.

5) It is very difficult to determine the speaking
order of the participants. So there is a danger of monopolizing by one person in the meeting.

6)  Teleconferencing
requires preparation of the participants. For this preparation more time is needed.

7)    In
Teleconferencing one to one informal social interaction is not possible.

These are some
of the problems and limitations of teleconferencing. If the participant will
not take care of these problems the teleconferencing will be a failure.
Moreover it is essential for every participant to possess the equipments
otherwise he cannot take part due to this limitation. We cannot call
teleconferencing as an alternative to FTF meetings.