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This week is all about communication. In both the lecture and the tutorial, we will discuss a few different forms of communication. Some of the things to think about before the lecture include how we misunderstand new modes of communication and what it means to communicate. One of the important things is sharing an understanding of concepts. Take the following video:
This week is all about communication. In both the lecture and the tutorial, we will discuss a few different forms of communication. Some of the things to think about before the lecture include how we misunderstand new modes of communication and what it means to communicate. One of the important things is sharing an understanding of concepts. Take the following video:4
This video exemplifies a lot of the problems we have when faced with new technologies. We do not understand the metaphors or the terms used in their description. Information is often communicated in ways that we do not really understand or we don’t know how to use. Often, people will use jargon (particular words and phrases associated with very specific meanings). This is a central problem of misunderstanding that underscores work in the 21st Century. We’ll have some examples in the lecture.
This video exemplifies a lot of the problems we have when faced with new technologies. We do not understand the metaphors or the terms used in their description. Information is often communicated in ways that we do not really understand or we don’t know how to use. Often, people will use jargon (particular words and phrases associated with very specific meanings). This is a central problem of misunderstanding that underscores work in the 21st Century. We’ll have some examples in the lecture.5
The issue of Language is that we all use it, but there are barriers to understand it. We defined language as:
The issue of Language is that we all use it, but there are barriers to understand it. We defined language as:6
- the way people use to describe things
- cultural, learned and adapted
- forms the basis for expression
- the way we share ideas
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The conclusion from this is that sometimes we don’t know what other people mean. This is because each language has its own community of users who understand what the references and meanings are. Also, Informatics also has its own ways of describing things.
The conclusion from this is that sometimes we don’t know what other people mean. This is because each language has its own community of users who understand what the references and meanings are. Also, Informatics also has its own ways of describing things.8
We briefly touch on Semiotics, but you could do a whole degree on this. So the overview is that semiotics relates to the way we express ourselves through symbols such as signs, pictures, frames (of reference), and images. Semiotics is the study of language’s fundamental elements, or signs. It provides a powerful set of theoretical concepts applicable in informatics.
We briefly touch on Semiotics, but you could do a whole degree on this. So the overview is that semiotics relates to the way we express ourselves through symbols such as signs, pictures, frames (of reference), and images. Semiotics is the study of language’s fundamental elements, or signs. It provides a powerful set of theoretical concepts applicable in informatics.10
- Syntactic
- Concerns the form of symbols
- Semantic
- concerns the meaning of symbols
- Pragmatic
- concerns the usage (context) of symbols
- Social
- concerns the understanding of the meaning of symbols
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Each of these helps us to understand what communication means. We will elaborate the application of these in the lecture.
Each of these helps us to understand what communication means. We will elaborate the application of these in the lecture.12
This leads us to the conceptualisation that Communication is “a symbolic process in which people create shared meanings”. It leads us to ask: “How are these symbols translated and communicated between people?”
This leads us to the conceptualisation that Communication is “a symbolic process in which people create shared meanings”. It leads us to ask: “How are these symbols translated and communicated between people?”13
One of the most simple models for assisting in understanding communication is Shannon and Weaver’s model of communication. It can be seen as a simple process for beginning to understand how interactions occur. It should be noted that human communication is more concerned with the intention, getting the meaning across while electronic communication is more concerned with the accuracy, and getting the information across. Electronic communication is not directly concerned with the meaning. Shannon and Weaver’s model has limited application to human communication, but does provide a way of investigating communication as a process and is very descriptive of electronic communication. However, we must remember that Shannon and Weaver’s model lacks the subtleties needed to investigate the subtleties of human communication. Communication in informatics is generally concerned with human and organisational communications (you will do a whole course on this, so we only briefly discuss it here). The major levels of human communication are
One of the most simple models for assisting in understanding communication is Shannon and Weaver’s model of communication. It can be seen as a simple process for beginning to understand how interactions occur. It should be noted that human communication is more concerned with the intention, getting the meaning across while electronic communication is more concerned with the accuracy, and getting the information across. Electronic communication is not directly concerned with the meaning. Shannon and Weaver’s model has limited application to human communication, but does provide a way of investigating communication as a process and is very descriptive of electronic communication. However, we must remember that Shannon and Weaver’s model lacks the subtleties needed to investigate the subtleties of human communication. Communication in informatics is generally concerned with human and organisational communications (you will do a whole course on this, so we only briefly discuss it here). The major levels of human communication are15
Some examples of the changes in communication wrought by new technologies such as email such as the employee who sent an email to a client by mistake, and the Beijing Olympics Scam. These changes point to an information r/evolution.
Some examples of the changes in communication wrought by new technologies such as email such as the employee who sent an email to a client by mistake, and the Beijing Olympics Scam. These changes point to an information r/evolution.18
What is communication? It’s two way process, so feedback is important. With feedback, we have a dialogue rather than a monologue.
What is communication? It’s two way process, so feedback is important. With feedback, we have a dialogue rather than a monologue.20
Haiku are a particular form of communication where the form is generally based on the number of lines and syllables (at least in the English form). It functions to convey multiple levels of meaning with very few words.
Haiku are a particular form of communication where the form is generally based on the number of lines and syllables (at least in the English form). It functions to convey multiple levels of meaning with very few words.21
Our haiku attempts to evoke what communication is and some of the problems. For instance, the sentence “They’re going to put their information there” shows some of the tricky words in English, what we call homophones, or words that sound the same but mean different things. In this case, ’they’re’, ‘their’ and ‘there’ all sound the same but have very different meanings and spellings. Unless we are careful with our usage and understanding of words, our communication attempts can be difficult.
Our haiku attempts to evoke what communication is and some of the problems. For instance, the sentence “They’re going to put their information there” shows some of the tricky words in English, what we call homophones, or words that sound the same but mean different things. In this case, ’they’re’, ‘their’ and ‘there’ all sound the same but have very different meanings and spellings. Unless we are careful with our usage and understanding of words, our communication attempts can be difficult.22
One common difficulty is using the lecture as a form of communication. The lecture is often a monologue where one person talks and everyone else listens. The term “Lecture” was first used in 14th century with the meaning ‘act of reading’. This is because there were not many books available and many people could not read or write, so they relied on others to read to them. If they wanted to learn something, they needed someone to read to them. Lectures accomplished this. But that was centuries ago. Most people are now able to read, so why does the lecture still remain an important part of the learning activity at university? I’ll leave you to think about that. There are many reasons both positive and negative.
One common difficulty is using the lecture as a form of communication. The lecture is often a monologue where one person talks and everyone else listens. The term “Lecture” was first used in 14th century with the meaning ‘act of reading’. This is because there were not many books available and many people could not read or write, so they relied on others to read to them. If they wanted to learn something, they needed someone to read to them. Lectures accomplished this. But that was centuries ago. Most people are now able to read, so why does the lecture still remain an important part of the learning activity at university? I’ll leave you to think about that. There are many reasons both positive and negative.23
One of the reasons I question the use of the lecture as a form of communication is that all information we give you is on the web. So what are some of the problems with relying on people’s ability to get information solely from the web?
One of the reasons I question the use of the lecture as a form of communication is that all information we give you is on the web. So what are some of the problems with relying on people’s ability to get information solely from the web?24
Consider the two pages which have been presented below. One is a blog called ‘ReadWriteWeb’ and the other is the login page for Facebook. About a month ago, at the same time that Google introduced ‘real time web searches’, which brings newer information to the top, ReadWriteWeb published a post called ‘Facebook wants to be your one true login’ referring to a new feature on Facebook. Facebook connect (the new feature) allows anyone with a Facebook account to login to multiple pages. For a short time, ReadWriteWeb’s page about this feature could be found at the top of a search in Google for ‘Facebook login’.
Consider the two pages which have been presented below. One is a blog called ‘ReadWriteWeb’ and the other is the login page for Facebook. About a month ago, at the same time that Google introduced ‘real time web searches’, which brings newer information to the top, ReadWriteWeb published a post called ‘Facebook wants to be your one true login’ referring to a new feature on Facebook. Facebook connect (the new feature) allows anyone with a Facebook account to login to multiple pages. For a short time, ReadWriteWeb’s page about this feature could be found at the top of a search in Google for ‘Facebook login’.
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As a result, many people found themselves at ReadWriteWeb rather than the Facebook login page, because their standard way of getting to Facebook was not to type facebook.com into the address bar of their browser, but to search for ‘facebook login’ via google.
As a result, many people found themselves at ReadWriteWeb rather than the Facebook login page, because their standard way of getting to Facebook was not to type facebook.com into the address bar of their browser, but to search for ‘facebook login’ via google.28
If we think about this incident in terms of communication (particularly using semiotics which is the study of ’signs’ and ’signification’ outlined in the textbook), we can start to analyse why communication is important. The four levels of semiotics in informatics as mentioned above. We can apply them to the ReadWriteWeb/Facebook login incident.
If we think about this incident in terms of communication (particularly using semiotics which is the study of ’signs’ and ’signification’ outlined in the textbook), we can start to analyse why communication is important. The four levels of semiotics in informatics as mentioned above. We can apply them to the ReadWriteWeb/Facebook login incident.29
The symbols in this case, the signs that tell us where we are, include the web address and the colours, pictures and layout of the webpage. As you can see from the ReadWriteWeb and Facebook login pages, they are very different. One has a blue header while the other has a red header. The web addresses are also very different
The symbols in this case, the signs that tell us where we are, include the web address and the colours, pictures and layout of the webpage. As you can see from the ReadWriteWeb and Facebook login pages, they are very different. One has a blue header while the other has a red header. The web addresses are also very different30
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/facebook_wants_to_be_your_one_true_login.php
http://www.facebook.com/login.php
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/facebook_wants_to_be_your_one_true_login.phphttp://www.facebook.com/login.php
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Thus the syntax, the form of the pages including their addresses are different. Not also that the addresses themselves have very specific syntax. Web address almost always start with http which stands for hypertext transfer protocol. There are many other protocols which you may be able to recognise.
Thus the syntax, the form of the pages including their addresses are different. Not also that the addresses themselves have very specific syntax. Web address almost always start with http which stands for hypertext transfer protocol. There are many other protocols which you may be able to recognise.32
The semantic layer of the two pages, the meanings of the pages, are different. One (Facebook) is a gateway to an individual’s account at Facebook, the other is a blog with information. One has very few words, the other has many implying that much more meaning can be extracted from one than the other. Even the banner headings (the red and blue parts of each page) provide a layer of meaning which can be interpreted (it basically says “you are here” at facebook or ReadWriteWeb). Can you discern other layers of meaning from within the pages?
The semantic layer of the two pages, the meanings of the pages, are different. One (Facebook) is a gateway to an individual’s account at Facebook, the other is a blog with information. One has very few words, the other has many implying that much more meaning can be extracted from one than the other. Even the banner headings (the red and blue parts of each page) provide a layer of meaning which can be interpreted (it basically says “you are here” at facebook or ReadWriteWeb). Can you discern other layers of meaning from within the pages?33
The next level concerns the pragmatic level with is the way in which the signs and symbols are used. In the context of these pages, we again see differences. One has a ‘use’ as a gateway login, the other as an informational page. One can be used to create a shared understanding of a particular phenomena (in this case, Facebook connect), while the other is used to gain access to a different set of information, particularly personal information.
The next level concerns the pragmatic level with is the way in which the signs and symbols are used. In the context of these pages, we again see differences. One has a ‘use’ as a gateway login, the other as an informational page. One can be used to create a shared understanding of a particular phenomena (in this case, Facebook connect), while the other is used to gain access to a different set of information, particularly personal information.34
The social layer in these cases seems to be the most fraught with problems. Both Facebook and ReadWriteWeb are both ’social’ pages although they have different contexts. What seems to have happened is that many people do not appear to understand the ’social conventions’ of blogs and assume that, somehow, their normal pages have been changed. The same actions have lead to a different result and they experience what we call ‘cognitive dissonance’ because they do not understand what has happened and cannot work out what mistake they have made. Cognitive dissonance (or confusion) is a ’signal’ to you that you have something to learn.
The social layer in these cases seems to be the most fraught with problems. Both Facebook and ReadWriteWeb are both ’social’ pages although they have different contexts. What seems to have happened is that many people do not appear to understand the ’social conventions’ of blogs and assume that, somehow, their normal pages have been changed. The same actions have lead to a different result and they experience what we call ‘cognitive dissonance’ because they do not understand what has happened and cannot work out what mistake they have made. Cognitive dissonance (or confusion) is a ’signal’ to you that you have something to learn.35
So, communication is very important. There is much more to be learnt from reading the text book, but I hope you gain an extra layer of understanding from this.
So, communication is very important. There is much more to be learnt from reading the text book, but I hope you gain an extra layer of understanding from this.
What do you mean by Semiotics?