English Language Department

College of Arts and Letters

Bicol University
Legazpi City

First Semester
Academic Year 2020-2021

PROPERTY OF:

__________________________________________________
Name of Student/Course and Year

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

 CHAPTER FIVE

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ABOUT?

The application of technology to further your cause is a challenging undertaking to begin

with. Living in a digital climate requires us to become more sensitive to their uses to be able to say
on track.
In communication, one is now given an array of options by which messages are conveyed.
Several sites and applications can help anyone who would want to present an output in a more
dynamic way by virtue of colors, images, animations, templates and so on.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

1. Identify the positive and negative dimensions of the use of technology in

communication;
2. Demonstrate your knowledge about the use of social media in Asia and in the rest of
the world;
3. Convey an idea or deliver a message for a variety of audiences using the most
appropriate technological tool;
4. Determine the applications/software that aid one in developing materials for
communication;
5. Apply the techniques in manipulating the applications;
6. Evaluate the impact of technology upon various modes of communication;
7. Create materials through applications/software identified; and
8. Deliver a message for a variety of audiences using the most appropriate technological
tool.

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

LESSON 1: MEDIATED COMMUNICATION
LET’S READ!

MEDIATED COMMUNICATION
In contrary to face-to-face communication, Mediated Communication refers to a communications that
happens using the technological tools of Information and Communication Technology as a mode of
exchanging information to one person or another. These include the following;
Video communication is achieved by using Web cameras to connect two or more parties. This is
the next- best communication option after face-to-face, as you get most of the same benefits.
However, there is always the possibility of bad connections or other technical issues that hinder the
communication. If there are no technical glitches encountered, this could be very effective mode of
communication especially for people separated by distance. For example, you may engage in a
conversation via Skype with you loved ones especially during significant, meaningful or memorable
occasions. This is a convenient communication mode for people how want to reach-out to each other
despite distance.
Audio Communication is a
voice-only form of
communication, such as a
conversation on a telephone. This
is a good instant communication
tool if you catch the person
instead of getting an answering
machine or voice mail, but it does
not have the benefit of allowing
you to see the other person. It is
also more difficult to include more
than two parties. An obvious
down side of this mode is not
being able to see the body
language or cues of the person
you are talking to. However, if
good listening skills is applied, one may detect the tone and rising of intonation or pitch of the voice
which may indicate the feeling or mood of the speaker or listener.
The last mode is text-based communication. Although it can be linked or traced back to the
traditional mode of communication, however, because of the evolution of our communication we
learned to adapt and integrate it to our daily living to address such necessities. Like e-mail, text
messaging and instant messaging and social networking site such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
likewise offer text-based interaction. Text communication includes Internet communication, such as
email, instant messaging and forums, text messaging and printed papers. Text communication does
not have the benefits of audio and video, but it is much easier to distribute information to a large
group of people and save records of the communication.

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

LESSON 2: COMMUNICATION IN SOCIAL MEDIA
LET’S READ!

Social media can be described as the collection of online

platforms that involve sharing and collaborating with an
online community by posting, commenting, and interacting
with one another. The most commonly used social media
platforms today are Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,
LinkedIn, and Snapchat. In the past there are various modes
through which we communicate. These modes took the form
of hand written messages, type written messages, short
telegrams, computer encoded text, as well as the audio and
video conversations. Each mode of communication is distinct
form the other, the ways in which you craft our messages
differ.
Now people can use email, social media, chat messengers, video conferencing, video calls, images,
videos, symbols, diagrams, charts, and emoticons, etc. for the communication. Many things are
wasting our time and we‘re becoming more busy than productive. The debates, questions, viral
communications are not achieving the desired results and conclusions. There are even newer topics
to communicate the next day and we start looking for the next conclusions. If we follow good
communication skills we can use many tools and platform for research and development of nature
including a synergistic development of humans, our environment and natural sources. Technology has
affected communication tremendously, but it is entirely dependent on us how we use it.
Today with the rapid rise and spread of internet connectivity, they old forms of communication have
given way to new forms that make communication easier and faster. The emergence of social media
has created a new avenue for facilitating daily information and communication needs. As technology
grows and expands our range of communication, social media is becoming a vital tool for daily
social interaction. It creates opportunity for people to interact with each other in a way that is both
helpful and essential to socially motivate people. The rapid fire quick communication style that
captivates the millennial and other generation has shifted our conversations from “face-to-face”
instances to “through –the-screen” ones.
Social media and online communication is believed to be having adverse effect on social skills and
communication among adolescents. When social media did not exist and social communication and
interaction were the only way of communication. In the era of technology, social media interactions
now dominates both online and offline conversations. In a society where interacting and over-sharing
is the norm, you are probably more likely to speak to friends and family through electronic devices
than face-to-face. As more generations are born into the social age, social media will continue to
be the favoured communication form among young people. Being able to reach customers, co-
workers and vendors quickly helps improve the efficiency of any business operation. Mobile
technology makes it easy to get or to keep contact information in a mobile device. You can reach
out with questions or updates from anywhere. For example, a manager in the field trying to
determine why an order hasn't arrived can quickly contact his office, supplier and delivery courier
within a few minutes from the offsite location.
Furthermore, technology has reduced the amount of face-to-face interaction or the number of actual
telephone conversations that people have. It is much easier to send a quick text rather than to
engage in a phone call. Although this efficiency is certainly a benefit, there is value to the chit-chat
that's now becoming lost. Relationships are built when a business knows its customer and discovers
opportunities to serve them more effectively through personal interactions.
When the message you convey are not communicated properly and felt guilty of not conveying the
message as it wants to be conveyed feels worse. It is because the effective communication is being
hindered by noise or in other reference, barriers. Some of the barriers that obstructs effective
communication include noise, inappropriate medium, assumptions, emotion, and use of jargons or
technical terms, and poor listening skills. These barriers are categorized into five. Physical,
Psychological, Cultural, Language Used, and Personal.

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

LESSON 3: SOCIAL MEDIA EFFECTS ON COMMUNICATION
LET’S READ!

It’s no surprise that the widespread use of social media for communicating ideas, personal and
professional stories and experiences has had a profound effect on the overall way people
communicate today. Just how has social media affected communication, you ask? In more ways than
you may think! But not all are bad — just look at our list of social media effects on communication.
Around 3 billion people use social media today, which means that 40% of the world uses social
media for communication. It’s no surprise that this widespread use has social media effects on
communication.
11% of adults reported preferring staying home on Facebook than going out on the weekend.
Communication is affected in ways such as personal expression, our expectations of others, and the
way companies communicate with customers.
Exposure to Messaging

 Information Overload - Many people tend to binge on social media, spending hours and
hours scrolling though sites. Ultimately, this may lead to a constant craving of more internet
and more social media consumption. The more people get, the more they want — and it’s
hard to stop the cycle.
 Young People Read News - Social media has made reading the news cool again.
According to Wibbitz, 23% of young users get news from social media, and a
whopping 61% get political news from Facebook. On social media, people share interesting
news they read, and they can follow various news sources’ pages.
 Getting the Full Picture - Stories — a part of Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook — mean
that people get the full picture of an event, activity, or occurrence in someone’s life. We no
longer just get a snapshot of a home-cooked meal, we might see the entire process from
start to finish. This has changed the way people think about what to post — there is much
less thought put into a post when it is a story that will be erased after 24 hours.
 Boredom in Conversation - Here’s a sad social media effect on communication. We are
becoming bored when we have real, in-person conversations. People have such a need for
social media consumption and that instant, colorful feedback only social media can give,
they will often become bored during real conversations, resorting to their phones. This can
lead to a decrease in the quality and number of meaningful conversations.
 Reactions to Non-Verbal, Emotional, and Social Cues - In-person reactions to non-verbal,
emotional, or social cues are changing in that people don’t need to respond to these types
of communication when they are online. This leads to less experience and awareness of
others’ needs based on these types of cues that can only be received from in-person
communication.
Self-Expression

 Sense of Urgency - No one has to wait for longer than a few hours for a response, and
people have come to expect that timeline for conversations. There is so much of a sense of
urgency that people are often anxious if they haven’t heard back from a family member,
friend, or partner in a number of hours.
 Need to Share - Social media has created a feeling among users that they must share
whatever they are doing — from restaurant orders, to concerts, to the books they are
reading. This can be a social media positive effect because people are getting more
exposure to things they might not otherwise, such as new reads. But it can also be a negative
effect as it can urge people to become dependent on posting anything occurring in their
own lives and painting those occurrences as rosier than they truly are.
 How We Value Ourselves - When people see others having a wonderful life, as
represented on social media, they tend to have a negative self-image, and start to devalue
their own ways of life. In addition, there is a feeling of needing to paint an inaccurately
positive and ‘fun’ version of one’s own life which leads to feelings of negativity about one’s
‘real’ life.

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

  Inside Perspective of Afar - One of the positive effects of social media is the ability to get
an intimate view of other cultures and places. With social media, especially on Instagram,
users are able to see what others are doing around the world. People are exposed to travel
ideas, new cultures, and ways of life unlike before.
 Broadcasting Live - Broadcasting live started as a fun, innocent idea to share life’s moments,
but it’s transformed to become a large part of political movements, sharing some dark
aspects of today’s society. The option to post live videos has created an important platform
for serious issues that need to be spoken about.
 Personalized Digital Messages - Both Instagram and Snapchat have popularized the highly
personalized message. People can now completely change their own faces with selfie filters,
or draw pictures to send to friends, and more. Creativity soars, which is a great thing, but
people can start to spend too much time personalizing picture messages.
Communication Style

 Summarized Writing - Starting with the limited character text messaging of the 2000s, and
nowadays with the 140-character tweet, messages have been getting shorter and more
concise. Other areas of communication have adapted for summarized writing as well, such
as in shortened work memos, shortened academic communication between students and
professors, and shortened messages in advertising.
 Abbreviations - The abbreviated style of communicating that became popular when text
messaging started in the 00’s has continued into online conversations. It has also made its
way into traditionally non-abbreviated forms of communication such as spoken language,
email communication, and even academic forms of writing. This has caused concern among
some academics, citing studies that show a causation between “textese” and negative
effects on literacy skills such as writing skills and reading accuracy. Other studies show that
using “textese” has no effect on spelling ability, or correct grammar use.
 Unfiltered Interactions - Social media and internet interactions offer a veil between the
person sending and the person receiving the message. These interactions are no longer face
to face, and this can lead to some unfiltered conversations as people feel they can say
anything with no repercussions.
 GIFs and Emojis - The introduction of using emojis to illustrate a written message or a GIF
to express a reaction may seem fun and innocent, but it is also interfering with our ability to
properly craft a written response. It ends up being too tempting to respond with a small
picture, or a funny moving photo than to use the mind to create a response with words from
scratch.
 Viral Messages - That quick and easy “share” button on so many social media platforms
has led to the phenomenon of “going viral.” Messages, videos, and other content can be
easily shared between platforms with millions of people in a matter of days.
In Business

 Building a Community - By utilizing social media, brands are able to create an entire
community based on their products or services. The use of a particular brand can be integral
to being a part of a certain lifestyle, and social media perpetuates that idea. By being
involved with the right communities, or making your own community out of a brand (such as
Disney), companies are creating the most loyal of customers.
 Brands Are Speaking Directly to Audiences - Companies no longer need to go through
media such as TV stations, magazines, or newspapers to reach consumers. Brands now have
direct access to customers by way of social media — they can now find out exactly the
needs of the customer much faster and respond accordingly.
 Social Media is Changing Traditional Media - Traditional media was such that a brand
would just post an article and it would reach audiences. With social media and the way
information reaches consumers today makes it so that it’s important who is posting or writing
about a product. Influencers, bloggers, and YouTube celebrities can all have a much bigger
impact on getting a product successful in the market.
 Brands Can Have a More Personal Connection with the Media - With social media, brands
have a more personal and long-term connection with journalists. Instead of a one-time phone
call or email for a story or new product information, brands can create relationships with
journalists and get them interested in sharing their stories.

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

  There’s an Opportunity to Coordinate with PR Efforts - Brands can create some
important PR campaigns through social media. Through social media, companies
have an easier time finding influencers to work with, other brands to collaborate
with, and news sources to feed stories to.

TASK #1

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

LESSON 4: FIVE CATEGORIES OF BARRIERS
LET’S READ!

There are many reasons why

interpersonal communications
may fail. In many
communications, the message
may not be received exactly
the way the sender intended
and hence it is important that
the communicator seeks
feedback to check that their
message is clearly understood.
There exist many barriers to
communication and these may
occur at any stage in the
communication process.
Barriers may lead to your message becoming distorted and you therefore risk wasting both time
and/or money by causing confusion and misunderstanding. Effective communication involves
overcoming these barriers and conveying a clear and concise message.
Physical Barrier- this barrier includes the defects in media or the medium for communication,
environment or geographical location, and physical disability like in hearing, vision, or speaking.
Psychological Barrier- it is the manifestations of human behaviour and attitude when communicating.
These are emotions, past experiences or trauma, lacks retention of attention or simply inattentive,
status, and temperament.
Cultural Barrier- include the age and gender of the person, educational background, economic
status quo, popularity, religion, political views, and ethics.
Language Used- as the word posits, it refers to the contributory factor of the diverse language
across the world, dialect, and even its accent or the way the word is uttered. Nonetheless, colloquial
term adds the situation.
Personal Barrier- refers to the poor listening skills, egoistic, interpersonal trust, and ability to
communicate effectively.
For us to be a good communicator, one must develop the effective communications and be able to
identify the barriers in communication. Thus, identifying the purpose of the message and target
audience will give a solid framework and will determine the success of the communication. However,
this cannot be done in just one try, constant practice and developing good communications skills will
improve the way we convey the message to and equip us to converse with the people surrounding
us without any interferences or misunderstanding to both parties.
“Communication may be broadly defined as the process of meaningful interaction among human
beings. More specifically, it is the process by which meanings are perceived and understandings are
reached among human beings.” (D.E. McFarland, 1994).

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

LESSON 5:
TIPS FOR MAKING EFFECTIVE POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS

LET’S READ!

 Use the slide master feature to create a consistent and simple design template. It is fine to
vary the content presentation (i.e., bulleted list, 2-column text, text & image), but be consistent with
other elements such as font, colors, and background.
 Simplify and limit the number of words on each screen. Use key phrases and include only essential
information.
 Limit punctuation and avoid putting words in all capital letters. Empty space on the slide will enhance
readability.
 Use contrasting colors for text and background. Light text on a dark background is best. Patterned
backgrounds can reduce readability of text.
 Avoid the use of flashy transitions such as text fly-ins. These features may seem impressive at first,
but are distracting and get old quickly.
 Overuse of special effects such as animation and sounds may make your presentation “cutesy” and
could negatively impact your credibility.
 Use good quality images that reinforce and complement your message. Ensure that your image
maintains its impact and resolution when projected on a larger screen.
 If you use builds (lines of text appearing each time you click the mouse), have content appear on
the screen in a consistent, simple manner; from the top or left is best. Only “build” screens when
necessary to make your point because builds can slow your presentation.
 Limit the number of slides. Presenters who constantly “flip” to the next slide are likely to lose their
audience. A good rule of thumb is one slide per minute.
 Learn to navigate your presentation in a non-linear fashion. PowerPoint allows the presenter to jump
ahead or back without having to page through all the interim slides.
 Know how to and practice moving forward AND backward within your presentation. Audiences often
ask to see the previous screen again.
 If possible, view your slides on the screen you’ll be using for your presentation. Make sure slides are
readable from the back row seats. Text and graphical images should be large enough to read, but
not so large as to appear “loud.”
 Have a Plan B in the event of technical difficulties. Remember that transparencies and handouts will
not show animation or other special effects.
 Practice with someone who has never seen your presentation. Ask them for honest feedback about
colors, content, and any effects or graphical images you’ve included.
 Do not read from your slides. The content of your slides is for the audience, not for the presenter.
 Do not speak to your slides. Many presenters face the direction of their presentation rather than
their audience.
 Do not apologize for anything in your presentation. If you believe something will be hard to read
or understand, don’t use it.

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

 The Seven Deadly Sins of PowerPoint Presentations (By Joseph Sommerville)
It’s not surprising PowerPoint© slideshows have become the norm for visuals in most business
presentations. Slideshows are quick to produce, easy to update and effective to inject visual interest into
the presentation. However, slideshows can also spell disaster even for experienced presenters. The key
to success is to make certain your slide show is a visual aid and not a visual distraction. For the best
results, avoid these common “seven deadly sins” of PowerPoint© presentations.
1. Slide Transitions and Sound Effects: Transitions and sound effects can become the focus of
attention, which in turn distracts the audience. Worse yet, when a presentation containing several
effects and transitions runs on a computer much slower than the one on which it was created, the
result is a sluggish, almost comical when viewed. Such gimmicks rarely enhance the message you’re
trying to communicate. Unless you are presenting at a science fiction convention, leave out the laser-
guided text! Leave the fade-ins, fade-outs, wipes, blinds, dissolves, checkerboards, cuts, covers and
splits to Hollywood filmmakers. Even “builds” (lines of text appearing each time you click the mouse)
can be distracting. Focus on your message, not the technology.
2. Standard Clipart: Death to screen beans! PowerPoint© is now so widely used the clipart included
with it has become a “visual cliché.” It shows a lack of creativity and a tired adherence to a standard
form. First, make certain that you need graphical images to enhance your message. If you do, use
your own scanned photographs or better-quality graphics from companies such as PhotoDisc
(www.photodisc.com) or Hemera’s Photo Objects (www.hemera.com). Screen captures can add
realism when presenting information about a Website or computer program. Two popular screen
capture programs are Snagit (www.techsmith.com) for Windows and Snapz Pro
(www.ambrosiasw.com) for Macintosh. Both are available as shareware.
3. Presentation Templates: Another visual cliché. Templates force you to fit your original ideas into
someone else’s pre-packaged mold. The templates often contain distracting backgrounds and poor
color combinations. Select a good book on Web graphics and apply the same principles to your
slides. Create your own distinctive look or use your company logo in a corner of the screen.
4. Text-Heavy Slides: Projected slides are a good medium for depicting an idea graphically or
providing an overview. Slides are a poor medium for detail and reading. Avoid paragraphs,
quotations and even complete sentences. Limit your slides to five lines of text and use words and
phrases to make your points. The audience will be able to digest and retain key points more easily.
Don’t use your slides as speaker’s notes or to simply project an outline of your presentation.
5. The “Me” Paradigm: Presenters often scan a table or graphical image directly from their existing
print corporate material and include it in their slide show presentations. The results are almost always
sub-optimal. Print visuals are usually meant to be seen from 8-12 inches rather than viewed from
several feet. Typically, these images are too small, too detailed and too textual for an effective
visual presentation. The same is true for font size; 12 point font is adequate when the text is in front
of you. In a slideshow, aim for a minimum of 40 point font. Remember the audience and move the
circle from “me” to “we.” Make certain all elements of any particular slide are large enough to be
seen easily. Size really does matter.
6. Reading: A verbal presentation should focus on interactive speaking and listening, not reading by
the speaker or the audience. The demands of spoken and written language differ significantly.
Spoken language is shorter, less formal and more direct. Reading text ruins a presentation. A related
point has to do with handouts for the audience. One of your goals as a presenter is to capture and
hold the audience’s attention. If you distribute materials before your presentation, your audience
will be reading the handouts rather than listening to you. Often, parts of an effective presentation
depend on creating suspense to engage the audience. If the audience can read everything you’re
going to say, that element is lost.
7. Faith in Technology: You never know when an equipment malfunction or incompatible interfaces
will force you to give your presentation on another computer. Be prepared by having a back-up!
With it, you can still make last-minute changes. It’s also a good idea to prepare a few color
transparencies of your key slides. In the worst-case scenario, none of the technology works and you
have no visuals to present. You should still be able to give an excellent presentation if you focus on
the message. Always familiarize yourself with the presentation, practice it and be ready to engage
the audience regardless of the technology that is available. It’s almost a lost art.

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

 Fonts

 Select a single sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica. Avoid serif fonts such as Times New
Roman or Palatino because these fonts are sometimes more difficult to read.
 Use no font size smaller than 24 point.
 Use the same font for all your headlines.
 Select a font for body copy and another for headlines.
 Use bold and different sizes of those fonts for captions and subheadings.
 Add a fourth font for page numbers or as a secondary body font for sidebars.
 Don’t use more than four fonts in any one publication.
 Clearly label each screen. Use a larger font (35-45 points) or different color for the title.
 Use larger fonts to indicate importance.
 Use different colors, sizes and styles (e.g., bold) for impact.
 Avoid italicized fonts as these are difficult to read quickly.
 Avoid long sentences.
 Avoid abbreviations and acronyms.
 Limit punctuation marks.
 No more than 6-8 words per line
 For bullet points, use the 6 x 6 Rule. One thought per line with no more than 6 words per
line and no more than 6 lines per slide
 Use dark text on light background or light text on dark background. However, dark
backgrounds sometimes make it difficult for some people to read the text.
 Do not use all caps except for titles.
 Put repeating elements (like page numbers) in the same location on each page of a multi-
page document.
 To test the font, stand six feet from the monitor and see if you can read the slide.

Design and Graphical Images

 Use design templates.

 Standardize position, colors, and styles.
 Include only necessary information.
 Limit the information to essentials.
 Content should be self-evident
 Use colors that contrast and compliment.
 Too many slides can lose your audience.
 Keep the background consistent and subtle.
 Limit the number of transitions used. It is often better to use only one so the audience knows what to
expect.
 Use a single style of dingbat for bullets throughout the page.
 Use the same graphical rule at the top of all pages in a multi-page document.
 Use one or two large images rather than several small images.
 Prioritize images instead of a barrage of images for competing attention.
 Make images all the same size.
 Use the same border.
 Arrange images vertically or horizontally.
 Use only enough text when using charts or graphical images to explain the chart or graph and
clearly label the image.
 Keep the design clean and uncluttered. Leave empty space around the text and graphical images.
 Use quality clipart and use it sparingly. A graphical image should relate to and enhance the topic
of the slide.
 Try to use the same style graphical image throughout the presentation (e.g., cartoon, photographs)
 Limit the number of graphical images on each slide.
 Repetition of an image reinforces the message. Tie the number of copies of an image to the numbers
in your text.
 Resize, recolor, and reverse to turn one image into many. Use duplicates of varying sizes, colors,
and orientations to multiply the usefulness of a single clip art image.
 Make a single image stand out with dramatic contrast. Use color to make a dramatic change to a
single copy of your clip art.
 Check all images on a projection screen before the actual presentation.

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

  Avoid flashy images and noisy animation effects unless it relates directly to the slide.

Color

 Limit the number of colors on a single screen.

 Bright colors make small objects and thin lines stand out. However, some vibrant colors are difficult
to read when projected.
 Use no more than four colors on one chart.
 Check all colors on a projection screen before the actual presentation. Colors may project differently
than what appears on the monitor.

General Presentation

 Plan carefully.
 Do your research.
 Know your audience.
 Time your presentation.
 Speak comfortably and clearly.
 Check the spelling and grammar.
 Do not read the presentation. Practice the presentation so you can speak from bullet points. The text
should be a cue for the presenter rather than a message for the viewer.
 Give a brief overview at the start. Then present the information. Finally review important points.
 It is often more effective to have bulleted points appear one at a time so the audience listens to the
presenter rather than reading the screen.
 Use a wireless mouse or pick up the wired mouse so you can move around as you speak.
 If sound effects are used, wait until the sound has finished to speak.
 If the content is complex, print the slides so the audience can take notes.
 Do not turn your back on the audience. Try to position the monitor so you can speak from it.

Rules that can help us to present a good presentation:

10-20-30
10 slides - 20 minutes - 30 point font
1-6-6
1 main idea - 6 bullet points - 6 words per bullet
7-7
7 lines - 7 words
8P's
Prior preparation prevents poor performance of the person putting on the
presentation.

TASK #2

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

LESSON 6: COMMUNICATION AIDS AND TOOLS
LET’S READ!

Technology has taken over the world in these past decades. Its rapid development has made a huge
impact on each aspect of life — and, yes, communication. But how huge is its impact...in
communication?
What is a Communication Aid?
A communication aid helps an individual to communicate more effectively with people around them.
Communication aids are also referred to as AAC devices. AAC refers to Augmentative and
Alternative Communication, which is defined as,
… A huge range of techniques which support or replace spoken communication. These include gesture,
signing, symbols, word boards, communication boards and books, as well as Voice Output
Communication Aids (VOCAs).
There are two main types of AAC system:
Unaided Communication and Aided Communication.
 Unaided communication does not use additional equipment. Body language, gesture, vocalization,
signing are typically used.
 Aided communication uses equipment, but this ranges from low-tech to high-tech methods, with
pictures and symbols often used instead of, or together with words and with alternative hardware
options available to provide access. Whilst a low-tech method of communication like a simple,
laminated communication book to carry around with a few pages of pictures or symbols would be
a communication aid, the term ‘device’ would only describe a more high-tech solution. An electronic
communication aid can be a dedicated device built for that job, which does nothing else, or it can
be a standard computer running specialist communication aid software as well – this includes Apple
tablets which are increasingly being used to help people communicate.
What Are Communication Strategies?
Communication is the exchange of information between a sender and a receiver. It used to be that
you only had to worry about the way you communicated face-to-face or on paper. Technology has
changed this completely. It is important for people to take into account every aspect of how they
are relaying information. This is where communication strategies come into play. Communication
strategies are the blueprints for how this information will be exchanged.
Types of Communication Strategies
Communication strategies can be verbal, nonverbal, or visual. Integrating all the strategies
together will allow you to see the most success. This allows a business to meet employee needs and
increase workplace knowledge.
 Verbal communication strategies can be broken down into the two categories of written and
oral communication. Written strategies consist of avenues such as e-mail, text, and chat.
Examples that fall into the oral category are phone calls, video chats, and face-to-face
conversation.
 Nonverbal communication strategies consist of mostly visual cues, such as body language, facial
expressions, physical distance between communicators, or the tone of your voice. These cues are
typically not intended. However, it is important to realize the message you are sending.
Otherwise, you may be saying one thing, yet the receiver is hearing another.
 Visual communication strategies can be seen through signs, web pages, and illustrations. These
strategies are used in the workplace to draw attention and provide documentation. Human
resources is required to post certain visuals throughout the workplace to comply with safety laws.

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

 Using Tools of Technology
Multimedia is content that uses a combination of different content forms such as text, audio, images,
animations, video and interactive content. Multimedia contrasts with media that use only rudimentary
computer displays such as text-only or traditional forms of printed or hand-produced material.
 A transparency, also known variously as a view foil, foil, or view graph, is a thin sheet of
transparent flexible material, typically cellulose acetate, onto which figures can be drawn. These
are then placed on an overhead projector for display to an audience. Many companies and
small organizations use a system of projectors and transparencies in meetings and other
groupings of people, though this system is being largely replaced by video projectors and
interactive whiteboards.
 Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display
of moving visual media.
 Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical, mechanical, electronic, or digital inscription
and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound
effects.

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5

GEC-15, PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION Chapter 5