Reflection Week 9 – Computer Mediated Communication

            We learned about Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) that week. CMC is defined as “communication that takes place between human beings via the instrumentality of computers." There are two forms of CMC; Synchronous and Asynchronous. What is considered as synchronous CMC is when the communication is real time, and written and oral styles of communication are combined together. Let say, when one is having a real time chat with another person via Yahoo Messenger, he will incorporate both written and oral styles. How? From our own experience using Yahoo Messenger years ago when it was popular, we would put emoticons to show our emotions at that time. When we were happy, we would put smiley face on it. So, the other person we were chatting with would know our mood at that time.

Another example on how CMC incorporate both written and oral form is when we use cryptic language. LOL, ASAP and BTW are example of cryptic language. They are the initial letters appeared in every word. LOL stands for Laughing Out Loud, ASAP (As Soon As Possible) and BTW (By The Way). Cryptic language makes the interaction more fun and easier. People have common knowledge to know what the words mean.

Social Networking Sites (SNS) which have become a medium of communication between people is an example of Asynchronous mode of CMC. A little bit about asynchronous CMC is it is non-real time and once you give a message to someone, he or she might reply to your message later and not instantaneous.

Without realizing, we were already familiar with CMC long before we learned about it in Dr. Rozina’s class.

There were 3 questions asked regarding CMC:

1)       How has CMC transform the dynamics of interaction?

2)      How has this transformation shape society?

  3)      Is this mode of communication in sync with Islam

1)      How has CMC transform the dynamics of interaction?

CMC is very useful in work life. E-mail is one of the examples of asynchronous mode of CMC. Thus, the latest invention of mobile devices in business has given e-mail a new dimension. The main idea of CMC is to facilitate our communication makes lives at work easier. CMC helps one another in physical distance. For example, E-mail is still the most dominant form of CMC. Within a second, people can interact with someone who is in far-distanced which regular mail takes days or even weeks to send the message. Not only that, people can communicate with a friend who is in the end of the globe easily. They can see each other faces while texting. In fact, CMC also aids in time- consuming, for example, through WhatsApp Messenger, people can communicate with each other at any time without troubling to meet each other. Furthermore, people can re-read their messages all over again in communicating with CMC especially students. They can do group work easily through WhatsApp Messenger and exchanging their opinions.

2)      How has this transformation shape society?

The existence of CMC makes a big transformation in shaping the society. Since e-mail is verified to be very useful in the exchange of documents, it has also become more common to deliver feedback on these documents. Feedback messages are mostly ambiguous because they have an objective, critical component, but also a motivational component in the form of constructive feedback. In organizations, feedback is deliberated as a first step to improvement and personal development. This makes it as an important resource to fuel up our motivation at work. In fact, the feedback can also suggest a new idea to innovate and solve the existing problems.

3)      Is this mode of communication in sync with Islam?

Yes, CMC is synchronized with Islam. This is because CMC can be a way for Muslims to spread the da’wah, words of Allah. People nowadays prefer to look up on the Internet since it provides all the information that people need. Hence, Muslims are able to share the knowledge using CMC.