This document defines communication and discusses models of communication. It describes Shannon and Weaver's linear model of communication, Schramm's interactional model, and Barnlund's transactional model. It discusses the importance of nonverbal communication, provides a timeline of communication technology, and examines the effects of technology on communication. Specifically, it notes how computer-mediated communication has evolved from text-based to rich virtual interactions and how language adapts to electronic formats. The document aims to explain fundamental concepts about communication and how communication has changed with technology.

1. Defining
Communication
and CMC
environments
COMM 4320
Michelle Read

2. What is communication?
• Most simply, communication is the providing and/or exchanging of information,
knowledge, etc.
• Communication can be done through symbols, such as pictures, letters, words, etc.,
and verbally and/or visually (e.g. gestures).
• Several models of communication have been created to explain how communication
most often occurs:

3. Shannon & Weaver, 1949
Linear Model
C
h
a
n
n
e
l
Shannon and Weaver (1949) explained
communication in terms of sender, channel (the
device, which could be air) and receiver. The initial
three step process includes the sender codifying
his message, sending the message, and the
receiver then decodifying the message. “Noise”
can be occur during transmission and interfere with
communication. Examples of this one-way model of
communication include lecture, mail, email, text
messaging---any communication in which
immediate feedback is not possible.

4. Schramm, 1954
Interactional Model
First,
C
h
a
n
n
e
l
THEN,
C
h
a
n
n
e
l
The Interactional Model expands upon the basic
linear model, by recognizing that communication
can, and is often, a two-way street—However,
there is still a clear time for sending/receiving. It is
a social interaction. Examples of this type of
model include instant messaging, or a Q/A
session. This model also allows for participants’
environment, individual backgrounds, etc. and
how that might interfere with understanding.
Shared meaning is more likely to occur in the
overlapping areas.

5. Barnlund, 2008
Transactional Model
The transactional model illustrates communication
as a reciprocal process with 2 or more people who
are in a constant give/take process. The channels
might vary (e.g. verbal/nonverbal (gestures)), but
back/forth simultaneous communication is
occurring. Again, individual experience, knowledge
and background is considered and the greatest
shared meaning comes in the overlap. Sometimes
members are so in sync they are finishing each
other’s sentences! Have you ever been thinking
about what you want to add while someone else
was talking? Examples of this type of model include
everyday conversations or video-conferencing.

6. Importance of Non-verbal
communication
• Assumes face-to-face (f2f) communication or video-conferencing.
• Examples: gestures, eye movements, blank stare, facial expressions…
• Particularly during feedback, the recipient is likely giving nonverbal cues
before the sender is finished transmitting. Through feedback, we adapt our
communication based on the response of the receiver. For instance, if you
are talking to someone and they are looking at you with a blank look on
their face, you may think they don’t understand what you are saying. You
may adapt by trying to explain it another way. If they are looking you in the
eye and nodding “yes”, you probably think they understand or agree.

7. Communication Timeline
In the beginning, business had
to be conducted in person, and
then by telegraph and phone.
The modern fax machine
(1970’s) was considered a great
invention! BTW, did you know
that the first wired transmission
of a picture was back in 1846!?
With the development of the
Internet (beginning as early as the
1960’s), by the late 80’s and ‘90s,
we were able to communicate
asynchronously via email. This
was soon followed by other
asynchronous activities such as
wikis, blogs and blog commenting,
and synchronous activities such as
chat.
Today, we can communicate and
collaborate more effectively with
larger numbers of people, both
asynchronously and
synchronously, via tools such as
virtual worlds, Video
conferencing, web conferencing,
document and presentation
collaboration.…

8. Technology on
Communication
• Computer-mediated communication has evolved from textbased interaction to rich virtual interactions as a method of
interpersonal communication. As technology develops, the
concept of CMC continually expands. Although the
technology changes, interactivity remains a key reason why
Internet communication supports interpersonal
communication.
• Behind all Internet communication are people
communicating with each other, either directly or through
software design. Internet interactivity occurs as
interpersonal interactivity, informational interactivity, and
human-computer interaction (HCI)

9. Technology on
communication, cont.
• Today information interactivity transpires through the Web,
which adds a graphical interface to the Internet. The Web
combines elements of informational interactivity with
interpersonal interactivity because increasingly older CMC
genres, such as chat and discussion groups, are being
integrated into Web sites.
• HCI is the way people interact with their computers, and it is
based on human communication and behavior patterns.
Program developers design interfaces to be conversational.
Moreover, technology constantly changes - people often react
to new technologies in the same way they react to new
people.

10. Technology on
communication, cont.
• With the introduction of avatars, virtual spaces and voice recognition
programs, computer interaction is becoming even closer to human
interaction. In the future, it will become increasingly difficult to
distinguish between interpersonal interactivity and HCI on the
Internet.
• Language is the primary way in which people communicate with each
other. Internet characteristics alter the ways in which people use
electronic language. Electronic writing adds graphic markers or
emoticons to compensate for the lack of visual information. As a
result, electronic language alters written correspondence to
communicate more effectively.

11. Discussion
Post responses in the Discussion board.
 Compare exchanges/conversations through a bulletin board or
forum (what we are doing in here) to that of instant messaging
(chat). What are similarities and differences? How does
synchronous versus asynchronous influence the conversation?
Have you had experience with both? Which do you prefer ? Why?
 What nonverbal cues would you look for in f2f situations in
judging whether someone likes you or likes what you are
saying? How do these translate to a computer-mediated
environment? What cues would you look for in judging whether
someone likes you, or what you are saying, in a computermediated environment?