ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

Advancing frontiers of knowledge in electronics, computers, information technology and integrated networking with telecommunication technology have had a profound impact on written communication. Several new methodologies that support written communication directly have become commonplace.
Word processing has automated the transformation of ideas into a readable form where text in words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs are manipulated, formats and fonts can be changed and text/data can be deleted, added, moved around to enhance the presentation of written/printed letters, circulars and memos.
Electronic mail, although the one-way flow of information, has speeded up communication to the remotest corner of the globe instantaneously. Features like electronic bulletin boards, registered mail, private mail, and mail distribution have enhanced access of individuals, groups, and organizations through the Internet by paying a small fee. With mobile telephony becoming popular, Short Messaging Service (SMS) is becoming popular for many business transactions notably in banking, financial institutions, and other industries.
Electronic meeting systems covering audio conferencing, computer conferencing and video-audio conferencing ably supported by email, Teletext, etc have reduced time and money spent in traveling, hotel and other expenses enabling business executives to become more efficient and effective. Use of web cameras and instant chatting facilities are making one-to-one communication across regions, countries, and continents almost face to face.
The fax machine has been described as a small wonder machine or even a card attached to a computer that can transmit technical, engineering and legal documents instantly and has been credited with speeding up project work in several locations, negotiations in business and international diplomacy.
Teletext and videotext methodologies are spearheading the growth of both business-to-business and business-to-customer electronic commerce. Hypertext has facilitated the inflow of external and competition information from government agencies and merchant „infopreneurs‟ that enable putting together online Executive-Information-System (EIS) for speeding up strategic decision-making and action-taking processes.
Imaging technology has revolutionized the way massive volumes of technical, legal and diplomatic text/data are stored in digital form that can be transmitted rapidly across countries and continents although their lack of admissibility in courts and judiciary requires more advancements to open the floodgates for their wider use.
Optical scanners collect data from product tags, cheques, and other documents and transfer them to computers networks for inventory, sales, and accounting applications.
Availability of cheap desktop publishing facilities in large companies has enhanced the presentation of written documents like bids, purchase orders, delivery advice and transport documents and making a first dazzling impression about the firm.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) has overcome barriers to transmission of text/data among dissimilar hardware and software systems and is becoming a necessary facility much like a telephone and soon business shall reach the stage of „No EDI, No Business‟.
Since their origin in 1999, blogs have caught the imagination of a very number of senders of written communications. Blogs have grown in variety from individual blogs to theme blogs to communities of blogs to meet the needs of individuals, groups, and enterprises.