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175-202 Computer Mediated Communication

Computer Mediated CommunicationTopic: people use communications technology creatively to increase the sense of social presence and strength its relationships1. Introduction:Social presence is the degree to which individuals perceive another as a real person and any interaction between the two individual or groups as social relationship(Wood and Smith, 2005). Social relationship also represents connection, cooperation,and mutual dependence and belonging between people. The importance of socialrelationship is helped to create better understandings by enhancing human interactionthrough communication in order to improve the quality of life.Communication plays a key role in improving social interaction. Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) is the process of human communication viacomputers to exchange information and messages. Moreover, communicationtechnology is the design of equipment to process transformation of message betweensenders and receivers via internet and multimedia (Wikipedia, 2001). People usecommunication technologies to enhance and increase communication opportunitieswith different countries, to express self- identity through online blogging and sharelife experiences…etc. The development of communication technology has increasedthe speed of exchanging communication to enhance the social relationship.The aim of this report is to discuss the current researches and views on

howcommunication technologies impact on increase the level of social presence andsocial relationship

. It will be explained more details in several views in culture, self-expression, work experiences in order to identify how communication improve socialrelationship and life.2. Social presence and social relationshipSocial presence is defined a communicator’s sense of awareness of the existenceof an interaction partner in a mediated communication. This is important for the process by which people come to know and think about other persons, their characteristics, qualities and inner states (Short et al., 1976). Moreover, the conceptsof “immediacy (Weinerand Mehrabian, 1968) and 'intimacy' (Argyle and Dean, 1965)are related to social presence. Immediacy identifies as psychological distance and behaviour by nonverbal interaction to others, such as smiling (Weinerand Mehrabian,1968). Intimacy is expressed by verbal and non-verbal behaviour in explaininginterpersonal interaction and is subconsciously maintained in equilibrium at anappropriate level by the interactors (Argyle and Dean, 1965). As a result, immediacy behaviours are used to create and maintain intimacy; immediacy behaviours alsoenhance social presence (Short et al., 1976).

175-202 Computer Mediated Communication

Social relationship is the development of social presence to show the connection between two individuals and groups (Wikipedia, 2001). The need for connection isrecognised in psychological level in interpersonal interaction to determine success inlife and mental health (Adler & Brett, 1998).Communication is an important bridge in connecting and improving socialrelationship. It is the process of information transmission and it represents as a socialinteraction between two agents by sharing a common set of signs/ symbols andcommon languages (

Wikipedia,2001

). Therefore, communication creates a sense of connectedness or feeling of being in touch for social presence.As the increasing development of communication technologies, it creates a newtype of (virtual) social relationship which is different from previous face to facecommunication. For face to face communication, the sense of social presence isguaranteed to get an immediate response. On the other hand, through thecommunication technology that sender may or may not get a response from thereceivers through the mediated communication. However, the communicationtechnologies increase connection methods for people to communication which lead toincrease sense of social presence to promote social relationship. Thus, the increased presence leads to a better person perception (social relationship).3. Communication technologyCommunication technology is the channel to transfer information and messagesfrom senders to receivers through public and private access (Wikipedia, 2001).Communication technologies are commonly viewed as internet (WWW), multimedia(advertising, broadcasting), BBS, e-mail. In addition, there are new channels for communication technology, such as instant messengers (MSN, Yahoo, and SKYPE)and online blogging (Xanga, Facebook) to provide more immediate communicationand express self- feeling. The more instant communication and interaction between people provide greater sense of social presence, for example, video conferencing. It presents direct feedback and response to increase sense of social presence andimprove social relationship as intimacy behaviour. Yet, the immediacy action is moredescribed with e-mail and BBS where the actual action and response is not directlyexpressed; and it may lower the social presence.The increasing uses of new communication technologies create moreopportunities in connection and communication. People have more ways and chancesto express themselves and interact with each other. Overall, the social presence hasincreased and strength its social relationship.4. The impact of CMC and social relationship

175-202 Computer Mediated Communication

4.1 Culture aspect41.1 InternetThe use of communication technology has created connection in socialrelationship for culture development as a global community. The growth of theinternet as an international communication medium raises new issues and challengesfor the standardization or adaptation of international marketing communication.Moreover, it is globally accessible and capable of mass communication (Singh &Baack, 2004). The study of website design represents different cultural values inunderstanding and connecting social relationship.Cultural values have a significant effect on communication in influencing howwe interact and socialize with other members of society. Moreover, cultural valuesrepresent the society’s core beliefs which influences on communication pattern (Singh& Baack, 2004).The design of website is not a strong sense of social presence as there is weak interaction between people as it has no immediate connect between people. However,the different designs and patterns lead to increase understating cultural differences andconnect to social relationship. The four dimensions of cultural categories byHofstede’s typology are collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, power distance andmasculinity (appendix 1). Moreover, the functions of the website (communityrelationships, customers services, information…etc) which has clearly introduced thedetails of cross culture and regional differences applied to Web communication. It provides the internet users with sense of awareness how the cultural differencesthrough website appearance (colour, pictures and outlooks), such as white representdeath in China and Taiwan, yet it means good luck and fortune for Japan. Throughthese different dimensions in designing websites show the cultural differences and provide people with great understanding of the cultures in order to enhance socialrelationships.4.1.2 BloggingIn addition, the case of Polish culture and social relationship are well connectedand improved through CMC. Blogging has received media attention to publish Polish popular culture, the voice and the views of everyday people (Trammell, Tarkowski&Snapp, 2006). It increases the sense of presence which people have immediateresponds and comments on the blogs. Moreover, it is an anonymous action whichincreases willingness for people to express ideas and information. As internet is amass medium which fulfils interpersonal needs, information and social needs(Trammell, Tarkowski &Snapp, 2006). Besides, internet facilitates cross -culturecommunication in common languages and shows social and collaborative aspect of communication (Warschauer, 1998). Moreover, through online blogging, the culture is