COMMUNICATION AND GLOBALIZATION

Globalization is described as a structural phenomenon of increasing interdependence among

various parts of the world, for which the effects of an action feel at a distance has produced a
variety of economic, cultural, and social changes that have shaped the world over the past 50
years. Without doubt this process was favored by development and pervasiveness of digital
technologies, that make the communications faster and the information more easily sharable. 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042812026857
What is the role of communication in globalization?
The importance of communication in globalization is paramount because individuals from
different countries, ethnicities, languages, cultural attitudes and other variations must understand
one another and express themselves to another effectively in order to work together.

Why is effective communication important in globalization?

Business communication is also an important component of globalization because of the multiple
platforms available to convey and receive messages effectively. ... Communication fosters
education, trade and relationships. It also promotes cultural exchange and conflict resolution.
The history of communication is more than just a timeline of events. It is the story of how
technological advances and innovations have revolutionized the world. Communication has been
the driving force behind globalization and economic growth in the last century. Communication
tools have grown exponentially since the birth of the humble telegraph around a century ago,
with the availability of text, voice, pictures and video.
From Telegraph to Social Media

Telegraph was the first form of electrical telecommunication, and dominated the scene through
much of the 19th century. The invention of the telephone in 1876 facilitated the transmission of
text and representation of the human voice.

Advancements in technology and changes in communication generally go hand in hand.

Landlines displaced the telegraph and cell phones replaced landlines. The arrival of the internet
opened new doors of personal communication. E-mails replaced postal mails and social media
took the place of text messages. And the subsequent emergence of Facebook, Instagram, Skype
and Whatsapp is enriching our lives further and making the world more integrated. Push to talk
(PTT) is also gaining immense ground in today’s times. What is push to talk?  PTT is a radio-
like service that allows a cell phone to be used as a walkie-talkie for simple communication, with
the push of a button.

Technology has redefined the way in which media communicates with people. There was a time
when TV, radios and newspapers were the only available media sources. Today, smart phones
and social media have simplified the process of publishing and sharing news. Technology has
also rejuvenated the business environment. It has re-oriented communication between marketers
and customers. Promotional campaigns are hopping onto the internet bandwagon to spread the
word about their business. Digital marketing methods, including SEO, PPC and Google
Adwords, are creating brand awareness and facilitating communication with the target audience.
Technology has altered public relations as companies have to constantly safeguard their online
reputation as one bad news gone viral can do extensive damage within a short time.
Companies are taking the BYOD (Bring your own device) route, and this is making personal
mobile phones and tablets a common sight in workplaces, and turning communication into a
breeze. Employees are working on their own devices, managing tasks from home and
communicating with customers anywhere in the world, leading to enhanced productivity and
greater employee satisfaction. Collaboration has extended beyond the workplace as video
conferencing and screen sharing allows people from all over the world to collaborate in real time.
And a plethora of collaboration tools available today keep the virtual workplace connected and
productive.
A New Reality

Technology holds immense promise to replicate natural conversations and Virtual Reality (VR) /
Augmented Reality (AR) plays an important role in this regard. Although VR has been almost
synonymous with gaming, it basically brings people together in a simulated environment. Such
immersive communication offers possibilities galore; friends can explore holiday plans together,
architects can accompany their clients through virtual designs, and sportspeople can practice
outside a regular session. VR can potentially provide a lifeline for those isolated by age and
illness as well.

Verbal communication has declined dramatically in the past 2 decades due to the birth of email,
texting, Facebook and Twitter. Email was the first form of communication technology. It still
enjoys immense popularity; nearly 200 billion emails are sent out each day and there are three
times as many email accounts as Twitter and Facebook (combined). Email usage has in fact been
bolstered by the arrival of smart phones as people usually carry their phones and do not need to
log into a web browser for accessing email and social media. Texting has also increased
dramatically with the onset of smart phones. More than four billion messages are sent daily
through Facebook, according to techcrunch.com. The use of other social media sites such as
Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn has also skyrocketed in our times. Around 200
million tweets are being transmitted each day, according to dazeinfo.com. And Instagram has
raced in popularity; the app has attracted more than 50 million users till date and more than 5
million photos are uploaded each day, according to dazeinfo.com.