COMMUNICATION

AIDS AND
STRATEGIES USING
TOOLS OF
TECHNOLOGY
 Communication Aids
• A communication aid is anything that
helps an individual communicate more
effectively with those around them. This
could range from a simple letter board to
a more sophisticated piece of electronic
equipment. (bbc.co.uk/accessibility,
March 2009)
 Types of Communication Technology
By Anthony Szpak
Since the end of the 19th century, the way
people communicate has been completely
transformed. No longer beholden to pen and
parchment, people can now deliver massive
amounts of data with the push of a button. New
communication technologies have connected
not only people but also businesses, changing
the way people interact on a daily basis.
 Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell revolutionized the way people
communicate with his patent on the telephone in 1876. These
advancements have also allowed for the transition from
landlines to wireless, freeing people to communicate from
remote locations. All over the world, millions of people can talk
to each other, expanding businesses and improving relationships
that might not otherwise have survived across long distances.
Telephones also allow for instant communication, and new
technology integrates video and Internet.
The first telephones, as well as their modern counterparts,
consist of a ringer, transmitter, dialer, switch hook, power source
and anti-sidetone circuit, all of which have been advanced by
new technology.
 Radio
In 1906, Reginald Fessenden, creator of the first
sophisticated radio transmitter, expanding on the
ideas of Guglielmo Marconi, sent music and speech
across the airwaves. This invention of the radio
allowed sound and information to be broadcast to
an extremely wide audience. Radio reached its
golden age during the 1920s, and companies
advertised their products to consumers around the
world. During the 1930s radio expanded further
into news, politics, vaudeville routines and sporting
events, broadcasting into millions of homes every
day.
 Television
Television was introduced to the public in 1946, even though
it had been experimented with since the late 1920s. Television
exploded in homes around the world, going from 940,000
households in the beginning to 20 million by 1953. Over the
following decades, television became the predominant source
of communication to a wide audience, and it changed the
political and cultural landscape forever. People were suddenly
able to witness iconic events, such as the first moon landing
and the progression of the civil rights movement.
A major criticism was that television reduced complex events
into simple entertainment, but television was here to stay,
changing the way people received their news.
 Internet
The creation of the Internet allowed computer networks
from around the globe to network with each other, giving
individuals access to an incredible wealth of information.
In 2010, about half of the world's population has access
to the Internet, growing from only 6 percent of the
population in 2000.
Email, social networks, newsgroups and video
transmission have connected the world like never before.
Privacy concerns have arisen with the proliferation of the
Internet, especially with government monitoring and
certain social networking sites, but the Internet has
woven itself into the fabric of society and business. High-
speed connections allow for an immense amount of
information to be transferred in seconds.
 Different types of technology that
people use to communicate
• Email: Messages sent from one person to
another. It is the same as sending a written
letter to a friend except you type an email and
send it to an email address using a computer.

• Mobile Phone: Provides a quick way to write

and send an SMS (text message), an MMS
(picture message) or make a phone call.
 Different types of technology that
people use to communicate
• Chat: Communication between two people
using a computer. The chat appears on the
screen after you have typed it. It is like being
in a room talking to people except that you
are typing your messages on a computer.
• Blogs: Web pages that are like a diary. They
usually have new things put on them each day
by the author who owns the blog.
• Social Networking: A website that can have
profiles of people, blogs, chat and messaging.
 Modern Day Communication tools
by Andra Picincu
• Smartphones
More than 80 percent of internet users own
smartphones. The number of smartphone
users worldwide is expected to reach 2.5
billion by 2019. Depending on your industry,
any of them could be a potential customer.
These communication devices boast cutting-
edge features, such as GPS navigation, voice-
activated virtual assistants, predictive typing
and video calling. Users can also download
apps that further enhance their mobile
experience. They can scan QR codes with
their smartphones, pay their bills on the go
and check the stock market in real time.
• Tablets
Over 30 percent of U.S. households
own at least one tablet. Some use
these modern communication tools
for work. Others watch movies,
access social media and make video
calls on their tablets. Due to their
compact design, these devices can
replace your laptop or computer.
They're portable and have all the
functionalities of a smartphone and
more.
• Laptops
The demand for laptop computers has
decreased over the last few years. In 2015, only
78 percent of Americans under 30 owned a
laptop or desktop PC, compared to 88 percent
who did so in 2010. Today, these communication
tools are used mostly for work.
If you're a blogger or copywriter, doing your
work on a tablet can be difficult. The small
screen may cause eyestrain and affect your
productivity. Additionally, laptops have a larger
storage capacity compared to smartphones and
tablets, letting you save large files and access
them with ease.
• VoIP and Internet Telephony
Nowadays, more and more organizations are carrying voice
communications over the internet. They use Skype and other
platforms to interview potential employees, hold video
conferences and make international calls. These communication
modes are cheaper and more convenient than traditional phone
services.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), has emerged as one of the

most popular communication tools worldwide. Small businesses
can save as much as 75 percent on local calls by switching to
VoIP. Higher productivity, greater flexibility and more efficient
message management are just a few of the benefits linked to this
service.
• Intranet
An intranet is a private network that can be
accessed by authorized users within an
organization. Companies use an intranet to
streamline communication between
employees, share documents and keep them
up-to-date with the latest industry news. This
technology ensures everyone is on the same
page, allowing for more efficient collaboration.
Social Networks and Forums
Social media is widely used by individuals and corporations worldwide.
It has the power to drive business decisions, increase brand awareness
and connect customers with their favorite brands. It's also one of the
most important communication tools, making it easier for brands to
reach their target audience and get their message across.

Companies can harness the power of social media to strengthen their

online presence and improve customer experience. For example,
customers leave valuable feedback on your Facebook business page.
Here you can address their concerns and get better insights into your
audience.

Forums are a valuable communication tool as well. As a business

owner, you can use these platforms to learn more about your
customers' needs and wants. You can also reply to their questions,
recommend products and find ideas for your marketing campaigns.
 Apps for School Communication
by Matthew Linch

Bloomz- free mobile and web app that provides

one-stop solution for teachers and
administrators to effectively communicate with
parents
Parentsquare- Multi-purpose communication
tool promotes parent involvement
Athena’s Workshop- Texting platform for
students, parents; has additional classroom
features
ClassPager- sends basic text reminders and
surveys to students’ cell phones
• MURAL- Message boards that help kids
collaborate
• Engrade- Bring all
stakeholders in
education together
• Goalbook- Allows all of the stakeholders in
education to collaborate
• Glogster- A must have multimedia system for
educational stakeholders
• Celly- An app that tries
to perfect school
communication
• Edmodo- platform that facilitates
communication between educational
stakeholders
• Remind- is a free way
to instantly text
students and parents
from your phone.