You might have to ask yourself, “What is electronic communication?” when you think of it. In today’s world, almost everyone owns at least one technological device. It is possible to communicate information from any place using a cell phone, a PC, or a laptop. Communication is crucial in a variety of disciplines and enterprises. Fortunately, electronic communication is becoming more widely accepted. People may communicate with anyone using a computer on their cell phones. Time and money are saved by using electronic communication. Text SMS is less expensive than writing a letter. Feedback exchange: Electronic communication enables real-time feedback exchange. As a result, electronic media allows for ideal communication. You can combine many media types—text, pictures, sound, video, and so on into a single message via electronic communications.
As a consequence, you’ll be able to spend considerably more time on meaningful communications that are suited to the needs of your specific audience. The transmitter, communications channel or medium, receiver, and noise are the essential components of an electronic communications system. Analog or digital signals (such as human speech) are fed into the system, processed in electronic circuits for transmission, and then decoded by the receiver. Electronic communications vary from wire communications in that they do not use sound waves to deliver information and cannot be classified as containing a human voice. Telegraph, telex communications, electronic mail, nonvoice digital transmissions, and the portion of video teleconferences that does not entail the hearing of voice or oral noises are included instead.
Electronic Communication Types
Electronic communication includes any forms of communication that are broadcast, communicated, preserved, or viewed via electronic devices such as computers, phones, email, and video. Each, however, has its own set of uses and is better suited to various situations.
Telephone
The telephone is by far the most common and commonly utilized form of electronic communication. People may transmit information orally over the phone in under a minute. The recently built satellite telephone system has given the telecommunications system a new dimension. It is, in most circumstances, the simplest and least expensive method of interacting with people who are separated by a great distance. The development and widespread use of cellular or mobile phones has been an anticipated euphoria for all of us in recent years. It is undeniably gaining popularity.
Telex
Telex is an important communication device in today’s world. A teleprinter is employed in this system to convey information from one location to another through the use of a machine. The teleprinter is made up of two components: a keyboard transmitter and a receiver.
Fax
The use of fax for conveying visual materials such as pictures, diagrams, and illustrations is gradually expanding. In this case, the fax machine is connected to a telephone. The document to be sent is fed into the machine, where it is electronically scanned, and signals are sent to the receiving end, where the receiving machine reproduces an identical copy of the document on a plain sheet of paper.
Tele-Text
Tele-Text is a television-based electronic gadget that broadcasts written messages. When sending information to a large number of people at once, Tele-text is extensively utilized to provide rigorous and succinct information.
Video-Text
Video-text is a type of information collection and storage device. Information is collected through a telecommunication network and broadcast to the public in the same way that tele-text is broadcast.
The risk of losing crucial information is significant, with so many emails flying in and out and no clear prioritization. An E-mail has its merits, even if it isn’t the most efficient mode of business communication, especially in highly collaborative organizations.
Some of the major usefulness include; directions, statistics, and links to online resources are provided, providing quick status updates, attachments to be sent, and providing timely information to an email list, such as a weekly newsletter. But there are issues, too, like how you’re wasting time going through your inbox, filtering junk mail from high-priority messages, and digging for conversation strings if you don’t have an effective email organization strategy in place.
Instant Messaging
The real-time or instantaneous delivery of messages via the internet, an internal network, or a server is referred to as “instant messaging” (IM). Slack and Facebook Messenger, for example, decrease, and in some cases, eliminate, the needless and time-consuming back-and-forth of phone conversations and emails. You can also use instant messaging to raise and fix issues that could otherwise go unnoticed for days or weeks.
Chat in Real-Time
Live chat is similar to instant messaging in that users can send messages to one another in real-time. With IM, both parties must be on each other’s “friends” or “connections” list. You don’t have to be friends with someone to use live chat. It’s comparable to live-chat programs on websites that allow users to communicate with a customer support representative. Session-based live chats are also available. Unlike open-ended IM chat, you must start a new session after ending the previous one.
Blogs and Websites
Without a website, potential clients won’t know you’re in business unless they’re familiar with your brand. Most individuals conduct research on a company or product before visiting a store or making a purchase, and they frequently prefer to do so online. Even if you don’t have a personal website, blogging can help you establish yourself as an industry expert if you constantly share information that addresses your audience’s problems.
Text Messaging (SMS)
According to a Pew Research report released recently, 97% of Americans “currently own a cell phone of some kind.” In addition, 85 percent of Americans now own a Smartphone. It is estimated that there will be over 7.5 billion active Smartphone subscriptions in 2026, up from more than 6 billion in 2021. This indicates that organizations that use short message services (SMS) and text messaging for consumer communications will continue to have positive results. It is due to a variety of factors, including:
Due to its convenience, most SMS solutions allow you to use templates for tasks like opt-in confirmation, order or issue resolution confirmation, appointment reminders, and delivery notifications; and it simply takes a few seconds for messages to reach a large number of people.
Voicemail and Phone
It’s easy to forget about the old-school phone system today that most business communication takes place through mobile and desktop apps or cloud-based platforms. Although customer behavior has changed as a result of technology, there is still a need for a personal touch. Voicemail systems have also progressed significantly. Messages left on modern voicemail systems are converted to text (voicemail to text) or emailed (voicemail to email). To make calls, however, you do not need a phone system. Slack features a built-in calling function for making voice calls, which is becoming increasingly common as more audio communications go to the cloud.
Video
Short videos that emphasize the features of a product or service are known as video explainer videos. They’re especially useful for potential consumers who are investigating a product or current customers who are attempting to figure out how one works. Explainer videos can also be used to promote products online. Aside from hosting conferences and conducting meetings, video conferencing platforms can be used for a variety of purposes:
Interviewing job prospects and onboarding new workers are examples of HR and recruitment initiatives. On-demand training and live, instructor-led classes are both available. Remote team-building activities, such as virtual happy hours or personal-fact guessing games can increase employee engagement.
Teleconferencing
A teleconferencing system allows people in various locations to chat or meet over the phone. Everyone in the conference may hear each other and share information as if they were all in the same room. It can help CEOs save both money and time.
Word Processor
A word processor is an electrical device that combines the functions of a computer and a typewriter. It has the potential to make textual communication much easier.
Internet
The internet is the most recent and incredible phenomenon that has altered the way people communicate. It is the world’s largest computer network, with telephone lines, radio links, and satellite links connecting it. The internet can be utilized for a variety of purposes.
Multimedia
Multimedia is a fantastic tool for improving communication systems. Multimedia refers to the use of a variety of media to convey information. Graphics, photos, music, voice, text, and animation are examples of these types of media. When all of these elements are combined on a computer screen, they are referred to be multimedia.
Pros of Electronic Communication
Reduces the amount of time it takes to communicate. Response times for email might range from a few minutes to days or weeks. If you need to connect in real-time, though, video conferencing software is the way to go (or phone or softphone).
Cons of Electronic Communication
There aren’t any nonverbal cues. Nonverbal cues bring context to face-to-face communication. A shrug might be seen as indecisiveness. A frown can be used to express dissatisfaction. And silence could indicate that you have more to explain. You can read the room and change tack if necessary through nonverbal communication. Email communications can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Sarcasm, for example, can be difficult to identify in written communication, especially without the use of emojis.
Electronic Communication Best Practices
Follow these strategies to get the most out of technological communication.
Determine the Most Acceptable Mode of Communication
A website announcement or a news release may be the most effective approach to reach people. Use a chat network like Slack if you need quick responses and work remotely.
Be Aware of Your Target Market
Make sure that tone of your communication is appropriate for the receiver. Being professional is essential when dealing with your supervisor or the CEO. If you’re joking with a coworker, a more casual tone can help to create a more positive work environment.
Keep Your Subject Lines Short and Sweet
One of the fundamentals of good email marketing is to get people’s attention right away because; every day, the average office worker receives about 120 emails. Every day, Americans read their work email for more than three hours. More than a third of emails (35%) are never opened.
Be Succinct
Keep your text messages and chats short and sweet. When sending emails, try to keep the subject line as short as possible and get to the bottom line soon.
Make Sure Your Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling Are Correct
Proofread your message before sending it. Punctuation, spelling, and grammar problems abound in poorly written letters and texts, making them appear unprofessional. Even if you have the opportunity to cancel a message, the time frame is usually only a few seconds.
Be Courteous
Never use offensive words, regardless of the media. A paper trail is created by digital messages. What you send could be seen by anybody. Put nothing in writing that you wouldn’t want others to see.
In a Business, What Is Electronic Communication?
Email is the most common way for businesses to communicate electronically. Electronic business communication takes the form of conference calls. As a means of corporate communication, SMS is progressively gaining traction. Faxes are a type of commercial electronic communication that allows for quick document reproduction.
What Does the Term “Medium” Signify in the Context of Technological Communication?
A medium is a communication conduit or system that sends information (message) between the speaker or writer (sender) and the audience during the communication process (recipient). This phrase is also known as a “channel” in plural form.
In Terms of Education, What Does Electronic Communication Imply?
You will learn to evaluate, debug, repair, maintain, and integrate a wide range of electronic systems and devices in electronic communication courses. You can learn how to use cable and network television, as well as telephones, smartphones, tablets, and a variety of other devices.
What Are Some of the Advantages of Electronic Communication?
The advantages of this communication are limitless. The globe has become one global community thanks to the contribution of electronic communication. This type of communication is convenient and almost always immediate. It eliminates the need to send or fax papers because they can be securely stored online or on portable electronic devices to protect against loss or theft. Global trade and investment operations have gained traction as a result of the rapid progress of electronic communication. Electronic communication is widely regarded as a safe, effective, and efficient method of communication that improves satisfaction, saves time, and reduces workload.
Conclusion
In today’s business and society, electronic communication is critical. It is impossible to imagine modern living and corporate management without electronic communication. It allows several media, including data, images, video, and sound, to be combined into a single message. People can stay in touch with friends and coworkers at all times thanks to devices like cell phones with mobile communication technology and portable laptops. In some ways, modern communication technologies have given us the contemporary world.
