The relative ease of communication made possible by modern technology is of doubtful advantage. Do you agree?

Cheam Yen Han 03S18

The world is becoming a smaller place. With the advent of new technology and the increasing affluence of people, geographical barriers are broken down as science and technology in the 20 th century have built vital bridges of communication linking countries and people all over the world. There is no doubt that the relative ease of communication carries many benefits, but it is not without its drawbacks too. Hence the term ‘doubtful advantage' is apt in describing the impact of communication on human lives today.

There is little debate on the advantages that quick communication brings to us today. With cell phones, pagers and Internet access at the click of a mouse, a few seconds is all it takes to get in touch with someone else. To many, this has helped to enhance their social lives as they are able to keep in touch with old friends, as well as overseas pen pals, with relative ease. With handphones, friends can organize outings on the go and remain in contact wherever they are, unlike in the 1970s in Singapore where a fixed phone line at home was already considered a blessing. In Singapore , eight out of ten Singaporeans carry mobile phones, and new numbers are added each month at a staggering rate of thirty to forty thousand a month. It is obvious that Singaporeans view communication as a vital part of their lives, and the day we lose all such means of communication would certainly be a catastrophic one.

Communicating via the Internet is also a boon to modern society. With the Internet, the flow of information is quick and relatively easy, allowing businessmen to carry out transactions, as well as students to carry out research. Sharing of such information is also made possible by online forums and discussions, where meaningful issues are often discussed and people can post their own views aside from seeing that of others'. The e-mail also gives the postman a run for his money, as files, documents and videos can be sent from person to person with great ease, reducing the need for slow and sometimes unreliable hand-delivered mail. It is estimated that four hundred and one million users were connected to the Internet in 2003, and the number is expected to rise. With so many people plugged into cyberspace, quick and easy communication for people from many places is becoming a viable alternative. This is so because as more use the Internet, more service providers will pop up, allowing access even to those from poorer nations and backgrounds. Then, we will truly have a connected world.

There are, though, some drawbacks of easy communication. From the statistics mentioned earlier, it can be deduced that one-fifth of Singaporeans do not own handphones. This segment of the population cites a “loss of privacy” as the main reason for not having cell phones. Indeed, the interconnectivity that cell phones provide has also eroded away our privacy as short messages and phone calls often disrupt and distract. Many complaints of inconsiderate cell phone users in cinemas, theatres and the library frequently plague the forum pages in local newspapers, and mid-nap phone calls offer a rude awakening. The problems mentioned above are merely the tip of the iceberg; many people out there have probably been irritated by the endless messages and calls they receive on their cell phone each day.

Communication has inevitably led to the average white collar employee to indirectly work around the clock. With a handphone, or Internet access at home, employers often e-mail workers at night assigning tasks, informing them of last minute meetings and hence reducing the period of rest an employee will have. Even on weekends or during lunch breaks, a phone call from the boss or clients will lead to these employees having to pull in overtime hours. Even PM Lee Hsien Loong recently commented on how vital the e-mail is to every white collar worker; he checks his e-mail first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Thus, along with the reduction of privacy, rest and relaxation for workers has also diminished as their communication devices merely put them at the receiving end of more work.

Fast and effective communication has also made people lazy. Rather than go out for a drink with friends, why not stay at home and chat via the Internet? Rather than write a long, personal letter with pen and paper, why not type a short e-mail? The tools of communication have indirectly caused an emotional gap between people, as they prefer the quick and emotionless method of communication. Some complain that text messages and e-mail are less personal as it is harder to convey emotions and feelings through mere words. The message put across from one person to another may also be misinterpreted, leading to miscommunication and quarrels.

The abuse of such communication technology is also picking up speed. Sending sweet nothings has never been easier, as unfaithful husbands use text messages to keep in touch with their mistresses, with the possibility of being found out hovering low due to the ease of destroying incriminating evidence on his cell phone. Many firms and Internet companies use spam robots to send large volumes of unsolicited e-mail to users, clogging up their inbox and reducing the efficiency of communication via e-mail. Some conmen obtain mobile phone numbers from service providers and send out deceiving text messages about winning “prizes”, cheating believers of hundreds of dollars. On the other hand, it can be argued that the fault lies with the abusers of communication, and not communication itself.

Even so, the benefits of communication are hard to doubt. The quick two-way transfer of information has enhanced our lives and brought about many changes as well. The drawbacks that communication has, is sufficient to cast a shadow on the benefits that it brings. Fast and effective communication is still a must in the global, as well as local arena, where time waits for no one and keeping up with it requires being connected to everyone else. Doubtful it may be, but necessary and important it certainly is.

An excellent take on the question.

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