Computer Mediated Communication
(CMC)
As humans, we communicate both socially and professionally in our everyday lives. We have taken advantage of the latest technology in order to better assist us in our communication transactions. Whether socially or professionally, we make use of the computer mediated communications to enable to stay in contact with family, friends, coworkers, and business associates around the globe.
Computer Mediated Communications, or CMC, is defined as any communicative transaction or process that allows a user or users to send messages through the use of two or more networked computers in the form of computer-mediated formats such as e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, video conferencing, or list servers. The best known form of computer mediated communications is the internet as this form of communication allows access to all forms of communicative tools. Email has the lowest form of social presence as it mainly involves text. Video conferencing is the highest form of social presence because it involves more of a live interaction among the participants which can include facial expressions and audio options.
In the past, we have always relied on other forms of communication which were a bit slower and not as personable or instantaneous as we are familiar with in today’s technology. We use to rely on face to face encounters, which we still acknowledged as the best means of meeting both socially and professionally. We also relied on letter writing, telegrams, and the telephone system. While times have changes and our forms of communication have improved dramatically, we still have some issues to overcome with our new technological upgrades.
Some believe that the CMC have made communications less personable in regards to the context cues, conversation recordability, rate of exchange, level of formality, and the anonymity of the user. Trust must be present in our new communication endeavors; however, there are some advantages that individuals have noted such as the elimination of anxiety during a business meeting or the absence of trying to make an impression on fellow business associates. Computer mediated communications have allowed us to become more comfortable with ourselves and our services and presentations.
Of the different types of CMC listed above, video conferencing is the most highly sought after because of the ability to have a live interaction with other professionals. Using video conferencing allows one to watch the facial expressions and body language of other participants as well as to provide audio options. Presentations and/or group meetings prefer this method because it is highly effective and makes the size of the group irrelevant at any given location. The cost for this type of mediation is rather minute when you weigh it against the cost of travel times to meetings or trying to rush to get to a business deadline. This can increase productivity as well.
To get started using video conferencing, researching a good provider that will install high speed internet and lines to ensure efficient, fast, and hassle-free communication is a good place to start. These providers usually range from $200 to $1,000 depending on the services that you need. A dependable computer system usually ranges from $500 to $1,000 depending on the brand and the specifications that your company desires. A web-cam can run around $100 depending on the size and capability that you will need and lastly, a tabletop or wireless microphone system which will provide the audio for your conference will range from $150 to $300. This is everything that would be needed for a video conference to be successful and allow any business to conduct a meeting without incurring a lot of travel costs.
Video conferencing would be the choice that I would select to conduct a proper business meeting of any size. With the proper equipment, this would be the most reliable, efficient, and informed type of computer mediated communication that would be presented in real time.

References
Devito, Joseph A. Human Communication: The Basic Course. 9th Edition, New York, Allyn and Bacvon.
Gauntlett, David. The Digital Divide. 2nd Edition, London: Hodder Headline Group, 2004 pp. 185-194.