No one writes letter anymore. It’s been said that longhand or cursive is no longer taught in grade school. No need for it. People don’t write anymore. As technology defined the late Twentieth Century, we became both closer together and further apart. People had more time for an online chat via the fast growing Internet than they did for a day at the park with a dear friend. That was bad. On the other hand, we connected to people all over the world that we might not otherwise get to enjoy. Today, computer technology constantly changes the way we communicate.
As more and more communication options popped up via the Internet, fewer people kept land lines. The cell phone was all that was needed. While hanging out at home, there was live chat, email, and then social networking. Then came blogs and forums where people could get downright unpleasant. It was hostile and it was joyful. Not so much on the flesh and blood, though.
As digital media takes flight, the grand slam of computer communication has arrived. Skype. It’s free, it’s live, and it’s real face time. Not only can people talk, but they can see each other as they talk. There are even Skype and “skype-like” apps for Smartphones. To an extent, communication has a more human feel again. People can see friends and family a world away and keep very close contact. And leave it to teenagers to figure out how to make Skype the new bedroom powwow. Teenagers simply turn it on and hang out. They may not even be talking to each other, but they know the other person is there.
All computer technology is wonderful and the more access to communication the better. But it will be a shame if the world becomes so shrouded in technology that good old fashioned face to face people skills become a rare art instead of an everyday norm.