Skype

The tool hat I decided to analyze is Skype. Skype bridges the gap of distance with friends and family. You could add the Skype app on anything that have Internet, I have Skype on my phone, ipod and laptop. It is very useful for on the go communication except it is better than just picking up the phone and talking because you get to see who you want to reach. The only downfalls to Skype is that if one of the users does not have good Internet signal the video call may get interrupted.I became a part of the Skype world this Summer and it has been very beneficial. As long as you have Internet you could communicate with your friends around the world with no charge! During my Euro Trip this Summer, the best way to communicate with my parents was through Skype. Having to buy calling cards in a country where you do not even speak the language is difficult, that is why Skype helped speaking to my parents simple. My parents like any other were worried that I was in a different country therefore the fact that were able to see my face on Skype was a relief and made them feel that I was closer to me than they actually were.

Skype is a form of communication that is utilized when you are apart. With Skype you could use text, voice and video. Skype makes it simple for you to share life experiences with people that matter to you.With Skype you could learn a language, hold a meeting,work together.You could use Skype on your phone, computer and TV. With Skype it is easy to find friends. It is also easy to download Skype they also have cheaper prices than a calling card to make phone calls. Skype offers various ways to connect with others; skype to skype, skype to go number, conference calls, online number, video calling, group video calling, screen sharing text messaging, facebook, instant messaging, send files etc. Basically Skype provides a well rounded computer mediated communication.

According to the article by Anabel Quan-Haase, Universty Students, local and distant social ties found that friends were the most important communication partners in a students life. Most of these students used instant messaging as a form of communication and because of high cost cell phone and texting were used less. This is where Skype comes in because you could communicate with someone for free as long as you have Internet and their are many locations that have free wifi. This will help bridge the gap with communicating with those because it is too expense or because they are too far.

I would diasgree with the article of Exploring the Potentials of Computer-mediated Communication, stating that “computer-mediated communication alters the social norms governing conversation by removing elements of emotion and social control.” In form of video calling its not removing emotion if anything it enhances more emotions since although you may not be able to be there for instance for the birth of your grandchild, with a video you will still be able to watch and maintain that same connection. Overall, Skype is a way of “Social networking” you can add friends and call them through video or text. But with Skype you will not know whose friends with who or who you have been chatting with so it keeps it private.