The Impact of New Communication Technologies and Channels on Historically Basic Channels of Communication

This article describes how new communication technologies and channels of communication are impacting historically basic channels of communication. This impact is described as being an incremental and evolutionary process rather than a blunt transition. A main theme stressed is that historically basic channels of communication, strongly grounded in our five senses, are affected through reduced use. But, even though these historically basic channels of communication are used less, the patterns of their usage are still ingrained in us from years of evolutionary development. The new communication technologies and resulting new channels of communication pose a challenge because of their constant change, redefinition and varied application. The posted outlook for the future is that we will continue to evolve with the new communication technologies but still be grounded in more historic basic channels of communication due to thousands of years of emphasis.