Week 9: Computer Mediated Communication

c u @ *$ 2ml. - No doubt that this looks like a string of profanities. Yet, it is not. More than the hidden message it carries, this string of weird looking characters represents an identity and a whole new language belonging to the advanced IT world today. It says, see you at Starbucks tomorrow, for the less computer-savvy bunch.

While the internet penetration rate is closing to 100% in Singapore, phone penetration rate has already exceeded 100% with some people carrying more than one phone. Indisputably, computer mediated communication (CMC) has become a huge part of many peoples' lives here. Even though some may say they can live without their mobile phones for a day or two, I presume this is stated with the condition that they can still borrow other peoples' gadgets when they need them. I am saying this because I have experienced communication disaster for myself recently. My home wireless and phone have both been down for two days, and already i felt helplessness. I could not imagine if both my internet and mobile line were to be cut off at the same time. It could have been much worse.

Despite the efficiency that CMC brings, it does not come without perils. Some have argued that excessive use of abbreviations, bad grammer and acronyms could cause our command of language to deteriorate. Even though research has shown that most users of different mediums know how to distinguish between when formal language is needed and when informal style is fine, some are still adversely affected. This is especially so in the case of children and teenagers, who are still impressionable. Other common complaints from technology users include frequent miscommunication, mobile anxiety and loss of sleep due to mobile disturbance.

As a frequent patron of CMC, I have experienced most of these myself. Especially through spoken discourse in a written form, such as SMSes, misunderstanding can occur very easily. For example, with the use of the singlish term 'la'. This word is used for emphasis behind a sentence. Sometimes it is used for displaying of annoyance and sometimes insistence. If i complain to a friend about my boyfriend through SMS, her reply can look like this "then u should let him know la. Not complain to me ma..."

I can either take her reply to be a negative respond, if i think the 'la' is uttered as a short and high pitch syllable, or I can also take it as a good advice, if 'la' is a prolonged syllable much like one i'd hear from an elderly. Sometimes, this can be quite confusing.

Without CMC, my world would be totally different today. Can't imagine having no facebook, no emails, no smses, no everything. Even though CMC may be the most convenient source of communication, towards those whom we love, face-to-face communication should still be priority whenever possible. I wouldn't marry anyone whom i've chatted with only through CMC or send my relatives chinese new year greetings through SMSes expecting hongbaos in return. If i only relied on CMC, i can bet i'll still be single in the year 2050 and will never receive my next hongbao ever.