Assignment #12: Back to the Future

On my last blog, I left some heartfelt goodbyes to the blogosphere, but as it turns out, that wasn’t quite my last. So, since I think this blog will really be my last, I’d like to say goodbye to all of you blog readers out there, and extend my thanks to everyone who commented on my blogs. I had a lot of fun reading your comments. I’d like to take a few moments in my final blog to take a look forward, perhaps into a “glass ball” and let you know what I see in store for the future of computer mediated communication.

While this is no easy task, the speculation about the strength of different theories depends on the assumptions of where technology will evolve. I feel the internet will continue to grow in its speed and reach. Soon people will be able to wirelessly connect to the internet wherever they are. Whether it be though cell phones or small portable computers, computer mediated connections (CMC) will continue to grow in number. I personally feel that the video component of CMC will increase as well, leading to more FtF through CMC. This hasn’t happened yet, and has been attributed to people’s desire for anonymity (prefer phone over video on the computer). I feel that as the internet grows, video will become integrated and instead of picking up the phone, one will pick up a videophone and make a call.

Now that I’ve outlined what I see in the future technologically, what implications does this have on the popular theories that discuss CMC? First and foremost, the increase of video use online will lead to a decrease in the ability of the hyperpersonal model. This is because the other person can see about you; the less able one would be to selectively self present themselves. The hyperpersonal model is based on strictly text-based communication and with the shift to video, this model will be lost. If video does begin to grow in usage, I feel that studies that look at the effects of leaving CMC and moving to FtF will become obsolete. If people are interacting via video on the computer, the amount of self presentation will decrease, allowing CMC to almost become an extended form of FtF. Because of this, leaving virtuality will simply be removing the computers, but will in effect be the same as before.

With regards to this year’s class and the topics covered, I feel as if some of the work we looked at was slightly dated. For example, Wallace’s examples using MUD’s were pretty obsolete. While the examples are interesting and add historical context, they are hard to apply to today’s world. I also would have liked to have seen if there were any studies involving people who grew up on the internet and those who did not. I feel that this may become an interesting topic in the future. As a growing percentage of the population grows up using CMC, I wonder if the effects and behaviors with regards to CMC will change. Well, that’s about it for my look into the future. I’ve had a great time with these blogs and thanks again for reading and commenting on mine!