Module 5 Forum

Social Bandwidth:

With the advent of technology, the one on one communication between humans has significantly decreased over the last decade. With more people conversing using the easy and instant mode of communication, the virtual distant between people has reduced.  According to Byron Reeves, “Social Bandwidth: The Importance of Social Issues for Understanding the Effects of High-Bandwidth Interactions “, discusses the categorization of social issues concerning the enhanced bandwidth. Essentially there are 3 categories, first, it will enable easy communication between people, second, it enables the technology that automates the communication between people and third, it will enable new opportunities of communication for people.  There are several other factors which affect these categories such as, the quality of the images being exchanges between the people, the size of these images, the timing and delay between the conversations so on and so forth. (Reeves) 

People, now-a-days are using this platform to have various important interactions. For example, recently, with the pandemic lurking just around us, most of us are stuck at home. I, for one, experienced a slight weakness which got me into panic.  I soon set up an online appointment with my doctor, who asked me various questions and determined, to my utter relief that it is of no concern. Prescribed a couple of over the counter medicines which worked perfectly. This experience would have been quite different, if I had to meet in-person exposing myself to the hospital environment. Social Bandwidth has brought us closer, at the same time, keeping us apart. 

Reference:

Reeves, B. (n.d.). Social Bandwidth : The Importance of Social Issues for Understanding the Effects of High-Bandwidth Interactions. 81-89.