Evolving Communications Landscape

Haddon has in this article taken a closer look at four issues related to ‘the evolving communications landscape’. To begin with he looks at what could be regarded as communication practice and then moves on to look at how that some of the practices are a continuity of pre-existing techniques. He follows this with exploring what factors shape the choice among communication alternatives and finishes by contemplating long term alteration that some make to their communication selection.

Haddon looks at the communication- related practice beyond the actual act of communicating itself also includes the way we control the communication device or platform. Haddon’s description of practice include manipulation of communication, this can be involve changing of status on various of chatting software’s to ‘offline’ or storage of a script of a communication. With this Haddon indicates that communication –related practices operate beyond the act of ‘live’ chatting.

The second issue Haddon studies are the continuities between media, where he reveals that a seemingly ‘new’ and revolutionary practice of a new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be a extension of a earlier practice. This can be seen in practices as sending an e-card for birthdays instead of sending a traditional birthday card with ‘snail’ mail or using Skype to speak and see (with webcam) family abroad instead of calling with fixed line telephone.

Furthermore, Haddon explores what factors are in play, in the process of choice between communication selections. Haddon states that there are many factors that influence the selection, among these factors we can find quality, economical (financial cost), technological forms and capabilities (plays music and video, storage, and other features). However, Haddon points out that there are also sociological factors that can have a impact on the choice, like disturbance of public place by calling someone with mobile phone, can lead to the choice of sending a text message instead.

In the end Haddon deals with the issue of long term alteration that occurs in some peoples communication selection. Here Haddon indicates that such alteration can be caused by factors such as change in household (arrival of a new family member), changes in the communication practices in a social network (entering young adulthood) or wider societal changes (health issues related to mobile phone usage).

Haddon has attempted to reveal future patterns by looking at current and historical patterns, it is far less complicated to recognize patterns I retrospect, however as Haddon draws attention to the fact that ‘small changes in practice escape the research eye, it is difficult to say how much of the pattern that did emerge could easily have been otherwise’.