Running head: TECHNOLOGY

Technology Communication in The Workplace

Jessica Ann Torres
University of Kentucky

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2
Technology Communication in The Workplace

Have you ever taken the chance to look at how much technology surrounds you in
your daily routine? From the second you wake up you can roll over to turn off that noisy
alarm clock, to being able to start your car from your home window. So much technology
we hold in the palm of our hands to help our days run as they do. Technology takes part
of our every day routine to help our lives in advancement, which leads us to our
workplace. At the workplace technology plays numerous roles. We have technology that
helps the workplace work as it does. Some workplaces require much more technology
rather than other workplaces that may require less. There are workplaces that are so
advanced in technology to where human interaction is not necessary. One can see already
how much technology has evolved and can only imagine what is to come. Throughout the
years, technology has continued to grow tremendously, yet many can argue whether this
is beneficial or straining for the communication in the workplace.
Evolution of Technology
Technology has advanced in numerous ways throughout the years. The start of
technology developed way back to the development of tools. Gascoigne (2001) states
how some of the earliest tools can be traced back to 2.5 million years ago. One can think
back to the first source of electricity, first telephone, or first car. For example, the first
telephone has a long time line of the advancement it has transformed to today. The
advancement has undergone changes to the use of phones and the looks. Before, having a
telephone was not as essential and many did own not one. As time progressed, almost
every household had a telephone. Today, you can look all around you and find your peers
with a cellphone in their hand. The use of the phone today required much technology to

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advance to

its uses. The

technology

of phones today is

much

depended on

throughout

our days in the

workplace.

The benefits of

such a

http://publications.geauxguard.com/4g-worldcell-phone-evolution/

able to

device is being
carry out business

through a cellular device we once used to only hear a voice.

Then V.S. Now
Today, technology is at the tip of our fingertips. We use technology for almost
every aspect of our day. Due to the advancement of modern technology, the way of life
has evolved tremendously and is constantly continuing to. Samantha Kelly (2013)
explains that technology has replaced many things from paying bills at the post office, to
hand written letters, using a map on a trip, watching a television show on time, to calling
a movie theater to know movie times.
Bills are still paid at the post office but to concise time, bills can be paid through
technology. Today there are websites that allow people to pay their bills over the Internet.
This allows more time for work and family rather than making a stop to the post office.
Although hand-written letters are still written, technology has formed more over for
communication. People are able to communicate faster via text message, email, or a
phone call.
Instead of whipping out a ginormous paper map while traveling, one can just look
at a screen that guides aloud. Navigation systems have developed to connect within cars.

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Many cars are advanced with navigation systems as part of the car. With advancement to
that, many phones have a specialized app for navigation. These navigations are so
advanced to allow one multiple routes for a destination. One is able to know estimated
times to arrive at their destinations. They can go even further in advancement by
notifying what route could come in contact with much traffic. Such advancements can
help simplify travel for work. For example, an employer can send an email to a potential
employer to meet for a discussion lunch. The potential employer can easily arrive at the
destination in a timely manner due to the navigation.
In addition, one no longer has to be at home on the couch to catch the six oclock
news. Cable receivers have advanced to recording at a click of a button. Instead of calling
the local theater for movies times, people can pull out their phone without actually
calling. One can look on the Internet for times or even simply download an app for movie
times locally. Overall, modern technology has helped simplify our every day tasks
benefiting time around our working day.
Modern technology of every day tasks helps play multiple roles in the workplace.
These roles go into many directions such as getting to the workplaces, supplies used at
the workplace, and the workplace as itself. All of the roles technology plays at the
workplace equals to the communication within. Technology in the workplace allows
businesses to expand quickly and efficiently (Scott, S). As mentioned at the beginning,
technology such as alarm clocks can help start our day. One may wake up and check their
email or make a phone call to work.
Disadvantages of Technology

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Although technology plays a huge role in the workplace today, many can argue
how lack of communication is a result. Karehka Ramey (2012) says disadvantages of
technology are job loss and competency. Job loss is happening due to technology growing
so advanced that it has replaced humans (Ramey, K). Many packing firms have
employed
robots on
production
lines to
increase
on
production
and
efficiency,

http://www.hcamag.com/hr-news/ten-workplace-trends-to-expectin-2015-195400.aspx

this is good news for businesses because it helps them make more money and serve
customers in time, but it is bad news to employees because they get replaced by a robot
(Ramey, K). Is this helping us more with the advancement or hurting us due to job loss?
This question continues to float in the air.
The lack of humans in the workplace ties over into lack of communication. Burg
(2013) explains how communication depends more over on technology rather than faceto-face interaction. This makes it difficult for employers to know one another. For
example, rather than walking over across the building to have a discussion, one can just
shoot an email. Technology use has a disadvantage in competency. Karehka Ramey
(2012) mentions how a modern tool we use such as a calculator has lowered our

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creativity. This means rather than taking a couple seconds of using our brain, we type into
a calculator for an instant answer. Many of us are guilty of and maybe this has become an
instinct to depend on. Depending on technology for such minor things leads to the lack of
creativity that our minds are in full reach of.
Advantages of Technology
A new generation of communications technologies are upon us. They are
addressing the new way to work that is permeating workplaces worldwide. Its what
Puskar calls a dynamic, cultural shift in the marketplace (Burg, N). It certainly is
shifting the ways of work. Some may argue that technology increases the communication
in the workplace. A fine example is creating these ideas in the workplace to carry out
such upcoming technology. Ramey (2012) explains how there are many advantages in
technology such as easy access to information, improved communication, convenience of
traveling, improved entertainment, efficiency and productivity, convenience of education,
social networking, and changed in the health industry. The increase of communication
could benefit the workplace in various ways.
Moreover, all of his reasoning can tie into efficient communication in the
workplace. The technology of the Internet holds much of the easy access to information
in just one click. In the workplace, people can use technology such as their cell phone,
laptop/computer, iPads, or other devices. Depending on the workplaces technology
depends on how much communication they use through them. Technology in the
workplace practically eliminates space and time. Video conferencing technology lets
businesses on any part of the globe interact with one another. Technology reduces travel
costs because businesses can set up virtual meetings and distribute data without the need

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to be in the same room (Scott, S). Video conferencing in the workplace can be more
convenient which can allow more communication. Efficiency and productivity through
technology can benefit the communication for example with farming. Farmers can use
certain technology to help their processes in a more advance timing (Ramey, K). Much of
technology goal is to speed up the timing.
Communication through social networking promotes for companies. For example,
a hairstylist can set up an Instagram account showing off all her work. This social
network shows off pictures that promotes her work and allows other to share her work.
This promoting ties into much communication over the social network and will provide
more business.
Countless advancements have gone into technology for the health industry that
allows communication in the workplace. One direction is for better health. With better
health allows a healthier person. A healthier person means one is capable to work more
and allow less sick days. Another direction can go into the technology in the health
industry that gives health providers more care towards their patients. Much technology
can further the communication in workplaces that not only benefit us but everything that
surrounds us as well.
Future Workplace Technology
Today, much technology is continuing to grow. In the future we can only imagine
how much more advanced it can get. The question is how much more advance can we
get? Will this advancement better us or will it hurt us? I believe we depend on technology
so much today that we strive for what is going to be next as if we expect better.
McCallion states how many picture flying cars by 2020 but that is not happening. Could

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we be joining our colleagues in a virtual environment and controlling our devices with
just a wave of the hand instead? Quite possibly (McCallion, J). I believe technology
with the use of touch will most benefit our workplace. The more advanced, the more it
simplifies communication and our workplaces can grow to its fullest.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the history of technology has rapidly grown in the workplace.
Many often debate if this advanced technology benefits or hurts us. There are many
disadvantages and advantages of the technology in the workplace. Our communication
within the workplace is at the touch of a second. When you think about it, there is always
going to be a downfall for just about anything. A fear of mine is how much our word is
going to depend on technology. Elbert Hubbard said, One machine can do the work of
fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man. A solution in
order to help improve our communication along with technology starts with education.
Education is the key to all. Nothing is perfect in our world but the help of technology
certainly helps our communication in the workplace grow.

References

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Burg, N. (2013, December 10). How Technology Has Changed Workplace
Communication. Retrieved March 29, 2015, from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/unify/2013/12/10/how-technology-has-changedworkplace-communication/
Gascoigne, B. (n.d.). HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY. Retrieved March 29, 2015, from
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab11
Kelly, S. (2013, January 22). 50 Things Replaced by Modern Technology. Retrieved
March 28, 2015, from http://mashable.com/2013/01/22/50-things-replacedtechnology/
McCallion, J. (2014, April 14). The future of technology in the workplace. Retrieved
March 28, 2015, from http://innovationatwork.pcpro.co.uk/innovation/92/thefuture-of-technology-in-the-workplace
Ramey, K. (2012, November 6). Modern Technology Advantages And Disadvantages.
Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.useoftechnology.com/moderntechnology-advantages-disadvantages/
Scott, S. (n.d.). Importance of Technology in the Workplace. Retrieved
March 28, 2015, from
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-technologyworkplace-10607.html