While the popularization
of the internet may have allowed completely erroneous information to be
broadcast to the masses, it also did some sort of good for rhetoric. It gave
words a power that they had never seen before. The truth is, society`s advance
of technology is the chief factor in the increase of vocal power. The question
is no longer whether to use technology or not, but simply which technology to
use. In the three weeks I have been attending classes here at Gardner-Webb
University, I have already gotten my point across via blog, Word document,
message board, powerpoint presentation, Facebook post, text message, and even
via the latest craze among teenage Iphone users, "snapchat." You see,
we, as communicators, are required (by the nature of what we are trying to say)
to speak to a wide range of audiences. Technology is the means by which we
speak to the precise audience desired.
There are many different
audiences that we speak to, even in everyday life. As far as one-on-one
conversation, there are specific technologies that are best suited to this type
of rhetoric. We use text messaging to informally communicate with our friends.
Honestly, I don't know that my friend would take me seriously if I submitted a
paper or presented a powerpoint to ask about that homework assignment due tomorrow.
Nor would my professor be very happy upon receiving a text containing that
homework assignment. Sometimes, we ponder the motives of those drama queens who
post status updates obviously intended for their guy friend (or
once-guy-friend). Why would they post something intended for a single person on
a social media site? When they post things like, "You`re going to miss me
soon, you yellow-bellied double-crosser!", they have, in reality, mastered
the art of technology choice. They have communicated a message to a multitude
of individuals- I need attention.
The technology of powerpoint has transformed the
assembly, the business meeting, and the classroom alike. By refining a message
into a series of concise points and slides, we have the ability to broadcast
our message to a massive audience with the same ease as if we were presenting
information to a single person. While the smallest, most intimate communication
is adequately supported with the text message, the other end of the spectrum is
supported by our friend the power point presentation. And it is effective.
Thanks to our friends like the blog, powerpoint, and Facebook post, we can
literally go tell the world.
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