Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC)

Computer conferencing is based on the premise that the introduction of a computer as the host for asynchronous group communications allows the tailoring of both the protocols of communication and the structure of the underlying group process, in order to improve the ability of humans to communicate.

It is mathematically clear that groups of more than five to nine people who have basic keyboarding skills can exchange more information in writing than in verbal communication, given equal investments in time for the individuals involved. With today's technology, the added introduction of graphical and multimediabased digital information further increases the efficiency of group communications conducted through the computer. However, the ultimate goal of this form of group communications is not efficiency of communication, but rather the development ...