Computer-mediated interaction & its impact

This assignment explores computer-mediated interaction and its impact. It first looks at the history of computer-mediated interaction before discussing its advantages and disadvantages. The essay then critically analyses a number of studies that have been conducted in this area.

The history of computer-mediated interaction can be traced back to the early days of computing when scientists used computers to communicate with each other. One of the earliest examples of this is the CompuServe network, launched in 1969. This was followed by other networks such as Usenet and bulletin board systems (BBS). The development of the World Wide Web in the 1990s led to a new wave of computer-mediated interaction, allowing users to interact with each other using web browsers.

The advantages of computer-mediated interaction include the fact that it is asynchronous, which means that users can communicate with each other without needing to be online at the same time. This allows for more flexible communication, as users can respond to each other at their own convenience. Computer-mediated interaction also offers a greater degree of anonymity than face-to-face interaction, which can benefit users who wish to remain anonymous. In addition, computer-mediated interaction can be conducted over long distances, which makes it possible for people to communicate with each other regardless of their location.

The disadvantages of computer-mediated interaction include the fact that it can lead to social isolation, as users may spend more time communicating with others online than they do offline. In addition, computer-mediated interaction can be less personal than face-to-face interaction, as users cannot see or hear each other. This can make it difficult to build relationships with others online. Finally, computer-mediated interaction is often slower than face-to-face interaction, as users may have to wait for a response from the other person.

Several studies have investigated the impact of computer-mediated interaction on social interactions. One study found that computer-mediated interaction can lead to more self-disclosure than face-to-face interaction (Kraut et al., 1998). Another study found that computer-mediated communication can lead to more negative emotions than face-to-face communication (