5.1 What technology should be used and how?
Why do you need the technology you use to help you function? There are four main reasons:
- To know what is happening at all times
- To know where individual control fits into the bigger picture
- To get in touch quickly
- To share knowledge and information.
Activity 4 Different tools used for communication
The different tools you might use will depend in part on whether you are working in real time or asynchronously. Have a look at the list of tools below and decide for each tool if it belongs in the synchronous list, the asynchronous list or perhaps both!
- amateur radio
- audio conferencing
- chat rooms
- discussion boards e.g. blogs and wikis
- fax/eFax
- fileshare
- instant messaging
- social networking sites
- telephones of all kinds
- video conferencing – e.g. Skype
- web share
- whiteboards
| Synchronous working (real time) | Asynchronous working (not at the same time) |
|---|---|
Discussion
| Synchronous working (real time) | Asynchronous working (not at the same time) |
|---|---|
| instant messaging | discussion boards, e.g. blogs and wikis |
| whiteboard | file Share |
| audio conferencing | web share |
| chat rooms | social networking sites |
| video conferencing, e.g. Skype | fax/eFax |
| telephones of all kinds | |
| amateur radio | |
| fax/eFax |
Which of these types of technology have you used? You may not be familiar with all of these tools or there may be some that you use which are not reflected here. Make a note in the workbook for this week those that you have used in your work or social life, as well as those you are not familiar with.
You should also note the terms which you are unfamiliar with, find out what these mean and record the definitions in the notes page in the workbook for this weekas well.
Finally, are there any tools here that you feel you would like to be able to use? Make a note in the workbook of any tools that you would like to explore further and find out more about.