Definition
According to Ribble (2011) digital communication “is the electronic exchange of information”. Essentially it is communication that has been encoded electronically to facilitate the transmission for exchange, allowing it to be stored and/ or processed by computers.
1.2 Digital Communication Forms
Over the centuries, communication methods and forms have evolved. In prehistoric days, communication revolved around sounds and paintings on cave walls to depict stories. In the 19th century, forms of communication were limited to verbal, being face-to-face, and written, in the forms of letters and books. Today we have communication forms ranging from online face-to-face covering vast distances using VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocols), such as Skype, to written communication, be it synchronous, such as instant messaging (IM), or asynchronous, such as email.
The choice of form depends on the purpose of the communication and the audience involved. Furthermore, the language used depends on the context within which it is communicated to the demographics and size of the audience.
The range of choices we have is vast, but before we expand on these we should understand how communication flows. The next section will expand on this model for understanding communication.