The asynchronous communication is one in which the interaction between people does not occur at the same time. Asynchrony has to do with processes at different times. A letter, which is a means of communication, is written and read at different times. As the etymology of the word says, it is a process "out of time", not synchronized.
Communication is the process by which two or more subjects share, through a medium, a discourse based on common meanings. Now, there is a factor within this mechanism that establishes the type of communication: time. First, it takes two or more individuals willing to share the event.
There must also be a means or an instrument that serves to channel the process. Finally, the content, also considered the discourse, must be composed of elements that the participants of the sociocultural phenomenon understand and share. The last factor has to do with time.
Individuals can share content in real time; that's a synchronous communication. If they don't do it at the same time, the communication is asynchronous. Communication can go from synchronous to asynchronous and vice versa; that characteristic will be granted only by the time in which the interaction occurs.
characteristics
The main characteristic of this type of communication is given by the distance between the interlocutors. The people involved in this type of communication can be in different places, although this type of communication can also occur when the people are physically in the same space.
However, the above feature is not the only one present in an asynchronous communication. Time versatility is also essential. That is, it is not necessary for the participants in the communication to be present at the same time.
There are also messages that are part of a synchronous communication, which over time become asynchronous.
For example, a drawing in the Altamira cave, in Spanish Cantabria, at the time it was drawn was synchronous. It served as a communication element for those who inhabit that space; but over the centuries, it became asynchronous.
Asynchrony has to do with processes at different times. A letter, which is a means of communication, is written and read at different times. As the etymology of the word says, it is a process "out of time", not synchronized.
Types
At present, information and communication technologies (ICT) guide the synchronism or not depending on the technological product in question.
For example, emails are contemporary correspondence. It is very rare for someone to write a letter; Instead, most of us send emails. Using any of the Internet programs you can send any type of material.
A text, a photograph, a graphic, a video and even a sound or audio is sent to another person in your private mailbox. Minutes, hours, days, and even months can pass between the time it is sent and the time the recipient reads it. The two people are not linked in real time.
Other asynchronous products are newsletters, mailing lists with informational materials, web pages and blogs, as well as most social networks.
Even those communication products that are updated every second end up being consulted or consumed in a different time from the one they were created and uploaded to the cloud.
On the other hand, the use of the computer as a tool in educational processes (e-learning) allows the management of asynchronous communication as one of the basic tools for distance training.
Advantage
- Asynchronous communication allows the use according to the user's own time. It is organized at a different pace and need for each person. That is, you can read, think, analyze, write and review before sharing questions, doubts or proposals with other people.
- It allows to face different visions, idiosyncrasies and ways of thinking, when contrasting with individuals from other parts of the world with different cultures.
- It allows to refine the handling of ideas and forces to optimize expressive capacities.
Disadvantages
- If you really want to make effective communication, asynchronicity establishes demands such as perseverance and seriousness in the process. It also requires a high dose of responsibility on the part of the sender as well as the receiver.
- It is difficult to grasp the intentionality of the person with whom you are interacting, because the gestures and facial expressions are not perceived. However, this disadvantage requires further refinement of the ability to interpret grammar turns. Even when it comes to sharing audio, attention must be paid to voice inflections.
- It requires competences and skills in the handling of electronic equipment. Those born under the use of technology costs less than those who must learn it as adults.
The world of asynchronous communication
Currently, contemporary society moves on mediated communication, which uses technological tools to produce and multiply.
From social media to emails, chat rooms, discussion groups to distance education, everyone works on that concept of making the most of each person's time.
The same happens with distance education processes, and the formats used by electronic government or service companies cannot be left out.
Finally, there are the new entertainment services. Through these, films can be purchased to be consumed within the individualized time and space; It is no longer required to be in front of the TV screen at a certain time.
Labor processes are also changing. Many people work from home, in their time and comfort. Businesses need less infrastructure and lower production costs; response times are optimized and there are fewer conflicts.
References
- Bedoya, A. (1997). What is interactivity? Electronic Magazine without paper. com. Recovered at: penta3.ufrgs.br
- Berrocoso, Jesús V. (2002). Tools for synchronous and asynchronous communication. Educate online. Malaga: Aljibe. Recovered at: scholar.google.es
- Cabero Almenara, J., Llorente Cejudo, MDC, & Román Graván, P. (2004). Communication tools in »blended learning». Pixel-Bit. Media and Education Magazine, 23, 27-41. Recovered at: idus.us.es
- Díaz, VM, Urbano, ER, & Berea, GAM (2013). Advantages and disadvantages of online training. Digital Journal of Research in University Teaching, 7 (1), 33-43. Recovered in: magazines.upc.edu.pe
- Rodríguez, VHP (2006). Asynchronous communication in e-Learning: promoting the debate. E-learning practices. Granada: Octaedro Editions, 110-136. Recovered at: scholar.google.es
- Soto, CF, Senra, AIM, & Neira, MCO (2009). Advantages of the use of ICTs in the teaching-learning process from the perspective of Spanish university teachers. EDUTEC. Electronic journal of Educational Technology, (29). Recovered in: edutec.es