Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Gestures Online
I really do not think gestures can really be translated online, unless it via webcam or ichat or something like that. If no one can see the gestures than the effect is lost. Typing on aim or chats is more like writing and reading a manual or textbook, it is not a normal conversation. Today in class we talked about how 55 percent of communication is non-verbal. Gestures add so much to a conversation, typing cannot show those gestures. Now if by online, you also mean webcam or ichat, then gestures can be translated online, but that is the only way. Even when people type :) or something like that, it is still just typing, not a gesture.
Gestures
In face to face conversation, I generally to not use very many gestures. Yet while texting of instant messaging someone I use them all the time. I use exclamation points to show excitement added with smiley faces. Its pretty funny because when my best friend or I like a guy we will analyze how text messages to that particular person. We debate such things as, should I put another smiley face here or is one enough orshould i use an exclamation point here so he thinks im excited? I know it sounds silly but yes, we really do that. Communication of feeling and or emotions is hard to emote through the computer. Despite that of video chat you cant see someones face and the signs that can tell. All you can go off are words, periods, smiley faces, all caps letters, etc.
Gestures and the Online World
I am the type of person who always uses gestures. When I talk, it is extremely difficult for my hands to stay still; they are constantly waving or pointing or moving in some sort of way. I had a professor once tell me that when I am giving a speech, that these sort of movements can be distracting to the audience. It was very difficult for me not to move my hands. Gestures is one of the ways that I get my point across.
Gestures are lost in the online world. They may have smiley faces and other facial expressions that can be used, but it is not the same. A graphic image may be a way of attempting to convey a gesture. However, when I see these images, I am not picturing someone smiling, laughing, crying, or frowning. All that is translated is the emotion, not the gesture.
Although technology and the online world has its advantages, there are still some things, like gestures, that cannot be replaced with a little icon in a text message or email. One on one conversations between individuals are far more effective and less misconstrued than anything presented in the online world.
Gestures are lost in the online world. They may have smiley faces and other facial expressions that can be used, but it is not the same. A graphic image may be a way of attempting to convey a gesture. However, when I see these images, I am not picturing someone smiling, laughing, crying, or frowning. All that is translated is the emotion, not the gesture.
Although technology and the online world has its advantages, there are still some things, like gestures, that cannot be replaced with a little icon in a text message or email. One on one conversations between individuals are far more effective and less misconstrued than anything presented in the online world.
Gestures in the On-line World
One would assume that gestures, in order to be received, would have to be in person. However, today's high tech society has come up with ways to gesture on-line without the face to face contact.
When texting people can use symbols that emulate actual gestures. For example, one can wink by using a semi colon and a closing parentheses, ;). Another example is the "oh my gosh" face, :0. These kind of gestures are known as emoticons. When emoticons first started coming up I was wondering why people were sending me random punctuation marks. It took me a little while to figure out that they were meant to be faces. There is also the "less the 3" you, <3 u. This means that whoever sent this loves the recipient.
I know that by sending these emoticons helps express emotions and gestures that can be shown by words but they also contribute to the lack of person to person interface. Sometimes the little emoticon things can be a little bit annoying, especially the <3. Just tell the person you love them and get it over with. It means more, I think, when the words are actually spelled out or said in person.
When texting people can use symbols that emulate actual gestures. For example, one can wink by using a semi colon and a closing parentheses, ;). Another example is the "oh my gosh" face, :0. These kind of gestures are known as emoticons. When emoticons first started coming up I was wondering why people were sending me random punctuation marks. It took me a little while to figure out that they were meant to be faces. There is also the "less the 3" you, <3 u. This means that whoever sent this loves the recipient.
I know that by sending these emoticons helps express emotions and gestures that can be shown by words but they also contribute to the lack of person to person interface. Sometimes the little emoticon things can be a little bit annoying, especially the <3. Just tell the person you love them and get it over with. It means more, I think, when the words are actually spelled out or said in person.
Gestures
Gestures translate in the online world with texting images and facial expressions. For example a smile face, a frown, or a heart. This indicates to the reader of the text what the person is feeling in a simple sign. Texting is also used as just giving an emotion without words. A heart for example can say you love something or you’re in love. A smile can say you’re happy or enjoyed something etc. Also saying things in quotations can be construed as a gesture. For example “crossing fingers” or “knock on wood”. The quotations make it seem more like you are doing the action. Especially now with facebook and twitter people tend to use gestures to give a sense of their emotions at the moment. It’s more of a short cut instead of writing out a whole status. So if you are happy, sad, in love, or just ok gestures can be helpful online.
Family Story
In my family we tend to view my brother as someone who is a little crazy. We think this because of the many antics he got up to when he was younger.
When he was about 4 he decided that he wanted to be Tarzan. Our grandmother figured she could leave him in the family watching television and he wouldn't get into trouble, yeah right! The kitchen in our old house was right next to the family room. Our grandma was gone for like 5 minutes and when she went to check on him he was up on the couch with the curtain cord that opens the curtain around his neck. She quickly went over to him untangled the cord and started to yell at him. She asked him why he was playing with the curtain cord and he said, "I wanted to be like Tarzan."
After this incident he tended to get into even more crazy stunts. One time he ended up breaking his arm because he was trying to copy our god brother and myself. We were flipping off the slide and he decided to do it. Now that he has gotten older we still hold the Tarzan story over his head and needless to say he gets a little bit mad. However, now that he is older he has passed his craziness gene onto our youngest cousin who had gotten stitches when he was around 3 and a half from jumping on the bed. Hopefully, there wont be any broken bones.
When he was about 4 he decided that he wanted to be Tarzan. Our grandmother figured she could leave him in the family watching television and he wouldn't get into trouble, yeah right! The kitchen in our old house was right next to the family room. Our grandma was gone for like 5 minutes and when she went to check on him he was up on the couch with the curtain cord that opens the curtain around his neck. She quickly went over to him untangled the cord and started to yell at him. She asked him why he was playing with the curtain cord and he said, "I wanted to be like Tarzan."
After this incident he tended to get into even more crazy stunts. One time he ended up breaking his arm because he was trying to copy our god brother and myself. We were flipping off the slide and he decided to do it. Now that he has gotten older we still hold the Tarzan story over his head and needless to say he gets a little bit mad. However, now that he is older he has passed his craziness gene onto our youngest cousin who had gotten stitches when he was around 3 and a half from jumping on the bed. Hopefully, there wont be any broken bones.
Gesture in the Online World
When it comes to everyday conversation, I use gesture a lot. I use my hands with almost everything I say, usually to hep convey my message or story better or to give more effect (and as the joke goes, the way to keep an Italian from talking is to tie their hands behind their back). In the online world, this is much more difficult. Obviously, being online, no one can see your hands, or even your eyes to try to interpret further meaning in your words. Some people can type gestures, such as smiley faces or different "emotocons." I rarely use these, however, because I don't feel it's quite the same as actual interaction and using actual gesture with people. Overall, yes, gesture is possible in the online world, but it's not as effective, and therefore, less used.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)