Information and Communication Technology

7.3.1 The Communication Process

Basically, however, the process of communication is the same, whatever method is used. This basic process involves the following steps:

1	CREATION	A person has an idea which he wants to communicate
2	ENCODING	he translates this idea in his mind into generally accepted symbols (words, gestures, pictures, etc.)
3	TRANSMISSION	He speakers the words, makes the gestures or shoes the picture, etc.
4	RECEPTION	The communication partner hears the words, sees the gestures or the picture, etc.
5	DECODING	The partner retranslates the symbols he has received into ideas in his own mind
6	FRUITION	The successful outcome of the process results when a new idea is formed in the audience's mind which is identical with the idea that was first encoded.

In all communication, however simple or complex, a sequence similar to this occurs:

This model illustrates that a message (at the mental level), generally in the form of information, organised by a source or sender (the brain of an individual), is encoded and converted into a form (a thought verbalised by being turned into sound waves or words of script). The message then passes through a transmitter (print, film, television) via a suitable channel (air, wire, paper, light) to the person's senses (eyes, eyes, nerve endings) where the message is decoded (within the nervous system, conversion into mental symbols) at he destination (brain of the receiver)

Effective communication depends upon the receiver being active. He reacts by answering, questioning, or performing, mentally or physically. There is then a response or return loop of this cycle, from receiver to sender. This is termed feedback.

Feedback enables the originator to correct omissions and errors in the transmitted message, or to improve the encoding and transmission process, or even to assist the recipient in decoding the message.

One additional element must be added to this communication process: Noise.

Noise is any disturbance that interferes with or interrupts or distorts the transmission of the message. The factor of noise can have a serious impact on the success or failure of communication. Static on a radio broadcast is a simple example of noise. A flashing light can be a distracting "noise" when a person is reading a book. Ambiguous or misleading material in a film can be deemed "noise". Noise can be created internally, within the receiver, to upset satisfactory communication: for example, lack of attention. Even conflicting past experience can be an inhibiting "noise" source. Recall the importance of an individual's background experience which will affect his perception. Noise clouds and masks of information transmitted in varying degrees must be recognised an obstacles to be overcome.