Is technology killing the art of conversation? 

This is an ongoing conversation, often discussed by Sherry Turkle (“Alone Together”) and others.  Killing the art of conversation?  Or changing how we interact?  There was a recent article posted on Slate about the Exact Date Telephone Conversations Disappeared which discussed the migration to text and when it happened.  In this article, Steve correctly shares the different types of conversation facilitated by technology.  It seems the big unstated question here is – what do we consider conversation?  I think the most important shift has been from the synchronous to the asynchronous, regardless of modality.  Text, posts, tweets – we don’t have to answer immediately.   We have responses that we can reflect upon (usually) before answering.  How does that change conversation?  In an online discussion, particularly in an online classroom, this is often cited as an advantage to the learner.  I agree.  One who would be reluctant to raise their hand in a classroom would have time to answer a question thoughtfully online.  I would say that technology has changed conversation.  Better?  Worse?  No….just different.

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