Social Information Processing theory by Joseph Walthner

This modern theory concerns how people communicate through text or written language alone, especially through internet. Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) is any form of communication done through the computer.

Social Presence theory explains how this kind of communication is different because it lacks the physical embodiment of who you are speaking to. This makes this kind of communication less personal. According to Media Richness theory, depending on what medium is used, communication can be limited and varied.

Walthner describes the difference of face-to-face communication from CMC like the difference between a gulp and a sip. Picture two glasses with the same amount of water, one is drank directly while this other is sipped through a straw. Face-to-face communication is like a gulp because it takes it all in one go, verbal and non-vernal interaction. CMC is like a sip because of the limited way of communication and takes longer.

There are two major differences between them that affect communication.
· Lack of verbal cues because they can’t be used, thus user must be more creative with the way they communicate to one another effectively.
· Needing more time because it takes longer to type than to say something.

One interesting thing that is observed during CMC is that at times it can be more effective that actually talking to someone face to face. Due to the limits it has to communicate, users need to be more forthcoming with what they want to talk about. It’s difficult to beat around the bush when you’re chatting with someone. It was concluded that CMC followed four important parts.

· Sender: which is concerned of presenting themselves as best as they can to attract another user.
· Receiver: another person who you can talk to about something you are both interested in.
· Channel: having a fixed date and/or time or exchange contact info to chat again.
· Feed-back: due to the first part of presenting the best image of oneself, the other person gets a mental image of the one they are talking to. Though they have never met in real life, it gives them the impression of knowing who they are chatting with.