How to communicate 1 May 2007

Mark Evans writes about the effects of using technologies like email, VOIP, video conferencing, SMS and IM to communicate, and concludes:

"I do think digital communications is far from perfect, and people who rely extensively on e-mail and SMS today aren't communicating as effectively as they can. Sure, they're communicating but it's communications-lite.

"I'm certainly not suggesting we abandon e-mail and IM, which would be a big mistake because they can be valuable and extremely useful tools. But I do think that we can communicate better, and that stepping away from the keyboard is a good way to start. So rather than e-mail or IM someone, why not meet them for coffee/beer or, at least, give them a call?"