In the first edition of this book, we claimed that communication was (and is) ubiquitous. In essence, this means that communication is everywhere. It permeates every aspect of our lives. When we are infants, we communicate with our caregivers by using emotions and simple words like “mommy” and “no.” As children, we learn more complex words and are gradually introduced to more abstract phrases. As teenagers, we are introduced to mediated forms of communication such as telephones and, more recently, mobile phones, social media and the Internet.

It is at this point, as teenagers, where our communication instruction usually stops. We are forced to learn to become modern communicators on our own. Being a modern communicator means being a competent interpersonal communicator (faceto- face relationships) as well as a mass communicator (social media). As mass communicators, strategies for using new applications like texting and social media are learned through trial and error. Today, however, we know that modern communicators must be equipped with the knowledge to communicate successfully in face-to-face and mediated settings.

This book is intended to help fill that need. In the following chapters, we guide you through some of the options available in this new age of lightning fast, computer-mediated communication. We explore strategies for improving your communication skills in interpersonal, small group, and public speaking contexts. Each chapter addresses some of the fundamental principles of effective human communication. We discuss these principles as they have been influenced by technological innovations—influenced by changes of the information age.

The information age is noted for hypertechnological change. This change is global in scope and will modify communication worldwide for decades to come. The broad contexts of the way we communicate interpersonally, in groups, and in public speaking forums have changed in recent years. However, our goal as communicators has stayed the same: to send messages, through the appropriate channels, to receivers, with some desired effect (Lasswell, 1948). We attempt to map the change that communication scholars have observed and offer strategies for navigating these new paths.

This book is first and foremost about human communication. We review the contexts of communication, including formal and informal one-on-one communication, formal and informal small-group communication, and formal public speaking. We address each communication context, keeping in mind that we use new technologies to mediate our interaction with others.