Can I suggest the loss is the decline in the quality rather than the quantity of human communication?   However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Maybe we just need to turn 180 degrees to look to what history has to offer in order to move ahead…

Pre 1800s, people communicated in the main face to face or by the written word. Experts tell us that we rely on the actual words spoken for only 7% of what we understand, voice modulation and expression 38% and body language 55%.

After the introduction of the telephone in 1876, communication via phone became more and more important.

For this type of communication the words spoken increase in importance to 14% however 86% of phone communication is attributed to voice modulation. We hear the message but of course we can’t see the body language going on at the same time.

By the mid 1980s, email had become an important new means of communicating. The method relied solely on the printed word (Well some of it you couldn’t print, but you get the picture!)

Now texting, instant messaging and twittering use abbreviated words and word strings; and whilst the speed of communication has certainly increased, some would argue that the quality and nature of communication has declined.

Despite the proliferation in communication options, its quality not quantity that really counts – sometimes working out what’s really going on for a person can be even more confusing and difficult to interpret than before.

Perhaps we need to jump back in time to a method of connecting that incorporates both seeing and hearing.

And technology today provides a solution:  real time voice coupled with real time video takes us closer to the pre 1800s of using words spoken, voice expression and body language – in addition these technologies also combine the ability to text or type written communications at the same time as voice and video is streaming.  This is a real advance - the ability to read words as well as hear the language and see body language.

The technology that now allows us to connect by all three methods is transforming the way we communicate in many aspects of our lives. Counselling and support services such as Lifeline are already making use of these technologies to great effect and this is likely to continue – providing another means of delivering support that is tailored to meet the changing needs of our community.