The Language Laboratory Software

The language lab has seen ups and downs in the history of its evolution. Ths 60s and 70s witnessed up-rise and sudden decline in its usages.

Digital Education Learning Laboratory, Dept. of English, M.K. Bhavnagar University

To read more on the history of language lab, please click below given links:

•  To read PDF copy of 'TECHNOLOGY IN THE SERVICE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING: THE CASE OF THE LANGUAGE LABORATORY' By Warren B. Roby (John Brown University) - http://www.aect.org/edtech/19.pdf
• Another interesting article on Language Lab:http://www.techknowlogia.org/TKL_active_pages2/CurrentArticles/main.asp?IssueNumber=14&FileType=HTML&ArticleID=339

Now, as we take second stride in the 21st century, we observe that language labs are again in demand. Technology is bringing in innovative changes in language labs and thus (it seems for the time being) languages labs are getting equipped with software which can beat all those reasons which ones failed language labs. Though it will be too early to say that language labs with new software are the 'in thing' and has no problem. It has its own problems of software and hardware. It seems we will have to wait for the dust to settle down and hold our horses for a few more years before pronouncing final verdict.

Here is embedded an interesting presentation by Dr. Kalyan Chattopadhyay and Prof. Dilip Barad on 'How to setup Digital Language Labs as Self Access Centres.

Digital Language Lab - Self Access Center from Dilip Barad

Here is the list of websites of those companies which provide state-of-the-art software for digital language lab (language lab with PCs connected in LAN): (the list will be updated):

1. http://www.languagelab.in/ : 

Orell – Multimedia Language Lab System is developed by one of the top Indian IT solution providers open to domestic as well as international markets. Orell has Marketing and technical support centres in Cochin, Bangalore, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai. (Having technical support is very essential for language labs)

2. http://www.orellsoft.com/ :

ODLL (Orell Digital Language Lab) is a world class language laboratory software that is a seamless integration of state-of-the-art information technology techniques with proven language teaching methodologies and power-packed with an array of comprehensive study materials.

3. http://www.youngindiafilms.in :

Since 1962 Young India Films has been at the forefront of introducing new technology in India, particularly in the education sector. The company was founded to distribute movies for Columbia Pictures, and moved swiftly into education. They were the first to equip schools with overhead projectors, LCD panels and, later, LCD projectors. When language labs first became available, Young India Films introduced them to schools and colleges across India. They now provide the most technologically advanced online language teaching resources on the market.

4. http://www.englishlanguagelabs.com/ :

Clarity English Language Lab is a network based teaching software designed to improve teaching environment in the computer labs. Clarity English Language Lab enables a teacher to remotely control, monitor, broadcast, and assist students in teacher PC directly. With powerful functions and friendly user interface, Clarity English Language Lab not only facilitates the teaching process but also brings fun and efficiency to learning. It has been greatly used in Schools, Colleges, Universities.

5. http://www.lelogiciel.in/ :

Logiciel Software Tech Pvt Ltd is an emerging Software Development Company who are focused in the sector of educational software. Founded in the year 2004 by a group of three enthusiastic IT professionals, the innovative software development company Lelogiciel™ is focused on the dynamic growth markets. The company's comprehensive product line ranges from Digital language Lab,career Lab, Aptitude Lab, English Language lab,Content management system, Library management, Campus management, Online examination and e-learning services.

Head quartered in Kochi, India, Lelogiciel™ team is passionate about graphics and e-learning methodologies. Their prime product ‘Digital Language lab’ is designed to assist students for imparting skills in spoken English.

6. http://www.wilkinz.com/language-lab-software.htm :

Multimedia Language Lab (MLL) Software is a state-of-the-art learning tool pioneered by MLL that enable students to master any language flawlessly and effortlessly. This 100 percent digitized tool enables linguists to maintain constant two-way communication with every student independently and offer precise guidance during sessions even in large classrooms through networked computers from the confines of the instructor's console.

It is a boon for students as it imparts crisp skill sets in learning the nuances of a foreign language accurately with zero distortion. This full-service computerized learning tool is not only cost-effective eliminating the need for cumbersome tape recorders and amplifiers but is also a true value-addition to any language learning facility.

7. http://www.digitallanguagelab.com/ :

The 21st century has witnessed a revolution in the use of Mobile phones, Emails and Internet. It has ushered in a new world where communication has become language plus soft skills. In modern times the personality of a job seeker is not merely by virtue of his IQ. It is done on the basis of his EQ too. That is, the learner should be equipped to understand the subtle, emotional an cultural nuances and react appropriately. Here lies the importance of acquiring proper communication skills. Smart Lab - Language Lab Software System is a technically savvy Language Lab to hone the communicative competence. Smart Lab - Digital Language Lab is a teaching, learning software. Smart Lab make use of intelligible English that both the native and non - natives speakers of English can apprehend quite easily.

8. http://www.etnl.co.in/ :

They call themselves the pioneers and the leaders in Fully Computerised Digital Language Lab. ETNL has

designed copyright protected ETNL Language Lab in the year 2001-2002 and successfully implemented at St. Teresa's College. Now They have got Eight academic years experience in technology based English Language Teaching.

9. http://www.learnsoft.in/ :

LearnSOFT language lab is an instructional technology tool consisting of a source unit that can disseminate audio, audio/visual, and/or written materials to students at individual seats, with a wide variety of potential feedback mechanisms to the Student, Teacher or group of Students in the network. Teacher is the Core part of the LearnSOFT Language Lab. All features are available in Teacher Console.

10. http://www.digital-languagelab.com/ :

LearnSOFT Learning Solutions is a technological breakthrough by Logiciel Software Tech Private Limited for imparting high standards in teaching and learning with aid of ICT ("Information and Communications Technology"). The language lab teacher is provided with content matching world class standards developed by specialists.

11. http://www.globarena.com/ :

Globarena started with the aim of providing Quality Learning Solutions by using state of the art technology, and has created a niche for itself. Whether you are a corporate seeking to improve your employee performance or an educational institution planning to help students to succeed in their careers, their products can make a positive impact to your learning needs in many ways.

(Please note that I do not recommend these software for language lab. I use Globarena Language Lab and Career Lab at our institute. I found it good for elementary level learning English language and soft skills through technology. But for intermediate and higher level of learners, the software requires updation. I have seen demo of Orell and Clarity. They also seemed to be good option for lab. I would suggest to contact sales manager and ask for demo before finalising any of the above software. If the software allows freedom of adding and editing course content, I would firmly recommend to go for it.)

Dilip Barad - DELL, HMP Institute

Booker International 2013 - Goes to Lydia Davis - Short Story Writer

What is Booker International?
The Man Booker International Prize, which is distinct from the Man Booker Prize, is a biennial award given to a living author of any nationality for a body of work, rather than a single title, published in English or generally available in English translation. The prize recognizes an individual’s achievement in fiction.(Source: livemint)

The previous winners include 

• Algerian Ismail Kadare (2005)
• Nigerian Chinua Achebe (2007)
• Canadian Alice Munro (2009), and
• American Philip Roth (2011).

U. R. Ananthamurthy, 80, was contending for the prize alongside Intizar Husain from Pakistan, Aharon Appelfeld from Israel, and dissident writers like Yan Lianke of China and Vladimir Sorokin of Russia among others. He is the first ever Indian to have been nominated for the prize

"If someone asks me 'Where does he live?' should I answer 'Well, right now he is not living he is dying'?

If someone asks me, 'Where does he live?' can I say 'He lives in Vernon Hall'? Or should I say 'He is dying in Vernon Hall'?"

(From: http://www.theshortreview.com/reviews/LydiaDavisCollectedStories.htm)

Isn't it an interesting read? This is Lydia Davis - winner of Man Booker International 2013.

'The Independent' titled this news as "

World's most concise short story writer Lydia Davis wins Booker International Prize 2013" and described her as 

"Lydia Davis, the shortest of all short story writers, whose works can be as brief as a single sentence, has won the fifth Man Booker International Prize."

Doesn't it arouse curiosity to read some of her shortest short stories?

Well, satiate your desire to read her:

(These stories are down-sourced from http://www.conjunctions.com/archives/c24-ld.htm

Five Stories Lydia Davis

THE MICE MICE LIVE IN OUR WALLS but do not trouble our kitchen. We are pleased but cannot understand why they do not come into our kitchen where we have traps set, as they come into the kitchens of our neighbors. Although we are pleased, we are also upset, because the mice behave as though there were something wrong with our kitchen. What makes this even more puzzling is that our house is much less tidy than the houses of our neighbors. There is more food lying about in our kitchen, more crumbs on the counters and filthy scraps of onion kicked against the base of the cabinets. In fact, there is so much loose food in the kitchen I can only think the mice themselves are defeated by it. In a tidy kitchen, it is a challenge for them to find enough food night after night to survive until spring. They patiently hunt and nibble hour after hour until they are satisfied. In our kitchen, however, they are faced with something so out of proportion to their experience that they cannot deal with it. They might venture out a few steps, but soon the overwhelming sights and smells drive them back into their holes, uncomfortable and embarrassed at not being able to scavenge as they should. THE OUTING An outburst of anger near the road, a refusal to speak on the path, a silence in the pine woods, a silence across the old railroad bridge, an attempt to be friendly in the water, a refusal to end the argument on the flat stones, a cry of anger on the steep bank of dirt, a weeping among the bushes. ODD BEHAVIOR You see how circumstances are to blame. I am not really an odd person if I put more and more small pieces of shredded kleenex in my ears and tie a scarf around my head: when I lived alone I had all the silence I needed. FEAR Nearly every morning, a certain woman in our community comes running out of her house with her face white and her overcoat flapping wildly. She cries out, "Emergency, emergency," and one of us runs to her and holds her until her fears are calmed. We know she is making it up; nothing has really happened to her. But we understand, because there is hardly one of us who has not been moved at some time to do just what she has done, and every time, it has taken all our strength, and even the strength of our friends and families too, to quiet us. LOST THINGS They are lost, but also not lost but somewhere in the world. Most of them are small, though two are larger, one a coat and one a dog. Of the small things, one is a certain ring, one a certain button. They are lost from me and where I am, but they are also not gone. They are somewhere else, and they are there to someone else, it may be. But if not there to someone else, the ring is, still, not lost to itself, but there, only not where I am, and the button, too, there, still, only not where I am.

Don't miss to read this review by Tania Hershman

Reviewing the 200 or so stories Lydia Davis' Collected Storiesis a task that feels almost equal to writing a brief summary of the Encyclopaedia Britannica in under 1000 words. I want to comment on every single story, each one of which provoked a reaction in me, is memorable, sharp, different. But that, clearly, is impossible!

Give your comment on her short stories.

The 30 Biggest Myths About Online Learning

This blog post is shared from: 

http://edudemic.com/2013/01/the-30-biggest-myths-about-online-learning/

For as long as eLearning has been around, it has been haunted by the voices of those who aim to criticize its authenticity, viability, and quality. But is it true? Do students of traditional institutions boast more success than those who’ve chosen distance learning?

It’s time for some of these myths to die.

(Click on the above link to read details about these myths: 

1. The technology is unreliable

2. Students don’t get group interaction

3. It puts the teaching profession at risk

4. Students are less likely to finish without a teacher overseeing their work

5. The curriculum is less robust

6. There is no way to measure true learning

7. Distance learning is passive

8. It shelters students from the real world

9. You won’t be taken seriously with a distance learning degree

10. Students miss out on extra-curricular activities

11. It’ll be harder to find a job without the college alumni connections

12. eLearning is impersonal

13. Instructors don’t take distance learning seriously

14. eLearning is for people who are too lazy to go the traditional route

15. eLearning is for people who dropped out of school or couldn’t get into college

16. Distance learning only benefits one type of learning style

17. The technology is too expensive

18. eLearning prevents students from learning how to communicate

19. There are too many real-world distractions to make eLearning effective

20. Students need a top of the line computer

21. eLearners don’t have access to resources that traditional students have

22. eLearning is a trend that will never equal traditional education

23. Colleges haven’t come onboard fully with eLearning because it’s inferior

24. It doesn’t provide real life experience

25. Distance learning looks like a cop out

26. eLearning is not that much cheaper than traditional education because of hidden costs

27. eLearning means more screen time, which is not good for the eyes

28. There’s no way to judge the quality of the eLearning program

29. eLearning is boring

30. eLearning will never become the WAY of education

AN Idea of Utopian state - Rama Rajya

(This post was posted as 'comment' on Facebook under posting of Vacha Dave. Please read the comment to contextualize my views in proper context)

 I am skeptical about such Utopian state - where all is well and all are happy.
Why I believe so because to have such 'super-state' - Rama-Rajya - there should be equality, fraternity and liberty (three watch words of French Renaissance). Well, Equality is a myth. There can never be equality among all living-nonliving beings. All attempts for 'equality' has failed, are failing and will fail - read French Revolution and its outcome, George Orwell's Animal Farm and recent in/actions of United Nations. (UN is blind Dhritrashtra. Isn't it?).Fraternity / Brotherhood is another myth. We can have 'brothers-like-friends', but it is difficult to have friends-like-brothers. It is rare (almost impossible) to find brothers as good friends. read - Bible for Cain and Able, Mahabharat for Kauravas and Pandavas, split in Reliance empire after the death of father... Promod Mahajan's murder.Liberty is yet another myth. Rousseau rightly said - Man is born free, and everywhere he is in shackles. read the political, econolical and social histories of all postcolonial nations - are they really happy after 'liberating' from so called 'raavan-raj of european nations.Thus, all such 'ideologies' which arouse us to crave for oasis are self-contradictory. They are not natural. Yes, i mean it - THEY ARE NOT NATURAL.I am skeptic about what Darwin or Herbert Spencer terms as 'natural'.(this is yet another ideology).Ideologies never work in practical life. If you give freedom of speech to all (even to downtrodden), then Queen of the Rama-Rajya has to live exiled (unhappy) life.
More important is the ideology of 'tolerance'. Are we the Indians not considered as 'soft-people' for being too tolerant? So, if we are tolerant towards 'wickedness' of others, we are considered cowards. And Bhagwat Gita rightly says - its evil to tolerate evil. (Yes, it is very complicated to define 'evil' - one's evil may be other's good).
Well, to conclude this lengthy comment - the answer to why wise-men of the past ages are not able to give - a cook book for super-state is that - to construct super-state is not everyone's cup of tea! And writing book is giving 'theory of living life' - but the yaksha prashna is CAN WE THEORIZE LIFE? Won't it be yet another shackle freedom of human beings?

M.A. English Study Material (Reading Resources) for the Students of External Departmenrt, M. K. Bhavnagar University

Add caption

Dear Friends,

ALERT!There is some technical issues of the website so it is non-functional as of now. We will fix it very soon. Till then, we request you to follow this EVENT page on Facebook to get updates on study material > https://www.facebook.com/events/271293736631800/

or  Click here to access study material.

You can download previous exam question papers and question banks. The reading resources of all papers will be uploaded very soon.
Thank you. 

Please visit www.dilipbarad.com to download study  material / reading resources for M.A. English programme, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar - Gujarat (India).

• M.A. English - Semester 1 and 2 OR Part 1 (for External Dept. students)

You will find syllabus and study material with original texts, links of web resources, research articles etc on course content of Semester 1 and 2 OR Part 1. Click on this link to view the webpage.

Click on the titles of the courses offered under this programme to view specific webpage with study material only on that course. Thereafter, click on the image of the text/unit to visit sub webpage with study material:

All these links may not work. Click here to access study material. 
(Click here to practice online Quizzes)

• The Renaissance Literature
• The NeoClassical Literature
• Literary Theory and Criticism -1
• Indian English Literature - 1 (Pre-Independence)
• The Romantic Literature
• The Victorian Literature
• Literary Theory and Criticism - 2 (The Twentieth Cen Western and Indian Poetics)
• Indian English Literature - 2 (Post-Independence)

All these links may not work. Click here to access study material.

• M.A. English - Semester 3 and 4 OR Part 2 (for External Dept. students)

You will find syllabus and study material with original texts, links of web resources, research articles etc on course content of Semester 3 and 4 OR Part 2. Click on this link to view the webpage.

Click on the titles of the courses offered under this programme to view specific webpage with study material only on that course. Thereafter, click on the image of the text/unit to visit sub webpage with study material:

• The Modernist Literature
• The American Literature
• The Postcolonial Literature
• English Language Teaching - 1 (Basics of Methods and Approaches)
• The New Literature (The Study of Fictions published in 21st Century)
• The African Literature
• Mass Communication and Media Studies: An Introduction
• English Language Teaching - 2 (Literature, Internet and English Language Teaching)

• Question Papers of Previous Exams:

You will be able to download University Question Papers from previous exams on this link

• Question Bank of all Papers:

The Question Bank helps students in preparing study material with focus on specific key areas in the literary text / theory under study. Click here to visit the webpage and download Question Banks. The Question Banks are updated every semester, so keep visiting for latest updates in Question Banks. 

• Online Quizzes

Click here to appear in Online Practice Quizzes 

• Contact Us:

If you face any problem, please feel free to contact us by clicking on this link and filling Online Form. We will reply within no time.

• Feedback:

You are requested to give your 'Feedback' on this 'Content Sharing Website'. Click on this link and fill in Online form. Click submit and wait for 'Thank you' page.

Project Blended Learning 2012

Welcome to Project Blended Learning 2010-20!

Note: Click on the below given web-link to view students' updated ePortfolios / Digital Portfolios

On this site, which is a sort of digital locker of students, you will find records of all curricular, co-curricular and other activities of students of following batches:

1. Batch 2022 - 24 (New . . . Updated on 12 April 2024)
2. Batch 2021 - 23
3. Batch 2020 - 22 
4. Batch 2019 - 21
5. Batch 2018 - 20 
6. Batch 2017 - 19 
7. Batch 2016 - 18 
8. Batch 2015 - 17 
9. Batch 2014 - 16
10. Batch 2013 - 15
11. Batch 2012 - 14
12. Batch 2011 - 13
13. Batch 2010 - 12

The purpose of this site - http://sites.google.com/site/projectblendedlearning2012 :

1. To share action research carried out at Department of English, 

Bhavnagar University (Gujarat - India).

2. To display the projects submitted by students.

3. To present the outcomes of the experiment on Blended Learning.

Project Blended Learning 2012

This site is run by Department of English, Bhavnagar University. The site is designed by Dr. Dilip Barad with specific purpose to organise projects submitted by the students. On this site you will find all the Google Sites submitted by students as a part of the partial fulfilment of continuous internal assessment. The students were supposed to us Blogger for assignments, Slideshare for presentations and YouTube for videos of their presentations.

This project was carried out with dual purpose. Firstly, to fulfil one of the objectives of the UGC to have innovations in teaching - learning with the help ICT integration. Secondly, it was to experiment with blended learning. We wanted to experiment the feasibility of ICT integration with traditional face-to-face teaching method. The google group was used for instructions, sharing, collaboration and build eCommunication among faculty and students. Click on Department of English Google Group or scroll down to read archived communications.

By clicking on the image of a student you will be able to see the work done by her/him during four semesters from June 2010 to April 2012.

The outcome of this project is be available here.
The feedback given by students can be read here.

* These charts displays the percentage variation in B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) and M.A. (Master of Arts). Almost all the students, except for one in each batch, displayed good improvement in thier University examination. These real examinations (and not the faked one like pre-post-tests) are used as substantial proof to prove that students show remarkable improvement in their learning capacities when face to face teaching is blended with technology based learning.
* In the below given chart (Batch 2010-12), we can see that the percentage of only one student decreased as compared to that of BA. The green bars reflects the percentage of MA and blue that of BA.

Advantage Blended Learning (2010-12)
All students improved their performance in real-life University exam

* In the below give chart (Batch 2011-13), again, only one students' percentage decreased in MA as compared to that in BA. The red bars reflect percentage in MA.

Advantage Blended Learning (2011-13)
All students improved their performance in real-life University exam

* In the below give chart (Batch 2012-14), all students' percentage improved in M.A. as compared to that in B.A. The purple bars reflect percentage in MA.

Advantage Blended Learning (2012-14)
All students improved their performance in real-life University exam

Modern Business Communication Tools - Dilip Barad

(This article was published in a book titled Understanding and Developing Effective Communication Skills and Soft Skills edited by Jaydipsinh K. Dodia and Nidhi Tiwari. 

Published by Sarup Books, New Delhi. (ISBN-978-81-7625-755-8)

How to cite this article:

• MLA:

Barad, D. P. "Modern Business Communication Tools." Dodiya, J. K. and Nidhi Tiwari. Understanding and Developing Effective Communication Skills and Soft Skills. New Delhi: Sarup Books, 2011.

• APA:

Barad, D. P. (2011). Modern Business Communication Tools. In J. K. Dodiya, & N. Tiwari, Understanding and Developing Effective Communication Skills and Soft Skills. New Delhi, Delhi, India: Sarup Books.

• Chicago

Barad, D. P. "Modern Business Communication Tools." Chap. Ch. 12 in Understanding and Developing Effective Communication Skills and Soft Skills, by J. K. Dodiya and Nidhi Tiwari. New Delhi, Delhi: Sarup Books, 2011.

Communication has seen drastic changes in last century. The advancement in science and technology has affected the way people communicated with each other on this globe. The change has been felt more over in Business Communication. One of the reasons of effect of technology on Business Communication has been the phenomenon of Globalization. In past two decades, the world has shrunk into a global village. The immeasurable ‘flat-world of pre-Galilean era has become ‘flat- world’ again in Thomas Friedman’s ‘The World is Flat’ but this time it is no longer immeasurable. This new flat world has become small because of modern tools of communication. The laissez –faire has helped in dissolving borders and making globe borderless in its true sense. This phenomenon is felt, if not in all spheres of life, at least in International Business. The global economic policies and Information and Communication Technology have given facelift to the twenty-first century business communication tools. The effect of global economic policies has opened up floodgates for foreign companies to trade with any country on the globe. This was not possible if advancement in technology did not support its communication links. If the communication is the life blood of business, speedy and on-time communication is its breath and finer spirit. Once upon a time it was believed that the communication is to encode message with right signs/symbols, send it and the receiver decodes it to understand the meaning of the message. The nearer the receiver is to the main message, the better is the communication. But now, along with it what is more important is ‘time’ element. How fast and accurately the message is sent is also very important. Thus, the role of modern technology and internet tools becomes vital in business communication.
In the human history, we have seen that man has always communicated. In the pre-historic times, fire & smoke signals, drums sounds etc tools were used for long distance communication. Even when man learnt to draw signs/symbols or to decipher earlier alphabets, he used birds like pigeons, parrots, eagles and animals like horses and camels to communicate. The first of its own kind of technology was invented in form of printing press. Gutenberg’s printing press (c.a. 15th Century) not only brought renaissance to Europe, but it was affected renaissance in business communication of the day. Printing press enabled faster written communication for the traders of the time. The invention of telegraph (c.a. 1837) and telephone (c.a. 1876) was another big leap in the communication history. But it was the twentieth century which witnessed drastic changes in communication as a whole and business communication in particular. The invention of Radio (c.a. 1901) and Television (c.a. 1929) captured the imagination of the twentieth century till the Internet rose on the horizons in 1970s (c.a.). It is internet enabled information and communication technology which has brought revolution in modern business communication.
Today, to imagine a business house without communication links like Email, Chat-applet, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), Fax, Blog, eGroup, smart mobile phone (not only for texting and calling, but also for social networking), website etc is to imagine a life without blood and oxygen. These modern tools have become part and parcel of business setup. The open international economic system has made it essential for all business houses, big or small, to remain connected, round the clock, with the world. And without these tools no business house can afford to win customers.
Let us study these modern business communication tools in detail and see how effectively they can be used for communication. We shall also throw some light on theirs advantages as well as disadvantages.

Website:

Let us start with a website. A dedicated website for business is not only for marketing or sharing information about the business but it also is a strong communication link to connect with the customers. Most business people are still ignorant of the potential power the website brings to their business. It is still underplayed and so people have their websites but most of them are static and archaic. It is rarely updated and few of them care to respond to customers who are trying to contact them through websites. It is surprising to see that very few business houses are reaping the benefits of cost effectiveness of using it as communication tool.

Advantages of Website as business communication tool:

• A dedicated website can help companies in various ways:
o The company can maintain direct contact with the customers.
o Giving customers a choice to select and compare the products and services. This service helps customers in saving their time and just on a click they can compare products and decide to purchase.
o Opening window for ecommerce, wherein customer can buy products/services online. It helps company in saving revenue share of wholesalers, retailers etc and can give extra benefit to customers. It also saves them from duplication of products.
o Instantly solving grievances of the customers, which is very important in the competitive world – it gives winning edge to the company. For this strong feedback mechanism should be available on website. It saves time of customer and company in delayed communication for complaints and adjustments. It also helps wholesaler to solve grievances of retailers, logistics etc kind of stakeholders involved in chain of business cycle.
o Reading minds of customers – for this, space for ‘comments’ by customers should be available on website wherein customer can ‘text’ some message as feedback. This would not cost any extra bucks to company but can help them a lot in improving their products and services. The commenting can be kept under control so it won’t bother company to control unwanted and spam commenter.
o A separate space for employee login can serve several purposes at a time. Say for instances, management can read minds of employee from their login and reading their experience of working with the company. This helps in times of recession and slowdown of turnovers. It also serves the purpose and advantages of ‘grapevine’ communication channel.

Disadvantages of website as communication tool:

• The website as such does not have implicitly visible disadvantages as they are developed as part of online business marketing, yet when such interactive websites are not managed properly, it may have following disadvantages:
o It should always be under the vigilance. Interactive websites should be protected from hackers. The rival companies or porn sites keep attacking websites popular with customers. If company fails to vigil its website, it can mar the brand image of their products.
o There should be personnel always virtually present to reply to customers’ queries and grievances. As website communication is asynchronous, and not synchronous like chatting, the auto-mode of reply to customer’s complaints, queries, comments etc can help but it should be followed by personalized email from the company. Most of the time, delay in such communication forces customers to stay away from websites to communicate with company.
o One of the biggest disadvantages is ignorance of customers in using website for communication. So, companies should design websites which are user-friendly and the communication links are easily visible on the home page and easily accessible to the novice user of internet also.
However, the dedicated website has immense possibilities, capacities and capabilities to converge various communication tools at a time on single platform. Yet the ignorance, negligence and failure on part of companies and customers to understand its capacities does not allow website to flourish as one of the vital modern tools of business communications. But the days of awareness are not far away. Business houses have begun to use websites for various communication purposes. One can see and feel the experience of such websites. For instance, insurance websites are not only giving information related to their products and services, but also allow customer to pay premiums online. Even the news websites gives opportunity to readers to share their views on news through comments. The websites of electronic gadgets are full of innovations which give feeling of seeing products with real eyes, though they are crafted for virtual visual effect. Some such websites are www.nokia.com, www.licindia.com, www.ndtv.com, www.amul.com

Email:

Electronic mail (email) is a letter transmitted using internet technology. The transmission may be between two computers or smart mobile devices which support transmission of data through internet. The beauty of email is its speed of transmission. Now and then, email is compared with traditional mail where in email stands triumphantly ahead because of its speed and cost effectiveness of transmission of information. The email reaches farthest corner of the globe within millisecond. The only condition is that the said corner should be connected through internet. It does not only send text-messages, but also sends images, colourful graphics, audio and video messages (multimedia messages). Emailing is almost free of cost. Today, there are several email service providers like Yahoo, Google, Hotmail, Rediffmail, Indiatimes etc which give unlimited space for storing incoming and outgoing mails, that too, totally free to the users.

Advantages of Email as business communication tool:

• Email is fast in transmitting multimedia messages.
• It saves time and money as it is very economical.
• The communication is written and thus has more legal importance than other electronic communications. The written record of the communication is generated which is very useful in future.
• It is easy to retrieve email communication for future reference.
• It facilitates communication with multiple parties at a time.
• It is most suitable for open international economic system which is characterized by changing business environment, geographically distributed workgroups, extreme mobility and the need of rapid information dissemination.
• Email services are available on smart phones, PDAs, and other such hand-held devices. So, even without computer or laptop, accessing email is easy and user-friendly.

Disadvantages of Email:

• Emails, if not used over personalized web space, are like post-cards, any body can read it. The free email service providers do not guarantee secrecy of the messages transmitted over emails. Thus, it becomes harmful to business if such free service providers’ email platform is used for business transactions.
• It does not create better context for communication, and it does not clarify the tone of messages.
• It is sometimes seen as impersonal and prone to misunderstanding, because verbal cues and context are missing.
• Managing unwanted (spam) mails is biggest problem. Hundreds of unwanted mails waste lots of time even in deleting them. And because of it, at times, even useful ones are deleted or left unread.
• The sender does not always come to know whether the mail has reached right destination or not. Even if it has reached, sender does not know if the receiver has read it or not.
• It is asynchronous communication and so is not as effective as telephonic conversation or chatting communication on IMs (Instant Messages).
• Lack of infrastructure in remote rural areas poses biggest hurdle in its spread and reach.
With all these disadvantages, email is still the most popular modern business tool for communication. The recent survey by META Group, Inc., showed that more than 80% of the respondents said that email is more valuable than phone call for business purpose (META). As compared to disadvantages, email offers several advantages which make it more popular with business fraternity. Corporate houses believe email to be the strongest communication link within and out of the organization.

Blog:

Weblogs or blogs are traditionally known as digital diaries to keep records of journey, routine work or sharing information on relevant topics or used for self expression. Just like email service providers, there are free blog service providers. Some of the popular free blog servers are www.blogger.com, www.wordpress.com, www.bigadda.com etc. The companies have their own personalized blogosphere which is much protected and under control from unwanted users and hackers. The openness and transparent nature of the blog can be used effectively by business houses to provide online platform to their stakeholders (wholesaler, retailers, customers, clients, peer business groups, workgroups, and employee) to access relevant, useful and timely information.

Advantages of Blog as business communication tool:

• It is almost free to start a blog and maintain it. The startup cost and maintenance of website is not free and at times its cost is much higher. Relatively, blog performs almost all those functions of website and its cost is negligible (almost free).
• It helps to disseminate information quickly, efficiently and effectively to their clients and to other operating units of the business.
• It facilitates more open and direct communication channel with all stakeholders. The client feedback mechanism of blog is much stronger than email or website and thus it helps in better understanding of clients. Thus, in longer run, blog is more effective business communication tool as compared to email or website.
• It helps in reduction of cost for communication with clients and other stakeholders.
• It helps in collaboration from various workgroups situated geographically at remote places. Some of the case studies of Google, Microsoft and Adobe can be read at http://www.scribd.com/doc/2385513/Blog-as-a-Business-Communication-Tool. It proves how effective is blog for collaborative work.
• Blogs can be linked with email and SMS. It helps in instant transmission of information as and when blogs are updated with latest information.
• Blogs are better than Websites because:
o Blogs send instant email or XML feeder as and when blog is updated. The customer has to remember to come to website to see the updates, whereas blogs manage it by sending auto-emails and feeders.
o The feedbacks can be published along with blog which helps other customers to read and it helps in solving their queries. Websites needs to be specially designed for such functions and one has to keep special staff to manage it. Blogs manage it automatically.
o The static websites are like ‘dead brochures’. Blogs give the feel of some person on other side, listening and replying to customers.

• Blogs are better than Emails because:

o Blogs complement email by being more permanent and reliable. People receive hundreds of mails and at times, emails are deleted without being read thoroughly. The permanence of blogs allows customers to come at their leisure and read it carefully. The reliability of emails is decreasing day by day because of hackers and spammers. Blogs remain more trustworthy than emails, thus they are more reliable.
o It is less demanding or intrusive for readers, and able to reach a wider audience. Multimedia emails consumes lots of time in downloading and viewing. Receiver gets bored of managing bulky mails. Blogs do not give such botheration to receiver. The links of blogs can be shared and thus it can reach wider audiences.

Disadvantages of Blog as business communication tool:

• Blogs are good for service providers rather than product sellers. As service providers can blog FAQs (frequently asked questions) and other such service related information, it saves their time and money in further communication with clients. The customers also gets answers to their common queries from the blog. But for product seller, where 3D images and more interactivity is requires, Blogs fall short of high definition websites which used flash and 3D effects to display features of products.
• Though blogs are more user-friendly than websites, still it requires skilled hand to make optimum out of it. Ignorance on part of clients is disadvantageous to business houses in effectively communicating with them through blogs.
• As with all modern tools, lack of infrastructure in remote areas is one of the biggest obstacles in reaching out to rural market through blogs.
With all its limitations, blog is becoming quite popular among the business as well as common people. And marketing gurus are going to make hay while the sun shines – they are encashing its popularity by making innovative use of blogs for various business related communications.

Smart Mobile phones:

Mobile phones (smart as well as simple) have better penetration in the market than laptop or computer or internet technology. It is believed that the uses of mobile phones are ten times greater than internet users in India. The growth rate of mobile phone users is far ahead of internet users. Thus, it gives greater opportunity in using smart as well as simple mobile phones as business communication tool. All simple phones come with facility of SMS (Short Message Service). The SMS has tremendous potential to be very effective business communication tool. The smart mobile devices have several inbuilt applications and others are downloadable. Such applications run with the help of GPRS internet connection. Thus, such GPRS enabled mobile devices provide better business communication opportunities.

Advantages of Mobile Phones as business communication tool:

• As compared to all the above discussed modern tools, an SMS can reach wider audience in almost no time and there are far more chances of the message being read instantly than that of website / blog / email.
• The chances of instant feedback are also far better with SMS replies rather than email, blog or website.
• From marketing to spreading awareness or getting opinion from customers, none can beat SMS. However, busy person is, it surely gets time to peep into mobile device whenever it beeps for incoming SMS.
• The SMS ensures less spam, it is cost effective and time saving.
• It is helpful in market campaign, promotion of product, survey and voting.
• For advance version of smart phones which are GPRS enabled, there are again immense possibilities. It helps in viewing websites, blogging and mailing. Thus, such mobile stands quite ahead of other modern tools in its utility.
• The software applications installed in such smart devices helps in ecommerce, paying utility bills, fund transfers etc which cannot be handled by email or blogs.
• Some of the smart mobile devices are VoIP enabled. They can be connected through WLAN for hi-speed internet which helps them in transmission of voice and video over internet connection.
• The 3G enabled phones synergize all the facilities of video calling, websites, blogs and emails in one single device.

Disadvantages of Mobile Phones as business communication tool:

• The health hazards which are supposed to cause terrible mental and physical illness because of extensive use of mobile phones may prevent people form using it habitually. This may cause corporate house to change their customer relationship communication links which they have established through SMS and other mobile applications.
• The ban on unwanted SMS and mobile calls may be disadvantageous to business houses.
• The infrastructure for WLAN or 3G is still at primary level and it may take long time in spreading its penetration in towns and rural places.
• So far as SMS based communication is concerned, it has better opportunities but GPRS and software application based smart devices has its limitations. The cost of devices is normally higher for common man and ignorance of using such device also pose problems for such communication channels.
Mobile devices can be used in business to increase flexibility, speed up communication for faster business decisions and contribute to an efficient and organized communication network. The 3G enabled mobile device can turn the phone into mobile business centre. Thus, mobile phones are fast moving business communication tools which in days to come may beat laptops, computers, PDAs etc to win the race and become the best business communication tools.

VoIP:

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is voice messaging technology. It is a technology that enables voice messages to be sent via the Internet, often simultaneously with data in text or other forms. It is attractive to business people because it helps in making far distance (international) calls and transmission of voice data almost free of cost.

Advantages of VoIP as business communication tool:

• The cost effective long distance calls is the best advantage of VoIP. Internet technology helps in making such calls through some specially designed software or chat applets (IMs) like skype, GTalk, Yahoo Messenger etc. People sitting over laptops or computers connected with hi-speed internet can talk, discuss and run meetings for hours with almost negligible cost.
• It also helps in conducting meeting or video conferencing (if webcam is also connected) with various work groups from various parts of the globe. The only condition is that they all should be connected with internet.
• VoIP is also available on smart mobile phones. It really integrates business needs and optimizes business communication.

Disadvantages of VoIP as business communication tool:

• Its openness does not allow business houses to have secrecy in their communication through VoIP. The VoIP communication can be intercepted, traced and recorded. The third party can hack such conversations.
• It requires both or all the concerned people to get connected to internet through laptop or smart mobile device. It may be difficult for the travelling sales person or executive to have hi-speed internet connectivity wherever he goes.
• The internet must be of good speed and should not get disconnected in between the conversation.
• The lack of infrastructure in remote places may be biggest disadvantage for VoIP.

Instant Messenger (IM) / Chat Applet:

The IM / Chat Applets are easily downloadable applications which run with the help of internet/gprs on computers or mobile phones. These applications helps in synchronous communication with the people logged in to it. Some of popular chat applets are Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, MSN messenger, Rediff Bol, skype and several others for mobile devices. As and when two people, remotely situated, get connected through similar chat applet, via internet, they can type and send message to each other. The typed messages are displayed on each computer almost at the same time. Thus such communication is known as synchronous, where as emails/sms are asynchronous communication.

Advantages of IM / Chat Applets as business communication tool:

• The communication is neither limited to only two people nor only through text messaging. Hundreds of people can join conversation at a time, from geographically remote places.
• They an also exchange images, videos, presentation files among each other.
• Not only that, they can make calls and have group discussion or meeting also.
• It converges email, VoIP and SMS into one mode of communication. The chat conversation can be saved and if the other person/s is/are not online, even offline messages can be sent. Thus is fulfills the functions of email. As we can talk, it fulfills the function of VoIP. Just like texting SMS, we can send and receive small messages in chat applets, it satisfies the needs of SMS also.
• It is very effective tool in problem solving as IMs provides instant responses.
• Its compliance with mobile phones gives more power. Just like SMS, people remain constantly connected through IMs.

Disadvantages of IM / Chat Applet as business communication tool:

• Normally, it is more informal form of communication and because people still does not take it as serious business communication tool, its conversation is not considered as serious as email or blog.
• The reliability of chat conversation is much less than email or blog.
• For using it as serious problem solving tool, companies prefer to have scheduled chatting over IMs. But that delimits its real potential and hence people prefer to email or comment on blog or contact through website, rather than waiting for pre-scheduled timing to chat their grievances and queries with company..
Thus, IMs / Chat Applets have its own share of advantages and disadvantages as modern business communication tool. Though, it is still used by teenagers for killing time, several business houses have realized its potential to woo teenage customers and are making effective use of it in establishing essential communication links with younger generation.
At the end, the discussion on modern business communication tools may seem incomplete if social networking sites are not mentioned. Social Networking Sites (SNS) is defined by www.thefreedictionary.com in following terms:
“a web site that provides a virtual community for people interested in a particular subject or just to "hang out" together. Members create their own online "profile" with biographical data, pictures, likes, dislikes and any other information they choose to post. They communicate with each other by voice, chat, instant message, videoconference and blogs, and the service typically provides a way for members to contact friends of other members.”
Primarily, the "social networking site" is the 21st century "virtual community," a group of people who use the Internet to communicate with each other about anything and everything. One can find dating sites, friendship sites, and sites with a business purpose and hybrids that offer a combination of these. The popular SNS are Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, etc. The corporate houses have realized the power and potential of popular SNS.
Now-a-days, there are several companies having their twitter account and they create trail of ‘followers’. They tweet to market their product and services. The customers can ‘retweet’ and have discussion, ask questions and have two way communications with the company through twitter. The companies also have their pages and groups / communities on Facebook and Orkut. They make optimum use of free space provided by these SNS to have their website or blog like pages and also woo customers over such web platforms. In fact, they make use of such SNS for linking their blogs, websites and other communication channels. The advantage of having SNS is that it gives opportunity to companies to reach wider audience and it is again free of cost. It gives customers to reach the company without wasting much of their time and money.
Further Reading:
Note: The resources from following websites is used at several places in the above article.

• META. http://www.mariosalexandrou.com/technology-trends/2003/80-percent-of-users-prefer-email.asp
• Dellow, James. For better, or worse: Living with e-mail in the workplace http://www.box.net/shared/6k8cx93sws
• http://www.movabletype.org/documentation/ business-blogging/comparing-blogs.html
• http://www.scribd.com/doc/2385513/Blog-as-a-Business-Communication-Tool
• http://www.article-buzz.com/Article/Nokia-E51-VOIP-Mobile-Phone-Ready-for-Your-Integrated-Business-Needs-Optimise-your-Business-Communication-System-with-Nokia-E51-VOIP-Mobile-Phone/366654