There are over 100 million skype users around the world. In the Caribbean, Skype is used a lot – to decrease phone usage and yes, to “bring people together” and fill the physical gap created by distance with this free digital service that allows me to see you and where you live from the comfort of my laptop and where ever I can pick up an internet connection. But question…does it count as face to face communication? They think so. I think so.
While all the sense are not satiated by Skype (you cant’ smell or taste the person), the fact that you can benefit from body language makes Skype count as face to face communication for me. Imagine the impact this could have on regional communication in the Caribbean? We can “meet” with business prospects and associates without incurring airline or hotel costs (sorry business tourist protagonists) and we can “witness” change and situations (insert island – Haitian catastrophe, volcano in Monsteraat) without putting ourselves in danger BUT STILL show empathy. But are we using it?
The likely answer is no. I once watched a past leader sit on a conference call in Trinidad using a direct line service and a speaker phone from his office in Trinidad. “There was no telecommunication service to set up a teleconference,” was the response when I asked why teleconferencing was not used. When I suggested Skype the response was “that’s not really the same and its unreliable”. Leaders…so disconnected at times aye?
I used Skype almost everyday when I was in Europe and it kept me close to those that were not able to make the trip with me. Sure there was email and Facebook but that ability to see and talk with those most special to me via this free service was as memorable as walking along the Seine in 3 degree weather!
Business wise, I used Skype once to talk to a colleague in another location of our company (it was an ICT staff member so I was sanctioned THANK YOU!). It was awesome, we connected and the meeting was beneficial. So question for the readers…do you use Skype for work or play? AND does Skype count as Face to Face Communication to you?
Communication Questions 