Technology today has a myriad of gadgets and tools to facilitate communication and this has transformed the way people communicate with each other. From the invention of the telegraph to the Internet, technology has allowed people to connect with family, friends and colleagues everywhere. Additionally, people can instantly express their opinions to larger groups of people, which would not have been possible without the advent of technology. However, electronically mediated communication is a double-edged sword. At the rate at which technology has provided communication, being instant and ubiquitous, people are no longer separated by time and space. And since there is no need to overcome it, we no longer make the effort to maintain a personal human relationship through face-to-face or verbal communication. We are becoming increasingly ignorant of the feelings and needs of others, as we assume that the other party is able and expects to convey their feelings to us instantly. Consequently, this leads to the degradation of personal communication as we take interpersonal relationships for granted (Shand 2012). This article will provide an overview of how the way we communicate has changed with technology. Next, this document will explain the importance of developing communication skills. Finally, the various types of electronically assisted means of communication and how communication is weakened by technology will be discussed. In the past, ways of communicating were limited, but personal. People had handwritten letters, phone calls and social gatherings. The children spent time outside, playing together. The communication was personal. The proliferation of communication technology has now given individuals more choices with... middle of paper... meaningless relationships that are crucial, especially for business negotiations, where participants can evaluate and understand the other party through meaningful involvement. . Although computer-mediated means are useful in meetings that do not involve decision making, or when decisions are not vitally important, they should not replace face-to-face meetings (Arvey n.d.). In conclusion, technology has had both positive and negative effects on communication. With the ever-increasing progress of communication technology, there is no longer any separation between time and space; we can communicate with anyone, almost anywhere. Reaching the masses has never been easier. As a result, we become dependent and accustomed to the convenience of communication, we no longer feel the need to spend time on real-life interactions, leading to the dehumanization of communication..