IC3 GS5

Certification Guide
Lesson 15: Digital Communication

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Lesson Objectives
• explain the difference between real- • describe how to conduct group
time and delayed communications conversations in Google Hangouts
• describe email and texting • describe the benefits and function of
• select the best communications tool online conferencing tools
for a given situation • describe benefits and function of
• describe various phone calling business collaboration tools
technologies • describe distance learning
• manage status and profile settings in technologies
Skype • describe audio, video, and live
• conduct group conversations in Skype streaming

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Digital Communication Technologies
• Include real-time and delayed communications
• Many of the technologies overlap

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Digital Communication Technologies
• Real-Time (Synchronous) and Delayed (Asynchronous)
Communications
• In real-time communication, information is sent and received instantly
• A face-to-face conversation is an example of real-time communication, and real-
time exchanges are referred to as synchronous
• In delayed communication, there is a time delay between the sending
and receiving of information
• A mailed letter is an example of delayed communication, and delayed exchanges
are referred to as asynchronous

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Asynchronous Communication Tools
• Electronic Mail (Email)
• Email is considered a delayed communication because a delay does not
affect your ability to send or receive an email message
• SMS Text Messages
• Text messaging is also considered a delayed communication

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Asynchronous Communication Tools
• Using Text Messaging Effectively
• You can send a text to a contact at any time; you have no way of
knowing whether he or she is available when you send your text
message
• You may receive an immediate response to a text message, but that is
not guaranteed
• Always remember that if a situation is best resolved by speaking to
someone directly, use the telephone or seek a face-to-face meeting

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Asynchronous Communication Tools
• To Text or Not to Text?
• Use text if you must communicate, but are in a place or situation where
speaking out loud would be inconsiderate or indiscreet
• Avoid texting while driving
• Avoid sending and responding to texts if you are in a social setting
• Avoid sending text messages late at night
• Do not attempt send text messages while you are in an airplane that is
taxiing, taking off, or landing

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Asynchronous Communication Tools
• Etiquette
• Consider the frequency of your messages
• Be clear to reduce the chance you will be misunderstood
• Do not use all uppercase letters
• Do not send bullying or harassing texts
• Refrain from using abbreviations and acronyms in business or school texts
• Refrain from using emoticons in business or school communications
• Try to respond to messages in a timely manner
• Always follow the rules and guidelines established by your school or
organization

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Real-Time Communication
Technologies
• Sometimes there is just no substitute for real-time
communications
• These technologies include:
• Phone calls/conference calls
• Online meetings/video conferences
• Instant messaging

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Real-Time Communication
Technologies
• Phone Calls
• Are personal and empowering
• Are a good choice when:
• You are communicating with someone whom you do not know
• You must convey a complicated idea
• You must discuss a sensitive topic
• You require an immediate response
• You need to get a message to someone immediately

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Real-Time Communication
Technologies
• Conference Calling
• A conference call is a call that involves three or more parties.
• Many business phones include a Conference button
• Most consumer phones include a Flash button which you can use to
create a conference call if a conference calling service is included in
your phone plan
• You can participate in conference calls on landline, mobile, and VoIP
phones

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Real-Time Communication
Technologies
• WebEx
• WebEx is a hosted subscription service that you can use to conduct
online meetings
• An online meeting is a meeting in which multiple participants can
• Speak
• Share files
• Share visuals
• You access an online meeting by clicking a link in an emailed meeting
invitation
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Skype – More than Just IM
A
B

D
G

E
H

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Skype – More than Just IM
• Adjusting Your Status
Online Your contacts can reach you via instant message or calling.
Away Your contacts can see that you are signed in, but not necessarily at your computer.
Instant messages are delivered immediately, and your contacts can still try to call you.
Do Not Your contacts can see that you are online, but that you do not want to be disturbed.
Disturb They can still send you instant messages and call you, but you will not be alerted with
sound notifications.
Invisible You appear to be offline, but can still use Skype as usual. This is a good way to keep
using Skype without “advertising” to your contacts that you are available.
Offline Your status is automatically set to Offline when you are not signed into Skype. If you
manually select this status, you cannot send instant messages or make or receive
calls.

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Skype – More than Just IM
• Managing Your Skype Profile
• Your Skype profile, tells other people something
about you.
• Certain aspects of your Skype profile are public,
some are visible only to you and your contacts, and
some are private
• Your contacts can view the profile information you
have set to Public and the information you have set
to Contacts

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Skype – More than Just IM
• Group Conversations
• Anything you type and send in a group conversation is received by
everyone in the group
• You begin a conversation as a group conversation
• You can add people to a conversation at any time

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Checking Out Google Hangouts
• Google Hangouts is a communications platform that supports
conversations between 2 or more users
• It can be accessed online through Gmail or the Hangouts website, through
the Hangouts app, or through mobile apps for Android and iOS
• Open a browser and navigate to
https://hangouts.google.com and
click the Sign in link, or sign into
Gmail, click the Google apps
button, click More, and click
Hangouts

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Online Conferencing
• Online conferencing is well suited for exchanging digital files,
sending instant messages, and sharing screens
• Just about anything you can do on your computer or on the
Internet on your own, you can do with others through online
conferencing

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Online Conferencing
• VoIP Conferencing
• VoIP phone calls use the Internet to transfer voice packets between the
phones used in a call or conference call
• When you use a computer to place and receive VoIP calls, including
conference calls, the computer is considered a software phone or “soft
phone”
• A powerful advantage to using your computer as a soft phone is the
ability to transfer files and share screens during a call

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Online Conferencing
• Video Conferencing
• A video conference is a conference call that includes video
• A video conference:
• Can make employees from different locations feel more cohesive as a group
• Can make everyone feel included
• Are ideal for demonstrating procedures
• Bring a face-to-face quality to communications
• You can easily conduct videoconferences in Skype, Google Hangouts,
and FaceTime

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Collaboration Tools
• Collaboration tools are designed for business users in corporate
environments
• These tools provide for communications, centralized document
access, co-authoring, intranets, and cloud storage

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Collaboration Tools
• Office 365
• Outlook Web App (OWA)
• SharePoint
• Office Online
• OneDrive for Business
• Skype for Business
• Office Suite

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Collaboration Tools
• SharePoint
• SharePoint is a browser-based collaboration and document management platform
provided by Microsoft
• It provides a central location where employees can find and share documents, and
collaborate with their co-workers
• Because the main user interface is a
web browser, SharePoint locations are
referred to as “sites”

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Collaboration Tools
• Skype for Business
• Skype for Business is a communications and
collaboration center
• You can see which of your colleagues are available
for communications, and launch into a
communications session with one or more
colleagues
• On the Contacts panel you can start conversations
with your co-workers, conduct online meetings,
share screens, and more

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Collaboration Tools
• Distance Learning Technologies
• Lectures, assignments, assessments, communications and grades are
managed through Learning Management Systems (LMS)
• Students “attend” class by logging in using a web browser
• In an asynchronous class, instructors provide material lists, lectures,
tests, and assignments that can be accessed at any time that is
convenient for the student
• Synchronous online classes occur in real time, and require students and
instructors to be online at the same time

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Streaming
• Streaming delivers content to your device in a steady, consistent flow of
data
• When you stream media files from a web site, a media server streams the
content to you in a client media player application
• If multiple people want to stream the same content, the media server sends a stream
to each client
• Live streaming is the process of broadcasting real-time live audio/video
footage as a video feed to an audience that accesses the stream over the
Internet
• One file is sent out over the Internet, and multiple people can connect to the live feed
and stream it to their devices

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Lesson Summary
• explain the difference between real- • describe how to conduct group
time and delayed communications conversations in Google Hangouts
• describe email and texting • describe the benefits and function of
• select the best communications tool online conferencing tools
for a given situation • describe benefits and function of
• describe various phone calling business collaboration tools
technologies • describe distance learning
• manage status and profile settings in technologies
Skype • describe audio, video, and live
• conduct group conversations in Skype streaming

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Review Questions
1. Which of the following is an example of asynchronous communication?
a. A VoIP phone call.
b. An email message.
c. A landline phone call.
d. A video conference.
2. Text messaging uses which protocol?
a. Short Message Service
b. Transmission Control Protocol
c. Internet Protocol
d. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

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Review Questions
3. Which is an example of netiquette when sending a text message?
a. Sending text at any time so others can be informed.
b. Using emoticons in text to add interest to the message.
c. Trying to respond to text messages on a timely basis.
d. Using uppercase letters in the text message to express emotions.
4. Which of the following is an example of synchronous communication?
a. A phone call.
b. A blog post.
c. A text message.
d. A post on a discussion board.

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Review Questions
5. Which of the following is true of VoIP phone calls?
a. They require a mobile phone.
b. They require a landline phone.
c. They require an Internet connection.
d. They use a cellular provider’s network.
6. A conference call:
a. requires a specialized handset.
b. is limited to audio only.
c. involves three or more parties.
d. can be placed only on a landline phone.

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Review Questions
7. Which of the following provides hosted WebEx service?
a. Cisco c. Skype
b. Google d. Chrome
8. Which Skype status makes you appear offline but allows you to use Skype as usual?
a. Offline c. Invisible
b. Away d. Do Not Disturb
9. Which of the following tasks can you perform while on a VoIP conference call?
a. Share your screen with other users.
b. Send files to other users.
c. Add other participants to a call already in progress.
d. You can perform all of these tasks while on a VoIP call
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Review Questions
10. Which of the following is true of video conferences?
a. They can make remote employees feel included in company functions.
b. They can make remote employees feel more cohesive as a group.
c. They are a good tool for sharing visual demonstrations.
d. All of these statements are true of video conferences.
11. Which of the following tools can you use to conduct video conferences?
a. Skype
b. Google Hangouts
c. FaceTime
d. You can use all of these tools to conduct video conferences.

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Review Questions
12. Which of the following Office 365 tools provides for content management and co-
authoring of documents?
a. Outlook Web App (OWA) c. Office Online
b. SharePoint d. Skype
13. Which of the following broadcasts live audio/video footage over the Internet?
a. Downloading c. Uploading
b. Live streaming d. Asynchronous communications

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