Monday 22 September 2014

How has the growth of global communication system promoted globalisation?

How has the growth of global communication system promoted globalisation?
The short answer would be that as our devices evolve, we can communicate and commit transactions more instantaneously and cost-effectively than ever before and reach a larger customer base that we would if we were limited to our own country.


Growth? The Internet and computer alone have made it easier to participate globally. Satellites have made it easy and quick to communicate overseas. Faster Internet speed translates to more frequent transactions. Cellphones and WIFI to some extent make all this portable further ncreasing the frequency of use. Computing technology at the Postal Service and delivery companies provide integration solutions for businesses not to mention the ability to order today and get it tomorrow from anywhere in the World, track packages as they move and get notified when a package arrives or gets shipped...all attractive features most of us would like.

Promoted? Big corporations jump all over the idea of outsourcing when they learn they can save big money by firing local workers and sending jobs to other countries where people will work for peanuts. Eventually these companies set up offices in other countries. Later, some of these same companies realise people in their own country are not buying their product as much as they used to. Maybe more of their neighbors are standing in the unemployment line? That means some companies rely on their foreign customers for a good chunk of their revenue. That is, if by 'globalisation' in the context of business you mean, "not in the same country as the corporate office". Of course eBay and Amazon are also good examples of promoting globalized ecommerce.

Communication System?
We've had the ability to be global as long as we've been able to use the phone, telegraph or postal mail. I would consider that the primitive stage of globalisation.
Consider how the following technologies have evolved:

-Postal mail, delivery companies: Package tracking, business integration, Next Day delivery means order today, get it tomorrow.

-Telephone and teleconferencing: If your sick, far away or work from home, you can participate in meetings, and sometime work from home by telecommuting. You can hire telephone tech support from anywhere in the world who can't speak English as long as they can say "Reboot the computer" and can access customer computers remotely.

-Satellites: to communicate overseas by phone, Internet; broadcast TV/ radio. Of course GPS applications to help you find your way back to the motel from the pub in when you're on vacation in a foreign land.

-Fax: Send hard copies, signatures within minutes to anywhere in the world (a loss to postal service).

-Computer and Internet: Telecommuting, teleconferencing, purchase products/services by Web(eBay, Amazon), trading, video,audio,gaming, VOIP telephone, TV and so many other uses (a loss to Newspapers and magazines at least);

-Cellular phones: Telephone and Internet in your pocket. Email (another loss to postal service), Texting, Twittering on the go... further increasing the frequency of Internet users like never before. On vacation again but can't find that Euro- McDonald's, you're phone GPS probably will because There's an APP for THAT.


Is there something I missed?


"On January 25, 1915, [Alexander Graham] Bell made the first transcontinental telephone call. Calling from 15 Day Street in New York City, Bell was heard by Thomas Watson at 333 Grant Avenue in San Francisco. The New York Times reported:"-Wikipedia

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