FRIENDS WITH TECHNOLOGY: MOBILE DEVICES AS MOTIVATIONAL TOOLS
FRIENDS WITH TECHNOLOGY: MOBILE DEVICES AS MOTIVATIONAL TOOLS

Summary/Abstract: Since the technological boom that has turned babies into digital natives, there has been an increase in the multitude of uses of these miraculous devices. As soon as they go to kindergarten (or even earlier), our young children learn nursery rhymes from Internet sources, watch educational programmes and/ or their favourite cartoons on laptops, tablets or smartphones. In some ways, it is only natural for young people to consider technology their best friend, since they were born in the smartphone era; still, the question to be raised is, does this rapid technological development help or hinder people in their effort to communicate effectively? With the exception of those applications that are purposefully designed to help their users communicate and socialize as if they were in the same room, most types of on-line communication encourage the users to passively accept the interlocutor’s absence, and, at times, even to bless it. Indeed, if we only consider the fact that one may conduct one’s business with apparent ease, in one’s own kitchen, wearing pyjamas and making coffee while negotiating a contract, we may come to the conclusion that technology is the best thing ever, a true godsend. When it comes to teaching communication skills, though, the blended approach – combining traditional methods with on-line or mobile strategies – is to be preferred. Nowadays, faced with a constantly increasing number of people of all ages who favour virtual relations to the detriment of face-to-face interactions, psychologists have found one possible solution: turning mobile devices into motivational tools. That is why this paper intends to discuss the possible role of technological devices that may motivate people – from children to students – to socialize more, and develop those abilities that are the key to successful communication with their peers.

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