Think about the many business tools you just listed. What do most of them have in common? That's right! They are used to communicate. Let's take the one we have all used at one time or another...the telephone.

The telephone of the past was used to communicate person to person using only the voice. When the phone rang, if no one was available to answer the phone, business was lost. Then came answering machines. A machine could take a message for you. You could return the call quickly. The next invention was voice mail. Even if you are on the phone talking to someone else, your service takes voice messages. You can even access messages now from a far distant phone!

Some people hate voice mail and answering machines. Are you comfortable using them? What are the pros and cons of having a message taking system (answering machine, voice mail or receptionist)?

The equipment has also changed. In the past, you dialled a number. Now you punch in a number. The first phones were wall phones. Then came phones that sat on the table. Portable phones were the next step…you can talk without being connected by wire to the phone.

Cellular phones are completely wireless. What comes next?

Work with a team to develop a survey. Ask questions about types of phones people use, systems they have on their phone lines (e.g. voice mail, fax), what people prefer, what they hate. Ask ten people to complete the survey. Compare your answers with others in your class. Are there similar answers?

Telephone technology! What would we do without it! Brainstorm with your class and see how many tools or systems you can think of that need or are enhanced by telephone technology.

Fax Machines

How many things did you come up with? Did someone mention teleconferencing? Can you guess what this might mean? There are actually three types of teleconferencing:

• Audio Teleconferencing links individuals and/or groups in? separate locations using voice communications?
• Audiographic Teleconferencing adds to voice with graphics sent electronically
• Videoconferencing brings people together visually

Audio Teleconferencing is being used to interview people for positions. You are in one place and the hiring committee is in one or more other places. This is a cost-effective way to interview out of town candidates.