Technology of Instant Messaging and it contributes to society

Question: Discuss about the Technology of Instant Messaging. Answer: Technology of Instant Messaging and it contributes to society In the last few decades, there have been significant changes in the technological aspects of the society. Instant messaging refers to the communication technology which is used to use text to communicate between two or more number of people. It uses the internet or any other form of network to establish this kind of communication. It is also known as IM chat and it occurs in real time. Initially, it was mainly text based but with the passage of time, now the users can share files, send a message to many people, invite a contact to a particular conversation, add video and voices, etc. It helps people to keep in touch with each other. Computer-based communication like IM is friendly medium for autistic patients to expand their networking since they get enough time to communicate their messages with a user at their own pace. Such channels do not adopt extra signals like body language that needs further possessing. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with autism. Autistic spectrum disorder refers to the neuron-developmental disorder which has characteristics like complexity in having social interaction and communication. The children who suffer from ASD generally have symptoms including learning disability, epilepsy, dyspraxia, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc(Lord et al., 2013). It is vital to check the early signs of autism in children so that appropriate treatment can be provided to them. Almost 1% of world population suffers from autism. People suffering from ASD are subject to discrimination, social stigma, etc. (Lauritsen, 2013). People suffering from ASD are unable to exploit technology since it is not user-friendly for them. But due to innovation in technological aspects, more friendly and useful applications can be developed which will help the patients to express their emotions in an easier manner. Introduction about Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and how it helps the children with autism. The concept of PECS is the specific formulation which provides an augmentative as well as alternative communication. This kind of communication is used to deliver words to the children and further, it helps the children to communicate. Thus by the process of augmentative and alternative communication, the PECS was such designed that it can be used by the autistic children. As a result, the children can be able to communicate in a proper manner and treat the delay of speech development of the children (Boesch et al., 2013). Basically, when the concept of PECS is applied to the child at that time the child has been provided with a number of pictures of various things that they see in their day to day life like their favorite foods or toys. In that case when children think of having or using those things then they will make the indication to their person who is communicating with them. This communication partner is either a parent or any therapist or caregiver or any other child. Thereafter the communication partner handovers the child with what he or she has demanded and further this exchange process reinforce the communication (Boesch et al., 2013). Thereafter starts the training of various attributes and the language expansion in the personality of the autistic children. In this part, the children basically learn regarding the expansion of the sentences with the addition of proper adjectives, verbs as well as the prepositions. It is then addressed by the addition of more two phases to the process. So the fifth phase consists of the children learning the process of how to answer the questions properly by knowing the exact thing what they want. Again in the sixth phase, the children will get to know how they can comment in response to answer the questions asked to them (Landa Hanley, 2016). Apart from that the crucial part which should be known about the process of PECS is not place specific rather the treatment process through PECS can be started anywhere depending upon the capability of the children. The reason behind it some children are visual thinkers. By this manner, many alternate ways are being provided to the child to i nitiate the communication in the autistic children. PECS inside instant messaging App Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) refers to a system that assists the people to communicate who suffer from speech inability. The application of picture cards for communication makes it easier for the children suffering from the inability to communicate conveniently. The PECS can be incorporated into the instant messaging applications with the ability to record a voice speaking the symbol. This functionality would allow the teacher or the parents to either record the objects or make use of the default language by using another language. Hence, it would allow the application to be flexible for the use of the children suffering from inability with any language (Landa Hanley, 2016). The advantage of using PECS in instant messaging applications would provide a clear screen of choices with many categories to develop communication by helping ASD people in the formulation of sentences and conveying their messages to the loved ones. The incorporation of PECS into the instant messaging applications would also be provided with wide sections in order to facilitate the selection of phrasing the sentences and picture. The adoption of PECS by instant messaging applications would require stability in the internet access for facilitating a good and effective user interface. Fast internet connection and the technology would help the children and people suffering from ASD to be able to communicate, gain knowledge and be exposed to the real world like the rest of the people in the world do. This would be a vital initiative to make life better and technologically enhanced in this age of development so that they also move forward in their lives. The reason for me to choose the subject is to gain insights into the development of technology regarding PECS and providing suggestions to incorporate PECS into instant messaging applications which would help the people suffering from the ASD in moving ahead in life with technology. References Boesch, M. C., Wendt, O., Subramanian, A., Hsu, N. (2013). Comparative efficacy of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) versus a speech-generating device: Effects on requesting skills. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7(3), 480-493. Hill, D. A., Flores, M. M. (2014). Comparing the picture exchange communication system and the iPad (TM) for communication of students with autism spectrum disorder and developmental delay.TechTrends, 58(3), 45. Lord, C., Cook, E. H., Leventhal, B. L., Amaral, D. G. (2013). Autism spectrum disorders.Autism: The Science of Mental Health, 28(2), 217. Lauritsen, M. B. (2013). Autism spectrum disorders.European child adolescent psychiatry, 22(1), 37-42. Landa, R., Hanley, G. P. (2016). An evaluation of multiple?schedule variations to reduce high?rate requests in the picture exchange communication system. Journal of applied behavior analysis. Lorah, E. R., Tincani, M., Dodge, J., Gilroy, S., Hickey, A., Hantula, D. (2013).Evaluating picture exchange and the iPad as a speech generating device to teach communication to young children with autism.Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 25(6), 637-649.