For years, teleconferencing, video and e-mail have been pushed from the perspective of cost and efficiency. But following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, those business communications methods will be used for safety and as a way to avoid long distance travel, say Dr. Ronald Dulek, head of the management and marketing department and Dr. Chad Hilton, director of International Business Programs, both at The University of Alabama.

"Obviously, we are tremendously vulnerable in the arena of cyber-terrorism," says Dulek. "One has to wonder what would happen if someone designed a computer virus that could knock out our computer systems or any other parts of our technological infrastructure." For that reason, say Dulek and Hilton, expect a huge increase in anti-virus software to protect computers from viruses and hackers.

They also predict an increase in digital imaging. "We will continue to find more and more ways to insert compressed video into our lives," Hilton notes. "Rather than having a navigation map displayed in our cars, what if we get a screen in which a voice tells us exactly where to go and what to do?"

From a "language perspective," the professors expect two seemingly contradictory trends to continue developing. "First, there will be a tremendous movement toward language compression-using fewer words to send messages and convey information," Dulek says. "This trend will be caused by technology-personal digital assistants, cell phone windows, and other communication mediums with limited space on which to convey a message. Hence, succinctness and immediate clarity will be vital."

"In the exact opposite direction," Hilton adds, "strategic ambiguity will become more and more common. However, it will be ambiguity that occurs with fewer words than it has in the past. The cause of this ambiguity will be the continued presence of legal liability. So when litigation is a strong possibility, ambiguity will accompany it. However, since it is difficult to sue someone for what they didn't say, the number of words used will be fewer and fewer. The guiding statement here might be 'less is more.' "

Dr. Ronald Dulek can be reached at 205/348-6183 (office), 205/339-2651 (home) or rdulek@cba.ua.edu.

Dr. Chad Hilton can be reached at 205/348-9432 (office) or chilton@cba.ua.edu.
 

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