Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Roundtable Discussion Examining Ritual, Technology, And Community In Urban Communication, Victoria Geyer, Mary Ann Allison Phd, Suzanne N. Berman, Gary Gumpert

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Pervasive technologies that now exist in the urban setting have greatly improved the ability to connect on a macro-level, but have minimized the intimate shared experience of community on a micro level. This paper explores how technology has changed rituals within the global community and has contributed new methods to the process of human interaction. Technology’s influence on civic engagement, business meetings, shopping and socializing are examined to assess the impact technology has on human connections.