Posted on

Virtual Definition: Real Communication Using Technological Devices

Definition of Virtual is – In the past, communication, especially long-distance communication, was difficult to do. Even if it could be done, it would take days to do so. Thousands of years ago, people sent messages through third parties.

So first, we write a message and then give it to a third party to be delivered. Later, the third party will deliver it to the person we are aiming for. The further the distance between the sender and recipient of the message, the longer the message will take to arrive.

It usually takes days to months. That’s just the process of sending the message, not to mention waiting for a reply, which takes even longer.

Sending messages this way is also expensive, because we have to pay for the courier. As time went by, the postal system was invented and commonly used to send messages and communicate. Although cheaper and a little faster, this system still takes time.

It was only in the 1920s that telephone technology was invented, even then it was still very simple and only certain people used it. Decades have passed since the invention of the telephone, we can finally communicate more easily using smartphones. No longer need to wait months to send a message.

Now we only need a few seconds, not just sending a message or just hearing a voice. More than that, we can talk directly to the person virtually.

As previously discussed, now all communication is done virtually. So the question now is, what is virtual? We often hear the term virtual and feel its benefits in everyday communication. Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic like now, we can’t meet our families often.

At the peak of the pandemic, people are more likely to stay at home, even on big days. Let alone going home to meet family in our hometowns, we are anxious just to greet our neighbors. Because we cannot meet our extended family who live far away, virtual communication is needed to maintain relationships.

According to KBBI, virtual has three meanings, namely real, very similar, and the last meaning is virtual is being present in real life using communication tools. Simply put, virtual is a technology that allows its users to communicate with other people as if they were meeting in person in the real world.

Nowadays, virtual communication is not only used to ask for news, but is also used in many fields. Including education, health, and even work is often done virtually.

Types of Virtual Communication

Virtual communication for its users does seem simple. This is because we have often used it. In fact, it can be said that every day we use virtual communication to contact many people, be it close people like friends and family, or contacting people for work reasons.

However, virtual communication is actually divided into several types. What are the types?

  1. Formal Communication
    Formal communication is a form of official communication. Formal communication, whether virtual or direct, is usually carried out for various matters relating to work, government meetings, and press releases from various media when there is important news.

During the Covid-19 pandemic like now, formal virtual communication has become the choice of many companies and governments to ensure that work can continue without having to be exposed to the risk of contracting Covid-19.

Like normal situations, formal communication within the scope of work is carried out by two or several people at once. Usually this communication uses video conference technology provided by many applications on the Play Store. The atmosphere also seems serious, and the topics are limited.

  1. Non-Formal Communication
    If earlier we discussed formal communication that seemed official, now it’s the opposite. Non-formal communication is personal communication carried out by two people who have a close relationship. This type of communication is only carried out by people who are close. For example, you and your immediate family members, or you and your best friend.

The discussions discussed in non-formal communication also have a warm atmosphere, with more diverse discussion topics.

Unlike virtual formal communication which has only become popular during the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual non-formal communication has been carried out long before the pandemic hit.

  1. Group Communication
    As the name implies, this communication is carried out by more than two to dozens of people who are members of a group. Usually this communication is exclusive and only attended by people who are invited to join.

To ensure that no strangers enter, the group admin will send an invitation link via email to its members. Later, members will click on the link and enter the event.

In contrast to informal communication which is rigid and informal which is relaxed, this virtual group communication can be a combination of the two. Sometimes it is carried out by friendship groups, organizational groups, or certain communities.

  1. Networking
    This type of virtual communication is actually similar to informal virtual communication. This type of communication also only really became popular after the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Given the skyrocketing cases every day and the government’s appeal not to gather with many people, companies inevitably closed their offices.

However, in order for the company to continue running, they implemented a work from home system or better known as WFH. In order to stay connected with each other and get the job done, workers conduct virtual networking communication. Its members are also limited to employees in the company with discussion topics that are not far from work matters.

  1. Informal Communication
    Informal communication is also similar to non-formal, but if some of the types of virtual communication above are carried out with careful planning and prepared topics, then informal communication is carried out without a plan or even accidentally.

Because this virtual meeting is carried out unintentionally, it is not surprising that the topics discussed can be very random and diverse. People who are involved in informal communication can also be a collection of strangers who have never spoken, let alone met in person. This type of meeting usually only happens occasionally.

  1. Electronic Mail or Email
    You must be familiar with email. Electronic mail or better known as email is actually not much different from the paper messages that we used to receive in the past. However, the difference is, instead of paper and enveloped, electronic mail is delivered virtually.

Instead of sending it to a home address, emails are sent to the user’s email address. And as long as you type the email address correctly, the message will definitely arrive.

In the past, the only company that provided email services was Yahoo!, today the majority of people prefer to use Google Mail aka GMail which is a messaging provider owned by Google.

  1. Chat
    Chat or instant messaging has become the most popular and most frequently used visual communication. With chat, we can send messages to one or many people at once in just a matter of minutes.

Interestingly, not only can you send messages, various instant messaging provider applications are now also equipped with telephone and video call features. So you can also call someone and see what they are doing at that time. Not only are instant messaging provider applications like WhatsApp provided, chat and video call features are also provided by social media applications like Instagram.

Advantages of Virtual Communication
Everything has its good and bad sides, and so does virtual communication, which is now widely used. Compared to other types of communication, virtual communication is clearly more advanced and also has more advantages that we feel every time we use it. What are the advantages?

  1. Faster
    In the past, to be able to send a message to someone, we needed months. That was just the delivery process, waiting for a reply was much longer. This is because the postman needs time to sort thousands of letters and deliver them to each address. However, with virtual communication, we no longer need to wait that long.

Virtual communication such as chat allows us to send messages directly in minutes or even seconds, and receive a reply message in minutes. And this speed of sending messages does not only apply to people in the same city as us, but also to people who are out of town or abroad.

  1. Cheaper Costs
    Although using postal services is not too expensive, it still costs money. Postage, stamp fees, and the cost of going to and from the post office. The further the destination of the letter, the more expensive it will be.

However, with virtual technology, sending messages can not only be done quickly, but also cheaper as long as you have internet access. Most people usually buy a monthly internet package for one hundred thousand or more. By buying this package, you can use internet access to do many things. Starting from simple things like virtual communication to watching movies and accessing the latest news can also be done.

  1. Making Communication Access Unlimited
    In the past, we only contacted people we knew. Now, with virtual technology, you can contact anyone you want. Be it people we know well, or strangers we have known before.

Interestingly, we can also communicate with strangers from other parts of the world, even our idols who have been difficult to reach can be invited to communicate. Isn’t that fun?

  1. Creating More Jobs
    Benefits such as faster and cheaper communication are two benefits that we have realized from virtual technology. However, not many realize that virtual technology creates many new jobs that did not exist before.

Starting from programmers, hardware and software development, and a number of other careers. It is indeed not easy to get a job in this field. The reason is, the company gives quite high requirements for its applicants. However, these requirements are indeed needed considering the work done is also enough to make your head dizzy.

Favorite Applications that Support Virtual Communication

The existence of virtual communication not only requires the internet and a smartphone, but also applications that support and can provide various features for virtual communication. Currently, there are many virtual communication applications that we can download on Google Play or Play Store. However, of the many applications, only a few are used by many people and are favorites. What applications are they?

  1. Zoom
    If you are one of the people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and have to work from home, you must be very familiar with this one application. Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, and forced companies to implement a work from home system, the Zoom application suddenly skyrocketed.

This application is widely used by employees from various companies to hold online meetings. With this application, we can do video conferences with many people. Another feature is to mute and turn off the video screen so that meetings can be done quietly without any sound interference from anyone.

This application also allows us to do video conferences with dozens of people at once without any obstacles. To be safer, members who enter must have a link to join. Without a link, you cannot join the meeting.

  1. Google Meet
    This application made by Google is actually the same as the Zoom application. Its main feature allows us to conduct video conferences with dozens of people at once. However, even though the function is the same, its users come from different backgrounds.

If most Zoom users are employees, in Indonesia, most Google Meet users are students or school children. Just like large companies, many schools have also been forced to implement a learning from home system during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With Google Meet, classes can continue even though they are done virtually. A teacher can still deliver lesson materials and interact with his students directly without any significant obstacles.

  1. WhatsApp
    You must all be familiar with this application, right? Long before the Covid-19 pandemic started, WhatsApp was already popular in many countries, including Indonesia. Unlike previous applications, WhatsApp is used to communicate with many people.

You can not only send messages, but also call and even make video calls with one or several people at once. This application is a favorite application in Indonesia. Because it is so popular, almost everyone has the WhatsApp application on their smartphone.

  1. Telegram
    One of the drawbacks of virtual technology is the possibility of our personal data being leaked to the public and used by irresponsible people. However, with Telegram, you can minimize this risk.

Telegram is basically the same as the WhatsApp application. You can communicate via messages, voice calls, and videos. The difference is, this application really protects the privacy of its users. Compared to WhatsApp, Telegram is indeed a little less popular in Indonesia, but this application is still worth using, especially if you want your privacy to be well maintained.

In addition to the four applications above, there are still many other virtual communication applications that we can use. Including social media applications such as Instagram. Not only uploading and viewing photos of people we follow, we can also send messages and make video calls with those people. How, exciting right?

That’s a review of virtual as communication that utilizes technology. For Grameds who want to learn all about virtual communication and technology, you can visit Gramedia.com to get related books, so you can have information #LebihDenganMembaca.