The Tetrad Assessment – Skype Technology

 1.      Discuss how the history of today's megatrends and national trends have shaped Canada and the world as we know it today.

The technology of discussion, in this case, is Skype, which is a telecommunication app or video-calling software that allows individuals to 'meet' virtually. It enables people to hold high-quality calls or interact using computers, mobile phones, or other communication devices. This technology is commonly used in Canada and worldwide due to its numerous benefits. It enables people to interact face-to-face effectively without necessarily traveling to hold physical meetings. Based on Marshall McLuhan's "Tetrad Analysis," communication technology that led to the emergence of Skype underwent a series of megatrends and national trends throughout history, shaping Canada and the world as a whole (Islas, 2016). On this note, the trends align with McLuhan's Tetrad assessment, where he opines that people's culture and technology follow four elements, enhances, retrieves, obsolesces, and reverses (Islas, 2016).

Generally, the emergence of Skype also followed these alignments before dominating communication technology today. This can be assessed regarding Enhances, which entails how Skype has improved communication in various fields, including commercial, personal, military, business, etc. It has alleviated the barrier of distance to face-to-face communication. On the same note, retrieves focuses on how individuals using Skype enjoy direct verbal interaction and personal contact, which could be used to make precise judgments among parties. The obsolesces outlines that Skype has suppressed the use of letters, emails, and other written orders, requests, and memos. Further, reverses explain how Skype exhibits some limitations such as bullying, confusion, and instances of indecision and misunderstanding among the communicating parties. 

Marshall McLuhan's "Tetrad Analysis"

Marshall McLuhan's Tetrad Analysis 

2. Understand how megatrends fundamentally influence us socially, politically, economically.

Socially

It enhances the relationships among social groups since it allows workers, family, members of a given social context to interact face-to-face. This way, one can see the other person's reaction through facial expressions and gestures. Even though it may lack the physical attachments among the communicating parties, the face-to-face interaction hastens the bond between them (Malik & Janowska, 2018). However, since Skype does not require one to travel to see the other party, it may create a long physical distance between the parties, reducing the social ties they share.

Politically

This aspect focuses on the political formations. It has augmented the effectiveness of politics in the country since leaders can be accessed at their respective places and engaged in a conversation touching on the country's critical administrative matters.

Economically

            The economic influence of Skype is that it has reduced business travel globally since managers, business leaders, and financial stakeholders can hold meetings via this megatrend tool to discuss matters that propel the economy ahead (Malik & Janowska, 2018).  

3. Demonstrate an understanding of ethics and ethical awareness/reflection.

The successful utilization of Skype in various fields - political, economic, or social contexts – requires communicating parties to portray some decorum. In this case, understanding ethics is vital to enable effective communication. Since Skype allows one-on-one meetings that can converge more than 50 people, it is necessary to take turns while speaking to enable everyone's views to be heard.

Similarly, interacting parties should consider ethical language, especially when holding formal conversations such as business or touching on critical matters. Other moral aspects of communication must be considered, including truthfulness, honesty, reasoning, and accuracy in articulating points to avoid miscommunications.

4.      Examine how megatrends and national trends will impact Canada in the future.

Generally, megatrends stand out as significant waves that will fundamentally change the overall competitive landscapes of various sectors' futures. They have both national and global impacts, causing inexorable growth that could challenge the available resources and systems. As people shift their way of life to embrace new technological waves, such as Skype, Canada's economic, social, and political formations change.

In the future, the megatrends and national trends are set to enhance the country's communication systems, fostering businesses and establishing overall socio-economic and political stability. It is evident in Canada that business enterprises that adjust their strategies to fit the prevailing megatrends remain competitive in the market. Since technology increases the effectiveness of organizations, the future of Canada's economy is set to be effective due to the adoption of the new technological advancement that the companies continue to adopt.

5.     Consider how to engage with these megatrends and plan your future.

According to McLuhan's Tetrad assessment, technology and culture initiate obsolesces, including suppressing some aspects that people use. As megatrends take the course in various life contexts, I plan to remain adaptive and focus on the benefits that come with them. McLuhan elucidates that megatrends come with enhancement, which includes the positive contributions of technology (Islas, 2016). These benefits are the critical aspects I have to concentrate on to ensure that I enjoy the increased effectiveness of ideas that come with technology.

Besides, technological advancements need one to remain open in embracing them and incorporate the changes in different contexts. For instance, a business depends on how it adjusts or adopts new technological advancements. In this regard, I will adapt to megatrends by adapting to the waves that come with technology to benefit from it.

References

Islas, O. (2016). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man (1964), the foundations of Marshall McLuhan's tetrad. Explorations in Media Ecology, 15(1), 81-91.

Malik, R., & Janowska, A. A. (2018). Megatrends and their use in economic analyses of contemporary challenges in the world economy. Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wrocławiu, (523), 209-220.