Have technological innovations, such as cell phone and computer, affected and reduced human ability of communication in face-to-face environments? Apparently not, because the statement amounts to an unproven cause-and-effect relationship. Therefore, I would take my stance against it.

To begin with, the statement indicates neither that people prefer talking by tools over having a real conversation with others nor that the way interrupts and interferes with the development of communicative competence. Yet advances in technology make it so much easier for people to get in touch with others without having to travel along distance, which however promotes rather than reduce their communication. Besides, it is unfair to make these inventions the scapegoat, simple because if one feels needed, he will go all out to see another person regardless of whether there are other ways or not.

Even if many people do use these inventions over having real conversations, it is still be entirely groundless, as the statement contends. Interpersonal communication is based on individual linguistic ability, which involves brain selective perception, political correctness, gender and cultural differences, etc. Therefore, barriers to effective communication can retard and distort the message or intention of the message being conveyed. That is, any break-down in communication seems irrelevant to the use of mobile phone or even computers. And more importantly, two ways are basically the same thing except for the visual image. However, FaceTime and video softwares now have already filled in the gap.

In sum, the statement relies on a faulty assumption that might confuse causation with mere correlation, meaning that using the phone or computer cannot and will not affect the ability of communication in face-to-face talks.

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