Fact File: Means of Communication
What is Communication?
Communication means sharing information, ideas, or feelings with others. We use
communication to talk, write, send messages, or express how we feel. It helps us stay
connected with family, friends, teachers, and people around us.
Why is Communication Important?
Communication is important because it helps us understand each other. We use it to ask
for help, share news, give directions, and show care. Without communication, we would
not know what others want or feel.
Means of Communication in the Past
Long ago, people used simple ways to share messages. They used smoke signals, drum
beats, or sent messages by runners or pigeons. Later, people started using handwritten
letters. Post offices helped send letters to faraway places. Landline telephones were also
used to talk to people from home.
Means of Communication Today
Today, we have fast and easy ways to communicate. Mobile phones help us make calls and
send text messages. We use emails, video calls, and apps like WhatsApp to connect with
others. Television, newspapers, magazines, and the internet help us learn, share, and
receive information quickly.
Choosing the Right Way to Communicate
We choose how to communicate depending on how fast we need the message to go and
who we are talking to. We can send a quick message by phone or write an email for
something longer. We might talk face-to-face at school or call a friend who lives far away.
Examples of Communication Methods in the Past
Letters – Written on paper and sent through the post. People used letters to send
messages over long distances. It could take days or weeks to reach the person.
Postcards – Small cards with a short message and a picture. Often sent while
traveling to share news or greetings.
Telegrams – Messages sent using wires from one place to another. They were faster
than letters and used for urgent messages. People wrote short messages to save
money.
Carrier Pigeons – Trained birds that carried written messages tied to their legs.
Used during times when mail systems were not available.
Messengers – People who walked or rode on horses to carry messages between
places. Used before machines and phones were invented.
Landline Telephones – A phone connected to a wire. Used in homes and offices
before mobile phones. Allowed people to talk from one place to another.
Examples of Communication Methods Today
Mobile Phones – Used to make voice calls, send messages, and use apps to talk to
others. They are the most common way people stay in touch today.
Text Messages – Short written messages sent from one phone to another. They are
quick and useful for simple updates or greetings.
Emails – Used to send longer written messages, pictures, or files over the internet.
Emails are common in offices and schools.
Video Calls – Allow people to see and hear each other in real time. Used on phones,
tablets, or computers through apps like Zoom and Google Meet.
Voice Notes – A spoken message sent using apps. Helpful when someone cannot
type a message easily.
Television – Shows news, stories, learning programs, and entertainment. A way to
receive information and enjoy content from around the world.
Radio – Plays news, music, and talks. Used more in cars and homes where people
listen instead of watching.
Newspapers – Printed daily or weekly with news, pictures, and stories. Help people
know what is happening around them.
Magazines – Like newspapers, but with more pictures and longer articles. Often
about hobbies, sports, or current events.
