Skip to main content
Ingenium Logo

You are leaving IngeniumCanada.org

✖


This link leads to an external website that Ingenium does not control. Please read the third-party’s privacy policies before entering personal information or conducting a transaction on their site.

Have questions? Review our Privacy Statement

Vous quittez IngeniumCanada.org

✖


Ce lien mène à un site Web externe qu'Ingenium ne contrôle pas. Veuillez lire les politiques de confidentialité des tiers avant de partager des renseignements personnels ou d'effectuer une transaction sur leur site.

Questions? Consultez notre Énoncé de confidentialité

Ingenium Canada Science and Technology Museum

Langue

  • Français
Search Toggle

Menu des liens rapides

  • Tickets
  • Ingenium Locations
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Join
Menu

Main Navigation

  • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Hours
    • Admission
    • Location and Directions
    • Accessibility
    • Browse All Visitor Information
    • Buy Tickets
    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • About the Museum
  • What's On at the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Spaces and Studios
  • Bookings and Rentals
    • School Programs
    • Birthday Parties
    • Summer Camps
    • Venue Rentals
    • Travelling Exhibitions
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Group Visits
  • Educational Programs
    • School Programs
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Program Location
      • At the Museum
      • At Your School
      • Online
      • Browse all Educational Programs
    • Popular Links
      • 3D Educational Resources
      • Digital Learning Kits
      • Games and Apps
      • Online Resources for Science at Home
      • Tell Me About
      • Try This Out
  • Collection and Research
    • Research Institute
    • Research Projects
    • Collection Resources
      • Ingenium Collection
      • Collection Highlights
      • Conservation and Collection Services
    • Library and Archives
      • Library and Archives Services
      • Library Catalogue
      • Digital Archives
    • Open Access
      • Ingenium APIs
      • Open Data
      • Open Documents
  • Projects and Initiatives
    • Ingenium Channel
    • Curiosity on Stage
    • Women in STEM
    • Aquatic Science Initiatives
    • Climate Science
    • Innovation Storybook

Communication

Hours and Location

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday
Address
1867 St Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON
Admission
Browse all Visitor Information for Canada Science and Technology Museum
Browse All Visitor Information

Communication

An old television sitting up high on a museum shelf.

Every time you send a text, yawn during a conversation, order a coffee, or write a story, you’re communicating. Communication is the exchange of information, and you’re always doing it, whether you notice it or not. You might consciously communicate by speaking or writing a note to pass along a message. However, you are also always unconsciously communicating: your clothing, facial expressions, body language, and so much else about you is constantly sending messages out into the world. In fact, you cannot not communicate!

How it works

Communication starts off with the sender — the person who is about to communicate something. Then, there’s the process of encoding, which is when the sender takes what they want to say and turns it into a message that can be sent. For example, someone might have an idea they want to communicate, and writing it in a text message is their way of encoding it, and their chosen channel is the cell network. The receiver then has to decode it. In this case, it would mean reading and interpreting the text message. However, often noise is present. Noise is any barrier to effective communication, like not being able to understand what the sender exactly meant with all their emojis. This process occurs in conscious communication as well as unconscious communication — you just don’t notice it’s even happening.

A diagram of communication showing how a message is sent. An arrow goes from the sender to the channel to the receiver. Another set of arrows goes from the noise to the channel to the receiver.

Communication can be verbal, meaning that it is coded into symbols of some sort, like a language — even non-spoken languages like Morse code. Non-verbal communication isn’t coded in any way but still transmits a message, like crossing your arms to show that you’re mad.

Why it matters

Humans have a unique ability to communicate, and no other animal is able to communicate with language the way we can. Our ability to form an infinite number of meanings from a small code — 26 letters in English and French — allows us to form complex ideas, share meaning, and communicate problems efficiently.

In the twenty-first century, effective communication is just as important as ever. Every organization and every relationship is completely dependent on how well its members communicate. Good communication is the basis of making connections, sharing experiences, building understanding, and strengthening communities. Without it, people cannot make friends, teams cannot accomplish goals, and relationships cannot be built. Barriers to communication — including use of ambiguous language, use of unfamiliar slang, and lack of attention — cause problems in every workplace, school, and relationship. By practicing your communication skills, you can avoid these barriers and communicate effectively.

A Canadian connection

The radio revolutionized the world of communication forever. When Canadian inventor Donald Hings thought about the applications it could have, his most famous invention was born: the walkie-talkie. The walkie-talkie is a two-way radio that allows two users to communicate with each other using radio waves. This invention was instrumental in the success of the Canadian army in the Second World War, and is still used today in law enforcement, rescue operations, and for recreational purposes — our staff even use them in the museum!

A black and white photo of two transceiver radios set in front of their storage bags.
Canadian Radio Mfg. Ltd., Transceiver, radio, after 1953

Go Further

How many different communication technologies can you find at the Canada Science and technology Museum? The Smartphone display in Artifact Alley might be a good place to start!

Try This Out! – Polybius Square

Try This Out! - Braille

Program Details

SCITECH
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Program Location
Online
  • View all programs at the Canada Science and Technology Museum

Footer

About Canada Science and Technology Museum

Canada Science and Technology Museum
The Canada Science and Technology Museum tells Canada's innovation story in an immersive, educational, and fun way.
Read more about the museum

Contact Us

Canada Science and Technology Museum
1867 St Laurent Blvd
Ottawa ON K1G 5A3
Canada

613-991-3044
1-866-442-4416
contact@IngeniumCanada.org
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Museum

    • About the Museum
    • Visitor Information
    • Careers
    • Accessibility
  • Visit

    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
    • Canada Aviation and Space Museum
    • Canada Science and Technology Museum
    • Ingenium Centre
  • Support

    • The Foundation
    • Ways to Donate
    • Membership
    • Corporate Memberships
    • Volunteering
    • Partnerships
    • Online Boutique
    • Venue Rentals
    • Book a Travelling Exhibition
  • For Media

    • Newsroom
    • Awards
    • The Channel

Connect with us

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest Ingenium news straight to your inbox!

Sign Up

Legal Bits

Ingenium Privacy Statement

© 2023 Ingenium

Symbol of the Government of Canada
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Hours
    • Admission
    • Location and Directions
    • Accessibility
    • Browse All Visitor Information
    • Buy Tickets
    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • About the Museum
  • What's On at the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Spaces and Studios
  • Bookings and Rentals
    • School Programs
    • Birthday Parties
    • Summer Camps
    • Venue Rentals
    • Travelling Exhibitions
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Group Visits
  • Educational Programs
    • School Programs
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Program Location
      • At the Museum
      • At Your School
      • Online
      • Browse all Educational Programs
    • Popular Links
      • 3D Educational Resources
      • Digital Learning Kits
      • Games and Apps
      • Online Resources for Science at Home
      • Tell Me About
      • Try This Out
  • Collection and Research
    • Research Institute
    • Research Projects
    • Collection Resources
      • Ingenium Collection
      • Collection Highlights
      • Conservation and Collection Services
    • Library and Archives
      • Library and Archives Services
      • Library Catalogue
      • Digital Archives
    • Open Access
      • Ingenium APIs
      • Open Data
      • Open Documents
  • Projects and Initiatives
    • Ingenium Channel
    • Curiosity on Stage
    • Women in STEM
    • Aquatic Science Initiatives
    • Climate Science
    • Innovation Storybook