Models of Communication: Linear vs Interactive

After reading the differences between linear and interactive communication, it is clear that both are used on a day to day basis. When we listen to the radio or watch television we communicating linearly. When we are ordering breakfast, this is interactive. How either model of communication is used is up to the communicator. The linear type of communication is more obvious in lecture venues or when we are getting the lengthy “this is what I would have liked to see” talk from the boss or from mom and dad. I think another appropriate form of linear communication is seen in sports. The quarterback is a good example because he is the one calling the play in the huddle. No one else in the huddle can call the play. Instead, everyone in the huddle hears the play (encoded message) and should know how to run that play (decode the message.) This is actually one of the draw backs of linear communication; it assumes that the listening party understands what is being said. This form of communication is much different then that of interactive communication where more then one party is responsible for contribution to the conversation. Sticking with football, if the coach and players had not interactively communicated about the plays, how would the quarterback know what he was telling his team, moreover, how would the team know what was being told to them. The reality is that all would be lost if interactive communication was not part of creating the plays. It is imperative to communicate in order to avoid catastrophe.