‘WAIT’ … A Mobile App To Navigate and Assist Towards Polite and Effective Online Communication.

Abstract

Increasingly, most communication in current times are online and this characteristic has been heightened due to restrictions caused by the Pandemic. During online communication, the art and etiquette of communication is often omitted. We, the researchers observed that online interactions tend to be careless and too quick with expressions of anger or just, communication that is quick, resulting in sometimes inadvertent rude, abrupt and ambiguous communication.  Hence, to address this problem, we designed a mobile app called, “Wait”. The objectives of this app are to enable students and members of the public, to “wait”, think and refer to alternative ways on how to begin, end and use specific keywords in response to various general situations using polite expressions. This app is an easy- to- use mobile app. The researchers conducted a preliminary study with school and college students whereby they were given online questionnaires before and after using the Apps. The results showed positive feedback, in the form of polite and effective communication after the use of the app.