PHYSICAL BARRIERS
Physical barrier is the environmental and natural conditions that act as a barrier in communication. workspace design problems, technological problems and noise are the parts of physical barriers.
Some of the physical barriers are -a) Environment or Climate
Thunder, rain, wind, unstable temperature and other environmental factors create disturbances which cannot be stopped and interrupt the message flow.
b) Time
Time also acts as physical barrier because If a message is not sent timely, the message will not have the effect. This causes barrier in communication. So, the time of the message should be accurate.
c) Distance
Face to face communication has the least physical communication barrier but the geographical distance creates more barriers as it requires more technical channels.
d) Medium Disturbance or Technical Problem
Mediums have to use network facilities which might lead to technical and technological problems. Sometimes the medium itself acts as a communication barrier and disrupts communication flow. Every kind of medium has one or the other defects and disadvantages over another.
e) Workspace Design
If the workspaces of sender and receiver are far away from each other they will not be able to communicate properly, take proper orders, make plans, get feedbacks and suggest new ideas. Seating arrangements and physical comfort also create disturbance in communication. In this way, workspace designs act as a physical barrier to effective communication.
f) Noise:
Noise is the disruption found in the environment of the communication. It is an unwanted, signal or interruption which hinders the flow of communication. It disturbs the communication process and acts as a barrier as it makes the message less accurate, less productive and unclear. It might even prevent the message from reaching the receiver.
Noise has its involvement in all kinds of visual, audio-visual, written, physical, oral form etc. Noise may enter from any side in the process of communication. Mostly noise is created in the environment. There are many kinds of noise in communication process such as physical noise, written noise, technological noise, etc-
i. Physical noise are the disturbances that occur due to outside or background disturbance and environment. This type of noise occurs in mostly all kinds of communication like face to face, written, etc.
ii. Written noise like bad handwriting or typing is also taken as physical barrier.
iii. Technological noise is the noise that occur in the medium or channel like no sound while talking on phone or message sending failure in chats.
g) GATE WAY: We should avoid the noise by selecting a suitable sound proof hall or auditorium, or room etc.
