New technologies offer yet another way to remain connected with friends, family, and associates. Computers, smartphones, and other gadgets have made it easier to stay in touch with both professional and social contacts.

Yet while bells and whistles of new technology may satisfy our inclination for novelty, these devices can also distract us from our work and direct face-to-face interactions.

It’s important to control your online life and enhance human contact, especially conversation skills. Without the constant device distractions, you will pay better attention to the emotional and nonverbal expressions of a conversation, and thereby pick up on subtleties that would otherwise be missed.

Also keep in mind how and what you communicate with each device and method. Emails can become public and cause embarrassment if they are read by the wrong people.

Often, people try to solve subtle or complex interpersonal issues through long strings of emails, rather than having a brief face-to-face conversation could address the issues much more effectively.

And of course, a text message or Facebook post is not the most appropriate or sensitive way to end a romantic relationship.

Videoconferencing is often more effective than email for conveying emotion and subtle social cues, but it is still less valuable than in-person communication.

Although our devices are convenient and keep us connected in a practical way, when it comes to conveying emotions, empathy, and nonverbal cues, face-to-face conversations are still the best approach.