How has high-tech gadgets for communication affected the communication of a family? What are the pros and cons

hmm–sounds like a school assignment. Cell phones take time from the family especially if family members don’t turn the ringers off, however, one can stay in touch with family members and emergency purposes when one needs family easier with cell phone.

Now I can phone my son if I am at one end of the house and he is at the other!! (We have a LONG house)

I find however that the children are OFTEN on the phone to peers, and in fact they seem to believe (hyperbole coming up) that life is not life unless one is connected to another person of the same age by phone.

It has adversely affected our house, and I have had to remove phones from the evening (10pm) to stop the boys being on the phone until 1am etc.

Just a couple of random thoughts there. Nothing researched.