Electronic mails; better known as e-mails. They have been around even before the dawn of the internet. Early forms of e-mails, somewhat being the “letters” of the modern era, have been dominating the virtual scene since 1965. E-mails are a more up to date method of transmitting data, text files, digital photos, and audio and video files from one computer to another over the internet. This phenomenon did not become popular until 1990 and now it is a major business and personal communications (ThinkQuest, 2005).
Today, e-mails have virtually taken over letter writing. They serve as a rather convenient, free and easy avenue through which one can convey the necessary information to the intended recipients. Almost every other person would know how to use e-mails because it is so simple, with ample instructions and help features.
“Before internetworking began, email could only be used to send messages to v
arious users of the same computer. Once computers began to talk to each other over networks, however, the problem became a little more complex - We needed to be able to put a message in an envelope and address it. To do this, we needed a means to indicate to whom letters should go that the electronic posties understood - just like the postal system, we needed a way to indicate an address.” (Net History, 2004). This is where Ray Tomlinson was credited for inventing the e-mail back in 1972. Tomlinson created addresses, which differs according to the users. This made it easier for people to sent messages jus to that intended person, and not to everyone else who uses the same computer.
arious users of the same computer. Once computers began to talk to each other over networks, however, the problem became a little more complex - We needed to be able to put a message in an envelope and address it. To do this, we needed a means to indicate to whom letters should go that the electronic posties understood - just like the postal system, we needed a way to indicate an address.” (Net History, 2004). This is where Ray Tomlinson was credited for inventing the e-mail back in 1972. Tomlinson created addresses, which differs according to the users. This made it easier for people to sent messages jus to that intended person, and not to everyone else who uses the same computer.Thus, the ease at which one can make use of e-mails has soared it total users to 600 million, ever since its launch.
As we improve and diverse vastly, in terms of technology, the e-mail also improves with us. Hence, now the e-mail not only serves its prime purpose of transmitting information, but also acts as a medium through which viruses and spasm mails are being sent.
Email has had a wonderful impact on the amount of information being sent world wi
de. It is now an important method of transmitting information previously sent by regular mail, telephone, courier, fax, television, or radio. (ThinkQuest, 2005). Some of the key advantages of the e-mail are its speed, the ease at which data is processed, and its mail lists. E-mails can be at present be sent to all parts of the world instantaneously. There is not much of a hassle involved. Secondly, e-mails contain electronic information, as its name suggest. Therefore, it is almost effortless to further work on the information if there is a need to. Lastly, “users may join special mailing lists, so that they will be automatically provided with the latest information by electronic circular letters. Information providers, on the other hand, can fully automize the process of distributing information.” (InfoCenter FbWi, 1997).
de. It is now an important method of transmitting information previously sent by regular mail, telephone, courier, fax, television, or radio. (ThinkQuest, 2005). Some of the key advantages of the e-mail are its speed, the ease at which data is processed, and its mail lists. E-mails can be at present be sent to all parts of the world instantaneously. There is not much of a hassle involved. Secondly, e-mails contain electronic information, as its name suggest. Therefore, it is almost effortless to further work on the information if there is a need to. Lastly, “users may join special mailing lists, so that they will be automatically provided with the latest information by electronic circular letters. Information providers, on the other hand, can fully automize the process of distributing information.” (InfoCenter FbWi, 1997). One of the biggest disadvantages of email is the availability of room for misunderstanding. For instance, saying that my friend is a PIG, and saying my friend is (wink) a PIG (grin), is totally different. It is very much obvious that the second example is slant toward a friendlier and no so serious tone.
Spamming is another issue that has been bothering most e-mail users today. As Wikipedia puts it “spamming is unsolicited commercial e-mail. Because of the very low cost of sending e-mail, spammers can send hundreds of millions of e-mail messages each day over an inexpensive Internet connection. Hundreds of active spammers sending this volume of mail results in information overload for many computer users who receive tens or even hundreds of junk messages each day.” (Wikipedia, 2007).
The final and rather new drawback that the e-mail has is the spread of e-mail viruses. Although better known as the e-mail worm, these viruses attach themselves to the emails that are being sent out, and once opened, they quickly replicate themselves into the hard drives. Thus, it is the job of responsible e-mail users to scan all incoming e-mails for such viruses that could crash their system in just a matter of seconds.
Hence, it does not really matter if we are technologically savvy. What is more important is that the more we rely on technology and e-mails, the more we should be considerate to the other users out there. Thus exercising responsible usage is of utmost importance!
References
1. History of the Internet (August 20, 2006) From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Retrieved 12:49, January 25, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_the_Internet&oldid=70771572
2. History of the World Wide Web (September 5, 2006) From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 12:57, January 25, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_the_World_Wide_Web&oldid=73974490
3. E-mail From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Retrieved 14:02, January 26, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mail
4. Ian Peter. “The History of email” Retrieved January 25, 2007, from
5. R.T.Griffiths (October 11, 2002). “History of the Internet”. Retrieved January 25, 2007 from http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/history/ivh/chap3.htm
6. Information Society Technologies (May 16, 2003). “The Pros of Email - It's Not All Spam!”. Retrieved January 26, 2007, from http://istresults.cordis.europa.eu/index.cfm/section/news/tpl/article/BrowsingType/Features/ID/1036
7. InfoCenter FbWi (October 29, 1997). “The Internet: A General Introduction”. Retrieved January 26, 2007 from http://www.mcl.fh-osnabrueck.de/~temme/tutor/internet/slides/image14.html
8. “The History of Email”. Retrieved January 26, 2007 from http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00047/email.htm
