Ever since British engineer Neil Papworth sent the world’s first text message on December 3, 1992 from his computer to a co-worker’s cell phone, the Instant Message system of communication was born (Breed). However, it was not until 1996 that its popularity took off as a unique method for people to exchange messages with one another in real-time.
IM is a form of communication that enables two or more persons to exchange typed text messages in real-time using computers that are linked over communication networks, like the Internet. It is also possible for computer messages to be sent to wireless or PDA mobile devices. IM has changed our way of communication in several ways.
Firstly, IM circumvents crucial drawbacks of telephone and email forms of communication. Telephone communication is intrusive, whereas IM allows a person to set a presence indicator, choosing between ‘on-line’ or ‘away message’ status so that contacts are informed when the person is accessible or inaccessible. Email’s typical ‘letter’ format is too impersonal as compared to the IM format that closely resembles real conversation; in addition, riding on the nature of modern-day people to require replies to queries speedily, IM also succeeds in radically reducing the quantity of email exchanged daily.
Secondly, not only is IM carried out in real-time, but it also provides the ability for a user to see the other person by the employment of a webcam, and even engage in straightforward conversation with another person over the Internet without any cost .
Thirdly, IM allows conversations to be retained in memory for future reference. One of the characteristics of IM is that messages are logged on to a local message history that reduces the insistent quality of emails and enables the speedy exchange of information such as URLs or document snippets .
Fourthly, IM is a great help to persons hampered by handicapped hearing, speech, or auditory processing. IM offers these persons the same privileges, rights, and opportunities as others without needing them to have recourse to assistance from special tools or services to overcome their handicap.
Fourthly, IM is an excellent medium for friends to maintain a close relationship. The IM friend-to-friend network involves every node linking to the friends mentioned on the user’s friends list, thereby allowing the exchange of messages with friends of friends in addition to developing chat rooms to exchange messages with all the friends on that system.
Lastly, IM has radically changed communication in the business world by developing a new method of business-grade IM known as “Enterprise Instant Messaging” {“EIM”}. Employees no longer need to vacate their desks to get matters clarified. It is now possible, using wireless or PDA devices, to exchange discreet communication with colleagues attending important meetings. The ability of a business to stay in touch with clients and improve sales and customer support is greatly enhanced (Instantmessagingsystem.com). Phone lines of the organization are no longer overworked, and the telephone charges are greatly reduced. There is no need for employees to engage in wasteful activities like copying or rewriting data material. Not only is presence control established, but operative and chip communication between management and other field workers is also facilitated. There is no necessity of holding a big number of tedious and time-wasting meetings and conferences. Simultaneous communication with a large number of employees is possible, thereby eliminating the need to laboriously telephone or email each one of them. Internal efficiency is enhanced as EIM programs’ built-in characteristics allow simultaneous sharing of files and automatic sending of messages. The unique EIM automatic logging facility provides huge benefits in time and money to Government organizations as well as organizations in the fields of education, health care, and finance. Perhaps most importantly, the EIM feature of distributed architecture and no ‘central server’ greatly contributes to business security – a vital aspect in today’s world plagued by extremism and terrorism.
The tremendous change that IM has brought about in communication is evident by the fact that IM programs such as MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, ICQ, and AOL Instant Messenger presently feature on the computers of 80% of active Internet users (VyPress.com). Even eccentrics have benefited from IM: Craig Abdurrohim Owensby, a businessman in Indonesia, sends instant messages involving verses from the Quran daily to subscribers; Chinese writer Qian Fuchang was hailed as the world’s first IM novelist in 2004 when he offered his story ‘Outside the Besieged Fortress’ in 60 chapters, each chapter comprising 70 characters (Breed).
References
“Benefits of Instant Messaging.” 2007. Web.
Breed, Allen G. “Text, Instant Messages Changing Communication.” The Daily Texan online. Web.
“Enterprise Instant Messaging & Emergence Alerts.” Web.
“Instant Messaging.” 2007.