instant messaging

Instant Messaging

1.1. Definition

Instant messaging is a form of real-time communication via Internet between two or more people, based on typed text. It has become routine and popular as an informal method of communication for people of all ages, groups and environments, and especially for teenagers and college students. People chat online at work, at home, and even over their cellular phones.

1.2. History

This way of communication first appeared in the mid-1960s on multi-user operating systems like CTSS and Multics. Initially, these systems were used for printing, butdeveloped to be a way of communicating with other users logged. In the 1980s, some systems, such as Freelancin' Roundtable, incorporated chat features and in the last half of the 1980s and into the early 1990s, some computers offered user-to-user messages between currently connected customers and they called it "On-Line Messages" (OLM). These messages appeared with a yellow bar saying "Message From:" and the name of the sender. More modern programs started to appear in the mid 1990s. This is the case of “AOL Instant Messenger” (AIM), which in 1997 decided to release a free version of its instant messaging system. Also other companies developed their own applications (Excite, MSN, Ubique, and Yahoo).

1.3. Advantages and disadvantages

Probably the main reasons of its success are its availability, easy to use and time saving nature. It is available for anyone because it is free - you don’t have to pay for this service, you just download it. It is also very simple and easy to use - you just type what you want to say. And it is fast, because unlike e-mails, you get the response very quickly.Additional advantages include the possibility of doing other things at the same time (“multitasking”), as well as sending files, pictures and other types of documents, talkingwith a number of people at the same time, having a contact list, talking with people from other parts of the world and keeping up with your friends and your family.

One disadvantage is the loss of authenticity. Everything that is said can be prepared beforehand, sacrificing spontaneity. It also makes deceiving easier since people may try to pretend to be someone else and hide their true identity. Thus, for shy personalities it offers an easy way to substitute personal relationships with face to face communication for a virtual social life. Some web pages have been developed precisely for this, for example “Habbo”, where you can create a character and move through rooms meeting and talking with other users who are also connected. An important problem is the lack of protection from harmful contents of the Internet.

1.4. Language

Instant Messaging has had some important social consequences, especially in the language, which has become universal, with well-known expressions such as LOL (laugh out loud), FYI (for your information), BTW (by the way)…Users also abbreviate common words in order to quicken conversations. Some emotional expression such as (chortle),(snort), (guffaw) or (eye-roll) are commonly used. Also, certain standards including '#' (sarcasm) and '*' (spelling mistake or grammatical error in the previous message, followed by a correction) are used.

Sources

www.instantmessagingplanet.com

External links

17/2/09