# The Computer Revolution/Communication/Instant Messaging

Instant Messaging
IM has been around for some time now, but started off with people placing their notes and messages on bulletin boards and other online services.
Features of IM are:
* Instant messages - Send notes back and forth with a friend
* Chat - Create your own chat room with friends or co-workers
* Web links - Share links to your favorite Web sites
* Images - Look at an image stored on your friend's computer
* Sounds - Play sounds for your friends
* Files - Share files by sending them directly to your friends
* Talk - Use the Internet instead of a phone to actually talk with friends
* Streaming content - Real-time or near-real-time stock quotes and news
(http://www.howstuffworks.com/instant-messaging.htm) Retrieved January 16, 2007
It really kicked off in 1996 when Jewish programmers introduced ICQ. It was one of the first successful IM programs. After that, AOL came out with AIM instant messenger. It is messaging in real time and messages are sent trough internet to any computer you desire. When text messaging started, you were able to see message getting typed in real time. If you needed to make corrections in the text, the other party is able to see what you are doing. Now days the only messages you see is the ones that are sent whenever the typist is done writing. There are many popular IM services like MSN messenger, Meetro, Skype, Yahoo messenger, Gadu-Gadu and Google Talk are just some of them. Now days most popular one is MSN messenger. One of the most important is considered a very safe way to communicate. You still shouldn’t share important or personal information through IM. </nowiki>. It was one of the first successful IM programs. After that, AOL launched AIM instant messenger. It is messaging in real time and messages are sent trough internet to any computer you desire. When text messaging started, you were able to see message getting typed in real time. If you needed to make corrections in the text, the other party is able to see what you are doing. Now days the only messages you see is the ones that are sent whenever the typist is done writing. There are many popular IM services like MSN messenger, Meetro, Skype, Yahoo messenger, Gadu-Gadu and Google Talk are just some of them. Now days most popular one is MSN messenger. One of the most important is considered a very safe way to communicate. You still shouldn’t share important or personal information through IM.
Downside of Instant Messaging
Instant messages create disruptions to work and studying. Many people, mostly young kids and young adults use instant messenger. The most frequent users are those who play online video games or spend hours surfing the net (http://www.personal.psu.edu/zev100/IM.pdf). Instead of concentrating on a homework assignment or contributing productively at work people are spending their time instant messaging. This creates a generation that could become lazy due to low concentration levels. Not only does instant messaging create a lazy generation it also contributes to a decreased awareness of spelling and grammar (http://www.personal.psu.edu/zev100/IM.pdf). Instant messengers have created their own type of language made up of acronyms and abbreviations that they loose the smart vocabulary that people use in conversation. Instant messaging also reduces face to face communication which teaches people how to communicate with body language and facial expressions which is an integral part of communication (http://www.personal.psu.edu/zev100/IM.pdf). A statement can be interpreted in the wrong way therefore offending the receiver. Lastly instant messaging allows an open forum for children and people to chat with strangers that could be dangerous. Personal information can be obtained by online chats that could be harmful if in the hands of the wrong person.
Nowadays we drop the use of the telephone to talk to someone and fire up the computer and use Instant Messaging to talk to our family, friends, Co-Workers, etc. Instant messaging is easy to use and is free to download. Some of them include AIM, Windows Live, or Yahoo. Instant Messaging is the long form of using Twitter. With an Instant message you type your thoughts into a box on the screen and it sends your comments over the World Wide Web to the recipients on the other end who is on your buddy list. Some of the features of Instant Messaging include sending Emoticons, different sounds & emotions, colors, fonts, and backgrounds. As long as you are not writing your ideas in all capital letters you’re talking in a polite voice. On the other hand, if you are mad at someone then go right ahead and type it all in capitals which means you is shouting at the person. More of today’s applications such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace are merging their friend lists straight into your favorite instant messengers. For several individuals like myself who use a screen reader I love having all of my social networking sites combined into one application where the screen reader is able to pick up the entire conversation to and from the recipient instead of being on the site and picking up half of the conversation.