By John McCormick Special to GCN As ubiquitous as e-mail is in the workplace today, it took years for it to really change the office. Individuals had been using chat boards and e-mail services long before it became a real work tool outside of the scientific community.
Instant messaging bears significant similarities to e-mail.
It works in a similar way, except that the IM host tells you who among your contacts are currently online, ready to read a message this instant. It also notifies them when you send a message, rather than letting the message sit in their e-mail server waiting for them to log on to check their mail. And while the use of IM has been popularized by kids talking to friends on America Online, its popularity in the working world is growing. Government offices are finding they need this technology. Unlike both e-mail and telephone voice mail, it provides instant feedback, so you know your message got through.