A second technique for facilitating modem pals is to have the kids exchange voice phone numbers. Voice communication between the children can help establish a secondary link, to further bolster the communication relationship. One bulletin board in the Washington DC metropolitan area has had moderate success with encouraging children to link up with modem pals. First time callers to the board are amazed to see that there are over twenty five children waiting to link up with modem pals. This modem pal project has not gone entirely smoothly, though.
Some children only get to use a modem during school hours.
Typing out a meaningful e-mail message during a busy school day almost requires a 30 word per minute touch typing ability. Other children call into the BBS infrequently from a friend's house, or use a modem borrowed from the school. It makes sense to prohibit such infrequent callers from having their names listed on the modem pals list. Nothing is more discouraging than sending a warm greeting message to someone who logs onto the BBS once every three months. Because telecommunications is likely to form a central role in future work and social communications, it pays to plan carefully how the technology is introduced to children.