Electronic Mail (E-mail)

   As previously stated, electronic mail or e-mail is the most popular method of CMC. E-mail allows for one-to-one or one-to-many communication. As a result, it can be used for both human and mass communication. For example, two people can share their intimate thoughts through e-mail, or it can be used to send thousands of the same advertising messages (spam) to different people around the world. Simply stated, e-mail is used for interpersonal, small group, and mass communication.

   But e-mail is no longer tied to personal computers. Advances in wireless communication enable people to access their e-mail from remote locations with portable devices. Additionally, embedded computing, the placement of computer chips into all types of devices, is becoming more widespread. Soon people will have ubiquitous access to their e-mail accounts because computer chips are being placed in cell phones, cars, and handheld gadgets.

Discussion Lists

   Discussion list is a term commonly used to refer to asynchronous communication, or communication that allows participants to read messages at different times. Three common types of discussion groups are listservs, Web forums, and newsgroups. To create a listserv discussion group, someone must set up a discussion list on a networked host computer. This requires disk space to store messages and software to send and receive messages to and from list members. Host computers are usually large mainframe or minicomputers. These machines act as a clearinghouse for sending and receiving information.

   Lists are either moderated or unmoderated. In moderated communication, the moderator, usually the owner of the list, reserves the right to make all decisions about the posting of messages. In highly moderated lists, the moderator will read all of the incoming messages before they are distributed to list members. However, this type of intensive monitoring is rarely necessary and it can be extremely time-consuming. As a result, most lists tend to be unmoderated. When messages are sent to unmoderated lists, they are automatically distributed to all group members.

   Because of the widespread use of the Web, some sites incorporate discussion areas into their designs. The New York Times site, mentioned earlier in this chapter, is an example. E-mail messages are sent to the Times, messages are placed on the site, and both journalists and readers can interact with each other and share opinions about news topics.