Five reasons why e-mail will not die

Shiva Ayyadurai, who has his roots in Rajapalayam, was born in Mumbai and left for the U.S. when he was just seven. The family moved cities four times because it wanted better education for him. At 14, he is said to have invented the first email system and was awarded the first U.S. copyright for ‘email’ on August 30, way back in 1982.

This American scientist of Indian origin, who was recently in the city, tells us why this form of communication will not die despite the popularity of texting and other forms of online chats.

1. E-mail is a business application and a powerful medium of communication. Everybody might follow/know the Twitter handle of a celebrity like, say, Amitabh Bachchan, but how many might know his e-mail ID?

2.Texting is the equivalent of sticky notes and used for short exchanges. Facebook and other social media are the equivalent of bulleting boards, which are meant for passing information to a group of people or community. But e-mail is the form of communication used for official purposes. As long as business exists, e-mail will.

3. Studies reveal that CEOs spend 35 per cent of their time sending e-mails. This form of communication will improve with the advent of artificial intelligence; soon, everyone might be dictating their e-mail.

4. The postal service should start an e-mail service that can be charged, unlike free services offered by major companies. That way, the information sent through this service can be protected by democratic laws.

5. There are 4.2 billion e-mail accounts and that number is growing by the day.

E-mail is the form of communication used for official purposes. As long as business exists, e-mail will.

Source | The Hindu | 29 August 2015