Ever wonderd what life would be like without emails? How would you get across that urgent document you planned to mail your client on the other side of the globe on TIME, how you going to wish your kid brother away in college all the best for his exams, at the last moment � and so many hows? Is the thought too scary to even imagine! Makes you wonder how times have changed!
Gone are the days when peons used to carry messages to and fro within the office, and even office intercoms have taken a backseat with the advent of the electronic era. The Internet and the Intranet, have created a Web which is not just world wide, but which has also revolutionized intra-office communication in a way nobody could have envisioned.
As with every other technology electronic mail (email) too has great advantages, along with its own drawbacks. The plus side includes the speed and distance it covers, not to mention not having to budge from your system and not needing to fume at engaged phone lines. And you can be sure that your message will reach its destination, be it the next table or halfway around the globe, in minutes - even seconds, sometimes - and be waiting for the person even if he is not at his table, unlike phone calls, where the presence of the target is necessary. Which can be counted as one of email's greatest advantages. But as they say "one man's food is another's poison", and even about emails, dual opinions are rampant.
Dora Dias, an employee of Embedded Wireless Labs, points to the lack of confidentiality of the medium, saying, "mails can be retrieved from the servers." And, often, "there is no hard copy of important documents. Which can be a serious issue in case a system is inaccessible, or it crashes." Another consideration is learning the correct "netetiquette" so as not to unintentionally cause any offence. However Dora agrees that there are advantages as well: "Communication through emails, has vastly cut down on paper work, with offices spread across the globe. Not to mention the increase in efficiency, and feasibility." She also points out that e-mails fetch immediate results. And as an afterthought she adds, " It's great to send a cheer up note to a depressed colleague."
According to Sabina Rego of Celstream, one of the greatest advantages of mails is that "appointments don't have to be made. And here, since matters are put in writing rather than oral, there is proof of communication." In case of official issues, "one can always trace the 'sequence' of communication based on dates, replies etc." According to Sabina, another great convenience is that of "sending the same info to multiple people at one go," wherever they may be."
Unfortunately, it is always easier getting things done in person, and discussions are definitely more effective in person, opines Sabina. "There is always the chance of persons misunderstanding when the communication is not oral, also facial expressions and attitudes while speaking can make a world of a difference," she says. "Also, you can never be sure whether the person has received the mail, and if you accidentally send it to the wrong mail id, it can at times lead to unimaginable repercussions."
Email also has its share of die-hard supporters. For Appanna, web writer in LG, it is a highly personal and confidential form of communication. He says, "The best thing about emails is, one can create an email ID at will and send different mails for different occasions. In terms of speed, I can't think of anything else that reaches faster than e-mail."
Mani Mozhi, a software professional in IBM, agrees with the advantages and puts it in a nutshell: "It is a very positive development for communication, both formal and informal, and I can find no fault with it."
In any case, it has become an integral part of our communications system and it looks as though it is here to stay. So it's "good bye" to pigeons and peons for now.
