Staying in Touch
by Gerrit Dalman
The world seems to shrink as the global information grid grows. Technology has been bringing people together across great distances since before the development of paving stones, but the explosion of information technology in the past fifty years has woven humanity more tightly than any previous development.
In this day and age people keep in touch with more than just telephones and mail. In fact, your Mac is certainly your most versatile and capable communications device. With it you can share words, pictures, sounds, and actions with whomever you choose.
Email is one of the oldest computer applications and is the most commonly used tool for interpersonal communication on the internet. The close analogy to traditional forms of written communication, the ease of use, and the universal compatibility of the protocol make it loved by most and used by all.
Though email is promptly delivered, it is read at the discretion of the recipient and doesn't necessarily demand attention. For more immediate communication, instant messaging is the way to go.
Instant messaging is not just a medium for teenage cell phone addicts. It's a wonderful way to keep in touch with the people you really care about. It carries the tempo of a normal conversation, but it carries an online presence that you control so you don't have to make time like you would for a phone call. Your Mac even comes with an outstanding instant messaging client standard.
Even better, it is one-click easy in iChat. Video chats are ideal for both inter-office and long-distance business communication but are also the best possible way to stay in touch with friends and family. Gathering some loved ones around a camera so you can see each other and have real conversations with exceptional full-screen video quality is what iChat is all about.
Of course maintaining friendships isn't just about sharing words and having conversations. Communication is much more than that. Doing things together is the best possible way to bond and now you can even do that on the internet. There are productive examples, of course, but the most prevalent form of online interaction is gaming.
The internet is full of communities to join, but using it to maintain and reinforce existing relationships seems to be a better use. So embrace the digital life style - send your friends an update now and then, chat with what family you can, and exercise your digital presence!