Reading Response

Communication has grown more advanced over the years. It has gotten advanced at an extremely fast paced that some still haven't seen the technology and new ways to get in contact with people. After reading the chapters assigned it is clear that during the time when chat rooms and “muds” first began that it brought a whole new meaning behind communication. The entire theory behind a chat room in my opinion is that it is live. It takes place in real time with real people anywhere in the world. If a person is to really think about it, it actually is mind boggling. Simply because you can be whom ever you want on the Internet. I guess this is why so many people say chat rooms are dangerous. There is one company in mind which took full advantage of the rising popularity of communication over the Internet. This company is AOL. One of the primary foundations around chat rooms, instant messenger, and email. As time progressed more instant messengering programs and various communications popped up. Such as ICQ, (which is now owned by AOL), MSN, or the latest is Google Talk. All of these programs have something different about them, but overall the most similar part about them is the messenger system /chat room effect. Muds gave a way of playing a roll in which you cannot do in real life. The same goes with any chat source of the Internet. I don't think Muds, chat rooms, or any other form of communication over the Internet will ever actually parish. They may of course not become as popular. The fact that you can be anyone you want or be able to communicate with someone, and then not have that shy quality you would over telephone or in person will always be there. The biggest or well newest trend that seems to be taking place is web cam. This does of course go way out there from what the reading describe. Web cam takes the idea of live chat and mixes it with talking in person. Whether the person is thousands of miles away you can actually see their face through your monitor and they can do the same and see you. You can in fact have a live chat right through the interest as if they were standing right next to you. Of course this isn't as advanced yet, but I am sure much like how chat rooms and muds first began that improvement isn't far away.