The Remarkable History of Instant Messaging
HOW THIS SIMPLE TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO BRING MORE OF US TOGETHER
The very notion of being able to instantly send a message to someone located on the other side of the world – or even just the other side of one’s home or office – would have seemed nigh-on inconceivable to most of the world’s population not so long ago.
And of course, instant messaging is a concept that only became mainstream a few decades ago, within easy living memory for many of us. However, the concept has also come so far already in terms of what it represents and makes possible for so many people. Indeed, it continues to develop in remarkable ways – and as we shall see, offers scope for an enthralling future, too.
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE HUMBLE INSTANT MESSAGE
Before we go any further in exploring what instant messaging now is and where it has the potential to go in the future, we need to establish where it
