This week I became interested in the readings about application software for communications, found mostly on page 174 of our textbook. Could it be because my major is in the College of Journalism and Communications?
Application software for communications is sometimes considered system software because it works with hardware and it also works with transmission media. Some software even makes their users more productive and helps them create tasks. Below, I have listed some of the specific communication devices from the textbook that really stood out to me.
- E-mail: Can send messages and files via a network, most commonly the internet
- Instant Messaging: In real time, users can exchange audio, files, video and text. It can be purchased seperately, but many IM companies are free.
- Chat Room: (pictured above) Real time online conversation and requires chat client software.
- Blogging: Articles in the form of a diary or a journal format, usually listed in reverse chronological order. Most web sites do not require software to maintain their blogs.
- RSS Aggregator: You can keep track of changes made by web sites by RSS feeds. They are usually intergrated in e-mail programs and web browers.
Last Friday, Ask.com announced they will be shutting down their RSS feed program, called "BlogLines." The article below explains more in detail, but basically Ask.com could not possibly keep up the demands with rivals such as "Google Reader." It is also stated that Ask.com paid little attention to the program added in 2005 and did not update it as frequently.
This article just goes to show that consumers are watching and looking for new changes, and if your web site looks outdated and behind in the times, people will look elsewhere. It also is saying that people want to use the easiest, most convenient software out there. This society is a busy one, and people don't have time to use outdated features on a web site for communication.
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