If you think about how far communication has evolved in the past 
century, when long distance communication meant putting pen to 
paper, it really gives one pause.  Today, many people will tell 
you they feel positively naked without a cell phone dangling 
from the hip, and a palm pilot or Blackberry in the pocket.  
Handbags are now specially designed with these and similar 
items in mind.  These are "can’t do withouts", and we haven’t 
even touched on the computer.

The coming of electronic media was certainly revolutionary.  
People now had choices of how they were going to get – and 
give – their news.  They were now also able to send and receive 
information in seconds and minutes – not days and weeks.  With 
one transaction, they could distribute articles and stories to 
thousands and thousands of sources, by using a service such as 
the phantom writers ( http://www.thephantomwriters.com ). 

Telephone services, in particular seem to be evolving daily, 
with corporate mergers, new service plans, and updated products. 
Cell phones are now considered standard equipment and fashion 
accessories, as we walk around with phone in hand.  And by using 
voice over Internet Protocol, the computer is converted into an 
inexpensive phone.  Voice sounds are compressed into data 
packets and sent without the need for traditional phone lines.

But what about those times when you want to send a written 
message but don’t fancy having to involve the post office.  
Well, that’s covered, too, which is why e-mail has come of age.  
Although fairly new, e-mail is already experiencing massive 
problems – spam, unwanted advertising, and computer viruses – 
due to unscrupulous people whose aim is to hurt and/or profit 
unethically.

E-mail, as we currently know it, must evolve into another form.  
There are currently discussions about charging senders in order 
to stop the spam – but what about the poor soul whose computer 
is unknowingly “hijacked” by a spammer, to send out junk by the 
millions?  Most of these spammers are not in the U.S., and 
therefore not subject to U.S. laws.  Another consideration is 
charging to receive e-mail.  But either way, there are 
additional things to contend with besides receiving the 
message itself – unwanted advertising and computer viruses.

The solution seems to be finding another way to get the written 
word and picture to recipients by finding a bypass that 
eliminates the problems.  Legislation is slow and clumsy, and 
those intent on causing harm seem to be one step ahead of the 
regulators.