If you think about what life must have been like 150 years ago, 
when long distance communication meant putting pen to paper, 
it’s astonishing to think about how far we’ve come.  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.  I remember growing up in a large house, with an 
entire room devoted to the telephone.  There was a small desk, 
chair, lamp, and telephone.  Nothing more.

In the 21st Century, this seems like a way to converse straight 
out of the Middle Ages, 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.