Comments on: Email is broken http://www.yourdonreport.com/index.php/2006/08/29/email-is-broken/ Blogging the impact of computer-related technology trends, and whatever else catches my interest. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:22:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Yourdon Report » Blog Archive » Impressions of the “New New Internet” conference http://www.yourdonreport.com/index.php/2006/08/29/email-is-broken/comment-page-1/#comment-1716 The Yourdon Report » Blog Archive » Impressions of the “New New Internet” conference Sat, 23 Sep 2006 12:41:23 +0000 http://yourdon.com/personal/blog/2006/08/29/email-is-broken/#comment-1716 [...] During a panel session that followed Seth’s presentation, someone suggested that email is the new basis for mashups. This was an interesting contrast to the “email is broken” theme that I heard from several Web 2.0 vendors when I met them in late August. One reason may be the distinction, noted above, between “consumer-oriented” Internet users, and “business-oriented” Internet users. The panel suggested that business users spend all day focusing on their email, because that’s where they see notifications of new tasks and assignments, reports on the status of various activities, etc. One of the panel members (I forgot to write down which one, sorry about that) argued that we should be able to use the service of Microsoft Outlook without having to actually interface with Outlook. (Later on, someone on the panel observed that most current enterprise tools, like Outlook, are neither “social” nor “collaborative.”) [...] [...] During a panel session that followed Seth’s presentation, someone suggested that email is the new basis for mashups. This was an interesting contrast to the “email is broken” theme that I heard from several Web 2.0 vendors when I met them in late August. One reason may be the distinction, noted above, between “consumer-oriented” Internet users, and “business-oriented” Internet users. The panel suggested that business users spend all day focusing on their email, because that’s where they see notifications of new tasks and assignments, reports on the status of various activities, etc. One of the panel members (I forgot to write down which one, sorry about that) argued that we should be able to use the service of Microsoft Outlook without having to actually interface with Outlook. (Later on, someone on the panel observed that most current enterprise tools, like Outlook, are neither “social” nor “collaborative.”) [...]

]]> By: The Yourdon Report » Blog Archive » So maybe email isn’t broken after all? http://www.yourdonreport.com/index.php/2006/08/29/email-is-broken/comment-page-1/#comment-1439 The Yourdon Report » Blog Archive » So maybe email isn’t broken after all? Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:08:35 +0000 http://yourdon.com/personal/blog/2006/08/29/email-is-broken/#comment-1439 [...] A few days ago, I posted an entry titled “E-mail is broken.” A couple days later, Anne Zelenka posted an opposing perspective, titled “Email: the good-enough collaboration tool.” As far as I know, she hadn’t seen my posting, though quite possibly it wouldn’t have changed her opinion. In any case, it’s an interesting perspective, and if you’re interested in the debate about the relevance of email in today’s Webified world, I recommend that you take a look at it. [...] [...] A few days ago, I posted an entry titled “E-mail is broken.” A couple days later, Anne Zelenka posted an opposing perspective, titled “Email: the good-enough collaboration tool.” As far as I know, she hadn’t seen my posting, though quite possibly it wouldn’t have changed her opinion. In any case, it’s an interesting perspective, and if you’re interested in the debate about the relevance of email in today’s Webified world, I recommend that you take a look at it. [...]

]]> By: Ian Delaney http://www.yourdonreport.com/index.php/2006/08/29/email-is-broken/comment-page-1/#comment-1200 Ian Delaney Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:15:29 +0000 http://yourdon.com/personal/blog/2006/08/29/email-is-broken/#comment-1200 Very elegant. A lot more so than my own response to the idea which just nagged at me till I had to post (at 2am!). And I can see how it neatly segues into the generational idea that was second on your list. However, I'd question a couple of things. Breaking context. Having to go to a different website is breaking context as much as switching applications, more so if there's a direct link (as is normally the case) rather than a new tab or window. I reckon this is where we really need to work. And by *we*, I obviously mean people like *you*. Generation gap. I think it might be more granular than you expect. I have 40-yr old friends who IM constantly. I can't stand it, though I'm the same age. My wife and her friends like IM and she's just two years younger than me. Maybe a (dangerous territory) gender gap too? Very elegant. A lot more so than my own response to the idea which just nagged at me till I had to post (at 2am!). And I can see how it neatly segues into the generational idea that was second on your list.

However, I’d question a couple of things.

Breaking context. Having to go to a different website is breaking context as much as switching applications, more so if there’s a direct link (as is normally the case) rather than a new tab or window. I reckon this is where we really need to work. And by *we*, I obviously mean people like *you*.

Generation gap. I think it might be more granular than you expect. I have 40-yr old friends who IM constantly. I can’t stand it, though I’m the same age. My wife and her friends like IM and she’s just two years younger than me. Maybe a (dangerous territory) gender gap too?

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