Subject: Re: Markle initiative for universal e-mail
CWHITCOM@bentley.edu
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 12:33:30 -0400 (EDT)
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 12:33:30 -0400 (EDT) From: CWHITCOM@bentley.edu Subject: Re: Markle initiative for universal e-mail To: ROUNDTABLE@CNI.ORG Message-Id: <01IVZ5CJZAN68Y6GWP@bentley.edu>
Mary asked about the literacy issue with regard to our experience at
Virtually Wired. My guess is that if a literacy problem existed, we
would not see it because the visitor would not call attention to it.
Software is being developed by Allan Shaw that accomodates for
literacy problems in email. He's created networks in rough inner
city neighborhoods which have resulted in very surprising, postive
results in community empowerment. Email does not have to mean long
distance. It can be a very effective local medium.
We've found at VW Web browsing is not the hook that keeps them coming back.
It's email, newsgroups, and chat. Pretty pictures look a lot like TV and
magazines after a while - interaction is forever new. Thank goodness for
services like Hotmail and Juno. We can't provide email accounts on our
server but we have many people who expect to do email on their first
visit. With these services it's not a problem.
Coralee Whitcomb
Virtually Wired
<cwhitcom@bentley.edu>
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