[LINK] Text and talk

[Ivan Trundle]

Dear Linkers

Has anyone else noticed a strange switch of allegiance between text  
and voice, and the chosen method of communication?

When mobile phones first hit the planet with any impact, everyone  
used computers to text each other (IM via AIM, AOL, MSN et al) and  
reserved voice conversations for the analog phone line, or the mobile.

And now, with VoIP, Skype, iChat and beyond, I see that people are  
using computers to talk to each other (or with video), and reserving  
the mobile phone for texting. And paradoxically, I'm finding it  
easier to keep up with friends and colleagues overseas more easily  
than locals (because I can see them when I'm talking to them - locals  
tend to focus on texting).

A strange shift, indeed.

I'm wondering what our esteemed Linkers make of all this?

Food for thought. There's a thesis in there somewhere!

Warmly

iT