Many people may not realize how similar the Email really is compared to the U.S. Postal Service. I recently learned that it is not a coincidence at all that email is structured how it is now. The designers of email wanted a system that would retain the same core structure of the postal service; however, they wanted a better more efficient mail system that could do things the postal service could not. Let’s take a look at some major similarities of email and the U.S. Postal Service.
Both systems have the following in common:
- a sender and a receiver
- require a system that allows messages and letters to be delivered to the correct destination
- specific routes taken with many stops along the way
- junk mail sent to their mail box
- require a form authentication by the user, usually a key or username/password; although, both systems are not completely safe from unauthorized viewers
Email also has many obvious differences from the postal service. Some of these differences are mentioned below.
Differences between the systems include:
- All mail is sent electronically with email via the Internet instead of hard paper copies
- Email for the most part is free - no stamps needed to send an email
- Expected time of delivery for an email is basically seconds instead of days or weeks like in the postal service system
- Email addresses do not leave room for any human error if address is slightly wrong (sometimes the case with USPS)
Email has become a highly respected form of communication in our current society. Perhaps it was the well thought out, well designed and well implemented system of email that made it as popular and trusted as it is now. I think email is a brilliant highly efficient communication system that has even greater potential to grow in the near future.
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