Silicon Valley, California
Norwood HS Northeastern University BSEE Rutgers University MSCS
Norwood MA, York Beach Maine, Nashua NH, Quakertown NJ, Kauai HI , Tucson AZ, Atherton CA
Aging is not 'lost youth' but a new stage of opportunity and strength ... quote by Betty Friedan
The Easy PC -- Take a Look at GOThe 411 on Text Messaging
It seems everyone under the age of thirty five is doing it; they love to communicate by text messaging. You might consider trying it because it is a great way to stay in-touch with your children and grandchildren, but before you try, TM (text messaging) lets get the 411 (information) about what is text-messaging, ways to use it and importantly how to read it.
Most digital cell phones have the ability to send and receive text messages. This service is referred to as SMS or “short message service”. When you create a text message you are generally limited to very short message lengths – about 160 characters and spaces. Once you have created your message, you send it to a friend’s cell phone by entering their phone number. The message goes in a few seconds -- your friend’s phone will beep and the message will appear on their screen.
So why would anyone laboriously type out short messages on those tiny cell phone key pads? You need nimble fingers and it is challenging enough just to read the tiny letters on the keypad without a magnifying glass. After all, isn’t a cell phone used to make voice calls and talk?
Just ask the people you know who text message, they will give you many reasons why they like it, such as text messages are less intrusive than a phone call. For instance, you can send a quick note without distracting your friend or family member from what they are doing at that moment. In addition, text messages are a quiet way to communicate with someone at work, or eating out at a restaurant. If a person’s phone is on "vibrate" then they will be able to receive and respond in complete silence. This is especially handy if some one is “on-call” like a doctor or an expectant father. Like email, one can send a quick text message to several friends at a time. For example, this is a convenient way to gather up your family members at the mall to meet at the car when shopping time is over. Many young people like SMS because mom and dad cannot eavesdrop on the conversation.
If you only have 160 characters to communicate with, that means every letter and space counts, so a completely new shorthand language evolved. There are websites to help you learn the abbreviation lingo and decipher messages such as Lingo2Word a translation site at http://www.lingo2word.com or Webopedia, they have a good SMS dictionary at http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/textmessageabbreviations.asp Webopedia also has a nice online dictionary and search engine for most computer and Internet technology definitions. Another handy resource is the SMS dictionary at TechDictionary.com™ http://techdictionary.com/chat.html
Now you have the 411 on TM, U2 can pick up UR cell phone and try TM. It is actually easier than it looks; a bit like passing secret notes in class when you were a kid. Imagine how surprised your children or grandchildren will be when they receive a cheerful “Happy Birthday” message from you or just a AWTTW (a word to the wise) like TNSTAAFL or “there is no such thing as a free lunch”.
