Overview of Asynchronous Communication Systems

Overview

Asynchronous Communication

• time and distance delay involved in communication
• delayed communication
• electronic mail systems - push
• threaded discussion forums - pull
  

1. Mailing Lists / Listservs

• uses e-mail, there is no public interface aside from a web page advertising its existence
• can have open subscription or be a closed list
• can be moderated or unmoderated
  
  

• Examples: Instructional Technology Forum Listserv Web Site

2. Mailing List / Listservs with Hypermail web interface

• allows visual representation of threads in webspace
• otherwise hidden mailing list has a public face, either for reading or participation
• same issues as above as to openess and moderation
  
  
• Examples: World Wide Web Course Developers mailing list/listserv at the University of New Brunswick and the actual WWWDEV listserv site
  
  

1. Threaded conversation space without usernames and passwords

• threading helps keep conversations together over time
• lack of passwords and user accounts makes it more inviting to public
• can be less focused and more difficult to hold longterm users

• Examples: Instructional Design Group

2. Threaded Space with passwords and usernames

• gives users sense of belonging and membership
• can discourage occasional posters, lurkers and one-time visitors
• can be more intensive to maintain

• Examples: Blackboard - Discussion Forum
  
  

• Public or private?
• Unstructured or Threaded/Structured?
• Cost? (freeware/shareware/payware)
• Searchable or Archiveable?
• Can incorporate hypertext?
• Can be moderated?
  

Proprietary Conferencing Software

• much more powerful software, fully featured and fairly easy to use
• often require more than just a web browser to participate (e.g. client software)
• quite plausible for an "online course" as run by U of C (SoftArc's First Class) or Athabasca (IBM Lotus Notes)
  
  
• Examples:
  Centrinity's First Class
  IBM Lotus Notes