HPRA - communications

Here we cover communicating with Email, Instant Messaging and Audio/Video messaging. While we all use email facilities, probably every day, there are several other methods for communicating with your computer. The column to the left lists the various categories, with links to some service and software providers. If you have other suggestions, send them via the link at the bottom and they can be added.

If you have any questions or need some help, email the webmaster using the link at the bottom of this page.

*** EMAIL ***

    The primary method for communication is Email. If you have an account with an internet service provider, then you are provided with a primary email address and the ability to set up one or more accounts for family members. It could be Verizon, Comcast or any other cable or telephone company. Once you have set up your email account(s), all you really need is a web browser, like Internet Explorer, FireFox, Google Chrome etc. Go to your provider's web site, log into your account and read, compose and send your email. Very simple. (We don't go in to setting up an account as each provider will have different procedures.) You will have some finite amount of storage space for the account (all your email addresses with them) where your email messages are kept until you delete them or move them to your computer. Messages you send are also kept in a "sent" or "out" folder for reference. An Address Book or Contacts List is also part of the service to keep your contact email addresses handy.

    There are a number of free and paid email providers that are independent of the common service providers. The beauty of using an independent is they are fully portable. If you change your service provider, and you use an independent for your every day email, you will not have to notify your contacts of the change. (An account with your provider will still be necessary for communicating with them for account purposes. They usually want to know if you have a secondary email address for emergency purposes.) Several good providers are GMAIL, from Google (free and paid versions), Yahoo Mail (free and paid version) and Microsoft Live Mail (free). For a number of reasons, GMAIL may be the best choice for most. The choice is usually a matter of personal preference. Yahoo provides the service for the DD709 Yahoo Group, so many use this. The HPRA uses GMAIL with the Picasa photo site (used for the HPRA slide show page), as Picasa and You Tube are also owned by Google. You Tube is used for the Video page. Some of these free services may also have built in instant messaging.

    As noted before, you really only need your web browser to handle email. There is another option; using a specialized program you install on your computer known as an "Email Client". These clients uses what is know as POP3; Post Office Protocol. When email is present on your email provider's server, the program will download it directly to your computer, based on a time schedule, and if you choose, remove it from the server. The process is actually initiated by the client to retrieve email on a periodic basis. Removal is an option when setting up the POP3 parameters for the program. Leaving it on the server will allow you to access it from another computer when necessary. Your space on the server has a limit, so periodically you have to trim it. GMAIL offers the largest amount of free space by far (7.4 giga bytes). Most all will provide more storage for a fee. For further reading on POP3 go to the link; Post Office Protocol (at Wikipedia.org).

    Several of the more popular, free, programs are "Thunderbird" and "Eudora OSE" from Mozilla, "IncrediMAIL" and "Windows Live Mail" and many more. For few of these, see the links to your left. These programs can also be set up to retrieve email from several accounts in to one email in-box.

    Most of these programs usually have some form of built in SPAM control. The web browser method should also provide this feature via the providers setup. GMAIL filters all your incoming email at the server end and moves any suspected messages to a SPAM folder on the server. Some providers will still give you the spam (sometimes an option), but it will be marked in some way with a key word (Verizon uses the word "Bulk"). If you use an email client along with GMAIL, you can log in using the browser method and check them to make sure. They generally do a good job of this.

Setup for the client programs differ from one to another, but all use the same parameters that you get from the provider. The provider also will have information for setting up several client programs, like Thunderbird, Eudora etc. Follow their directions and things should go well.

*** INSTANT MESSAGING and A/V Conferencing***

    Other categories of communication are "Instant Messaging" and "Video/Audio conferencing". They has been around for a number of years. The most well known is AIM from AOL. It is a free service that allows you to message back and forth with a contact or buddy in real time. Once you install the program, you build a contact list of friends by inviting them in (assuming they have their own account), which is then saved on the AIM servers. All of the services use pretty much the same methods.

    The Microsoft version is Windows Live Messenger. It works much the same way. Yet another is Trillian. This also has all the same features, except it supports multiple versions of IM like AIM, Skype, Windows Live, Yahoo, even Facebook and Twitter simultaneously. (Trillian is the one I use.) GMAIL has a built in messenger when logged in to their web site. All of them have their own method for setup and each is different. If you should need specific help with any, send an email using the contact link below with your email and if needed, your phone number.

    Most of the IM services now have the capability of audio/video communications. For this your computer will need a microphone and Web Cam. Some laptops have them built in. An external Web Cam will have the microphone built in. In this category, SKYPE is probably the most used, the service and software are free. SKYPE has IM and Audio/Video modes built in and for a fee will interact with the telephone community. There you can make a call to a regular phone number. They also offer phone service over the internet (VOIP), similar to what you can get via your internet service provider. SKYPE is a real good way to keep in contact with the grand kids and distant friends and family.

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