Instant messaging

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/instant-messaging

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the communication paradigm?Synchronous, computer-mediated communication
2. What is the foundational protocol?IRC (Internet Relay Chat) achieved wide adoption in the early internet era
3. How did instant messaging start?It began on early computer networks and grew with the internet in the 1980s. Programs like IRC let many people chat in special rooms called channels.
4. Why is instant messaging different from email?Unlike email, instant messaging is synchronous, meaning both people can talk at the same time. It also shows when someone is online, called 'presence'.

Synchronous Communication: A mode of interaction where participants exchange messages in real-time, expecting immediate replies.
Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC): The exchange of information between individuals using computer technology as a channel.
Presence Information: Data indicating a user's availability status (e.g., online, away, busy) within an IM system.