I read where AOL AIM released a new feature that really made me think. What kind of usage will we get with IM if users can see what we are typing before we even send a message? It would be nearly like reading one's mind in response to a question, comment etc... How many of us would be willing to show our thoughts so openly? Few I think.
Thankfully, its a opt-in feature for both parties. I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict that less users than the number of developers it took to code and quality test this feature, are actually going to opt-in.
The spontaneity in responsiveness with IM, which we all love, shouldn't include the immediate typing of thoughts we find ourselves doing, only to revise the words before we hit send, to avoid the vitriol responses we'd likely get from many of our initial reactions. Editing and proofing our comments, thoughts, and writing in general, need to be maintained in order for this to be productive in business. Along with the ability to manipulate Presence, this should be at or near the top of any IM User Bill of Rights.
I'm sure there are some who will disagree, but let those blogging pundits open up their daily blogs to such a feature and see how quick they are to change their minds. If we want that kind of interaction, simply meet face to face, or prepare a video conference. Otherwise, I suggest you ignore that new feature, forever.
It's interesting that this came into IM, and heartening that AOL didn't promote this as innovative - I can recall this functionality under talk/ytalk ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_(Unix) ) back in the day and the difference in the flow of communication is much as you describe.
When the counterparty can see the pre-thought as well as the thought, there is somewhat more hesitation to think - not speak - freely. In knowledge work, you need the former.
Posted by: Eric Sinclair | Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 10:54 PM