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October 20, 2023Email: Its Evolution, Mechanics, and Enduring Significance
Summary
This article delves into the history, structure, delivery process, and significance of email. Originating in the early 1970s, the term “email” became popular in the 1980s, when Ray Tomlinson sent the first “@” email in 1971. Email addresses consist of a user-defined username and a domain name, typically representing the email service provider. The email delivery process involves several stages from the sender’s client to the recipient’s mailbox, similar to traditional mail. Despite the rise of instant messaging and social media, email remains vital for professional communication, offering permanence and security. In Japan, the absence of a mobile text protocol until 2011 led to email’s widespread use. The article also emphasizes the importance of email security checks.
1. Definition of Email
Email, a method of communication that has been consistently used since its inception, is a protocol for sending and receiving messages primarily over the internet. It is known to have been invented in the early 1970s, with the term “email” gaining traction in the 1980s. The phrase “electronic mail” was widely used to describe all document exchanges via electronic devices, such as fax, making it challenging to pinpoint the exact invention date of email as we know it today.
The first email using the “@” symbol was sent in 1971, credited to Ray Tomlinson. Efforts to standardize email protocols began around 1973. During the era of PC communication, there was a similar concept called “electronic mail.” However, a significant difference was that emails could only be exchanged between subscribers of the same service due to a lack of cooperation between service providers.
2. User@Domain
To exchange emails, one must create an email address structured as ‘username@domain name’. While users can freely choose their username, certain special characters might be restricted, and spaces are not allowed. The domain name must match the host domain name that provides the email account. The domain name after the “@” symbol often represents the email service provider (e.g., gmail.com for Google Mail, yahoo.com for Yahoo! Mail).
3. Email Delivery Process
The process of email delivery can be likened to traditional mail. Just as a written letter travels through various stages, including the sender’s mailbox, the sender’s post office, a central postal facility, the recipient’s post office, and finally the recipient’s mailbox, emails follow a somewhat similar path. It starts from the sender’s email client, moves through the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) service of the sender’s mail server, might pass through various other mail servers, and then reach the recipient’s mail server. From there, the email is retrieved by the recipient using protocols like POP (Post Office Protocol) or IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol), and it finally appears in the recipient’s email client.
4. Role and Significance of Email
Email serves as the cornerstone of communication for both businesses and individuals. While instant messaging and social media platforms have become dominant for personal communication, email remains an indispensable tool for professional exchanges. This is partly due to the transient nature of instant messages, which can be challenging to archive, and the potential security vulnerabilities in social media platforms.
In Japan, email has a distinct history. Until 2011, there was no standardized protocol for mobile text messages, leading to the widespread use of email as a substitute. Some platforms, like mixi, relied solely on mobile email for user authentication, a practice that drew criticism for its inconvenience. This approach even drew comparisons to South Korea’s mobile phone authentication system. Email has transformed the communication landscape by reducing the deluge of physical mail, thereby conserving resources like paper and delivery costs. As various business communications transition from traditional mail to email and text messages, the importance of email is undeniable.
