Software Assessment

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Software Assessment

Introduction

From the first word or gesture made, to the latest in communication technology like Skype, man has had the desire to communicate with each other. Communication in general terms is the process of transmission of meaningful information to the receiver by the sender. Communication can also be done over vast distances at different time and space as the receiver does not need to be present at the time of communication. Humans being social creatures by nature need to communicate with each other in one way or another. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a person needs to satisfy their love and belonging needs by interacting with each other increasing the need of means which can be used to communicate.

Evolution of Technology

This need is ever greater in today's world of fast moving information and communications, where a vast amount of information is elicited and processed as never before. Since recorded time, innovations have sprung to meet these needs in the form of letters to telephones in the recent centuries. The 21st century has seen breath taking evolution in such communication technologies in unimaginable ways. From the introduction of cell phones in the last few decades which allowed users to make and receive calls from anywhere, using miniature portable cellular phones, using wireless communication technology, to the use of email and Skype. This enabled users to sent letters around the globe in an instant with the help of the Internet, which not only revolutionized the communication as we knew it, but also the way people interacted or did business. Today, most business no longer uses snail (traditional) mail services and relies solely on email due to their speed and reliability (Bovard, J. 1985).

About Skype

One of the most useful and commonly used software used for video conferencing (Video communication) is Skype, which is a software application that allows users to make audio and video calls over the Internet. One of the best features of the application is that it is free to call other users who are also using Skype services. This software is popular for its added features which include instant messaging and video conference. It is not just serious software for professionals, but a fun tool which can be used by anyone, either to hand out with friends when physical union is not possible, or to have a group study session over the Internet (Lawler, R. 2011).

Advantages of Skype

Instant messaging

The advent of affordable and powerful personal computers made the evolution of communication possible by utilizing computer technology and the breakthrough in software designs. Some of the first form of real time online communication, along with many others, was seen in the form of messengers like MSN messenger and Yahoo messenger. They allowed users to send and receive messages instantly by using communication software like Skype on their personal computers.

Audio Communication

With the success of such communication technology, new evolutions were seen adapting to new available technologies. The use of technology to send audio signals over the interned ...