Conversational Mail

April 22nd, 2005
Categories: Interaction, Interface

E-mail exchanges would be easier to follow if mail clients displayed messages more like chat conversations.

This would be particularly useful in exchanges in which there are more than two participants: users would no longer have to try to form a mental mapping between a color and a conversation participant. Color could be used as a secondary participant identifier.

The writer’s name could be displayed beneath their picture or just the name could be displayed to save space.

3 Responses to “Conversational Mail”

  1. Buzz Andersen, on April 22nd, 2005 at 9:15 PM Said:

    Dude, you are such a jazz nerd :-)! Actually, though, that’s kind of a cool idea…

  2. Membranophonist, on April 22nd, 2005 at 11:49 PM Said:

    Thanks, Buzz.

    I come from a school of jazz nerds! I was never in Garfield’s A band, but even the B band was pretty damn good and I had more friends in that band anyway. I hope to eventually join some of them in New York.

  3. Matthom, on April 23rd, 2005 at 5:36 AM Said:

    Yes, very good idea.

    Gmail does a pretty decent job with “conversations.” Not sure if you have a Gmail account, but it’s the best I’ve seen.

    Of course, Gmail doesn’t have the pictures, but it’s certainly not far off.

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