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by Daniel Gomes ’08
*small matter of programming
Suddenly it seems the world, or everyone under 30 is speaking in code. BRB, LOL, IDK, TTYS, @TEOTD, CU L8R. Such is the language of text messaging.
First there was e-mail. Popular because it allows you to initiate the conversation/message at your convenience while allowing the recipient to respond at theirs. While people moved away from dial-up Internet access to faster means, their cell phones were adding features far beyond standard telephone features such as caller ID and voice mail.
With the astronomical rise in cell phone capability, it is no wonder text messaging has caught on in a big way. It moved e-mailing away from computer. Messaging is a silent yet immediate way to communicate. It avoids leaving a voice mail or even having a casual conversation. An added attraction is the ability, like e-mail, to send a message to all of one’s friends simultaneously. Skilled messengers can send messages without looking; using their thumbs they rap out the text and send without missing a beat. Far less obvious than putting a phone to one’s ear but with the same effect.
Most of the messaging taking place among students is social in nature. But a growing number of users are taking advantage of text messaging to spread information quickly and effectively.
On campus, a number of faculty are familiar with messaging, though for many it is not their prime means of communicating with students, preferring voice or e-mail. Coaches on the other hand, frequently depend on text messaging to update their teams on schedule or practice changes.
Naomi Radio, women’s lacrosse coach, and Guy Furfaro, men’s soccer coach, use text messaging rather than relying on mass e-mails or telephone chains.
“It’s quick and easy and we all know students keep their cell phones nearby at all times,” says Matt Jones, baseball coach. “Not everyone has e-mail access 24/7, but texting takes care of that.”
In fact, texting in the athletic world has led to a NCAA ban on text messages to under-age prospective student-athletes by coaches.
Another use for text messaging is one university officials hope they will never use.
The recent tragedy at Virginia Tech underscored the need to have some means of reaching the entire campus community as quickly as possible.
President Ruud established the campus emergency response committee. Members representing various constituencies on campus reviewed existing communication policies and discussed possible methods, utilizing technology to more readily warn the campus in a crisis. In addition to several enhancements of already established protocols, the committee determined an emergency text messaging system was the most viable way to reach the greatest number of people in the least amount of time.
Acknowledging the availability of commercial systems, the computing technologies staff collaborated and created a system unique to the university. Amy Diehl, director of systems and applications, explains, “In the event of an emergency, this system will allow university officials to proactively send notification to thousands of text devices and e-mail addresses at once. This will rapidly get needed information in the hands of those who need it.
Why not just use e-mail? For one thing, people generally check their inboxes intermittently whereas text messaging is an instant alert. It’s the difference between pushing and pulling technologies. Dr. Peter M. Gigliotti, executive director for university communications and marketing, explains the distinction: “With pulling technology, the recipient must draw information from the system (e-mail), with pushing technology the information is sent to the recipient (text messaging).
“It’s a simple concept but it can make a huge difference in emergencies. E-mail is just not effective enough. People need to be warned right away.”
The advantage of text messaging is even more apparent at universities, like Shippensburg, with large numbers living off-campus. Commuters are generally unable to readily check e-mail, and they are not living in residence halls where intercom systems spread information quickly in confined quarters.
“We hope we never have to use this,” Gigliotti says, “but it is great to have it in place.” The system, administrators emphasized, will only be activated in life-threatening circumstances including natural disasters like tornados, hurricanes.
Such a policy increases the effectiveness of the system. This helps students distinguish between potential dangers and active ones—a distinction not as readily made in e-mails that are often disregarded or left unread.
Using schedule changes and snow days as examples, Gigliotti explains students and faculty have time to find out information through offices on campus, e-mail broadcasts, and hotlines.
So how does the system work? Students and other members of the campus community visit info.ship.edu and enter their proper information system. There they can enter up to five different contact numbers or e-mail addresses. Users can delete, add, or modify their emergency contacts. The user is responsible for making these changes and for any fees associated with receiving a text message.
To ensure the system is functioning properly, it will be tested periodically, at least once every semester.
Nicolette Yevich, director of the Women’s Center, stresses the importance of students taking the initiative to enter their contacts. “It only takes several minutes. And students need to be aware of any potential danger.”
Incoming freshmen had the system explained to them during August orientation and all students received an e-mail with instructions for setting up their contacts. Since family members and friends are unable to enter themselves in the system, it is vitally important students and faculty take that responsibility.
As promising as the emergency text messaging system appears to be, the campus emergency response committee continues to review other communication methods including using the internal television system, intercoms in all buildings, and digital display units throughout campus.
“Even something as simple as a siren can make a huge difference,” says Gigliotti.
In an emergency, the university will send mass e-mails and voice mails in addition to the text-messaging service to students and employees.
With that said: g2g, cu l8r
Daniel Gomes ’08, an English major with a technical/professional writing minor and an intern for the magazine, contributed substantially to this article.
Text messaging lingo
| AFAIK | As far as I know |
| B4N | Bye for now |
| BAK | Back at keyboard |
| BIF | Before I forget |
| BRB | Be right back |
| BTW | By the way |
| CU | See you |
| CU2 | See you too |
| CUL8R | See you later |
| DIY | Do it yourself |
| F2F | Face to face |
| FWIW | For what it’s worth |
| FYA | For your amusement |
| G2G | Got to go |
| Gr8 | Great |
| HTH | Hope that helps |
| IDK | I don’t know |
| IIRC | If I remember correctly |
| IMHO | In my humble opinion |
| IMO | In my opinion |
| IWIST | I wish I said that |
| J4F | Just for fun |
| L8R | Later |
| LOL | Laugh out loud |
| MOF | Matter of fact |
| NIMBY | Not in my backyard |
| OBTW | Oh by the way |
| OTL | Out to lunch |
| OTOH | On the other hand |
| P911 | Parent alert, change subject |
| POS | Parent over shoulder |
| RHP | Rank has privileges |
| ROFL | Roll on floor laughing |
| SOB | Stressed out bigtime |
| SWIM | See what I mean? |
| @TEOTD | at the end of the day |
| TAFN | That’s all for now |
| TGAL | Think globally, act locally |
| THX | Thanks |
| TIA | Thanks in advance |
| TMI | Too much information |
| TTYS | Talk to you soon |
| WWYD | What would you do? |
| WYM | Watch your mouth |
| YGTI | You get the idea |
| Some abbreviations are familiar, like |
|
| ASAP | as soon as possible |
| BYOB | Bring your own bottle |
| FAQ | Frequently asked questions |
| FYI | For your information |
| KISS | Keep it simple, stupid |
| MYOB | Mind your own business |
| NYOB | None of your business |
| OBO | Or best offer |
| ROI | Return on investment |
| SWAK |
Sealed with a kiss |
| TBD |
To be decided |
Taken from “Chat, Instant or Text Messaging Abbreviations at techdictionary.com