The Decline of Mail By Ryan Fung

Source: Éole Wind https://www.flickr.com/photos/eole/

For thousands of years, the main method of long-distance

communication was sending letters

Source: Denise Cortez https://www.flickr.com/photos/warmnfuzzy/

Couriers would travel for days, sometimes even months in order to ensure that the letters reached their intended recipients

Source: Elvert Barnes https://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/

When the computer was first invented, no one knew of the impact it would

have on the mail industry

Source: Jenn Durfey https://www.flickr.com/photos/dottiemae/

It took 11 years after the creation of the first commercial computer for the first message

service to be developed, which was called the AUTODIN network

Source: Dan Budiac https://www.flickr.com/photos/dansays/

AUTODIN was first operational in 1962, and was able to handle 30 million messages a

month, while providing the service to 1350 terminals

Source: Hans Põldoja https://www.flickr.com/photos/hanspoldoja/

This service really got people thinking about the possibility of the computer

as a messaging device Source: Pimthida https://www.flickr.com/photos/pimthida/

People started trying to develop a way to replace traditional mail services with

a more convenient method Source: SalFalko https://www.flickr.com/photos/safari_vacation/

After experimenting with many different mail systems, the widely used Webmail system,

used by services such as gmail, was developed in 1995

Source: U.S. Army RDECOM https://www.flickr.com/photos/rdecom/

The webmail service allows users to send and receive email from anywhere

using a web browser Source: Keri J https://www.flickr.com/photos/ideagirlmedia/

Even though email didn’t exist 60 years ago, and the current version of email has

only existed for 20 years, it has quickly become a huge part of our day-to-day lives

Source: Will Lion https://www.flickr.com/photos/will-lion/

During the rise of email systems, the amount of physical mail sent has drastically decreased

Source: Joey Rozier https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjoro/

In the most recent quarter, Canada Post reported a loss of $27 million

Source: harry choi https://www.flickr.com/photos/harrychoi/

This loss was caused by a 79 million piece drop in Transaction Mail

Source: j-No https://www.flickr.com/photos/j-no/

However, this decline is not solely caused by the invention of email

Source: Lucas Stanley https://www.flickr.com/photos/lucasstanley/

With the creation of texting and social media, contacting people is now easier than ever

Source: Ian Lamont https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilamont/

Traditional mail can no longer offer anything that a combination of social

media, texting, and email can’t offer faster Source: José María Pérez Nuñez https://www.flickr.com/photos/jmpznz/

Want to send a document to someone? Attach it in an email

Source: Chris Dlugosz https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdlugosz/

Want to send your friends and family pictures of your vacation? Instagram it

Source: Kim Seng https://www.flickr.com/photos/captainkimo/

Want to organize something with your friends? Send them a text

Source: Michael Hanscom https://www.flickr.com/photos/djwudi/

As more convenient methods of communication continue to be created,

eventually the need for physical mail will no longer exist

Source: cynicalview https://www.flickr.com/photos/castorgirl/

What was once an extremely important method of communication has effectively

been replaced by modern technology Source: Greg Jordan https://www.flickr.com/photos/gregoryjordan/