1. The Decline of Mail
By Ryan Fung
Source: Éole Wind https://www.flickr.com/photos/eole/

2. For thousands of years, the main
method of long-distance
communication was sending letters
Source: Denise Cortez https://www.flickr.com/photos/warmnfuzzy/

3. 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/

4. 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/

5. 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/

6. 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/

7. This service really got people thinking
about the possibility of the computer
as a messaging device
Source: Pimthida https://www.flickr.com/photos/pimthida/

8. 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/

9. 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/

10. 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/

11. 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/

12. During the rise of email systems, the amount of
physical mail sent has drastically decreased
Source: Joey Rozier https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjoro/

13. In the most recent quarter, Canada
Post reported a loss of $27 million
Source: harry choi https://www.flickr.com/photos/harrychoi/

14. This loss was caused by a 79 million
piece drop in Transaction Mail
Source: j-No https://www.flickr.com/photos/j-no/

15. However, this decline is not solely
caused by the invention of email
Source: Lucas Stanley https://www.flickr.com/photos/lucasstanley/

16. With the creation of texting and social media,
contacting people is now easier than ever
Source: Ian Lamont https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilamont/

17. 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/

18. Want to send a document to
someone? Attach it in an email
Source: Chris Dlugosz https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdlugosz/

19. Want to send your friends and family
pictures of your vacation? Instagram it
Source: Kim Seng https://www.flickr.com/photos/captainkimo/

20. Want to organize something with your
friends? Send them a text
Source: Michael Hanscom https://www.flickr.com/photos/djwudi/

21. 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/

22. 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/