Chapter Seven: Communication--Connecting Effectively and with Empathy

Overview

In fall 2000, QUALCOMM, Inc., released version 5.0 of its popular Eudora® e-mail program. In addition to other bells and whistles, Eudora 5.0 introduced an optional feature called MoodWatch. As its name suggests, MoodWatch scans both outgoing and incoming e-mail for "potentially offensive language" and issues warnings based on a "three-chili-pepper" scale:

One chili pepper:	"Better hope you know the person."
Two chili peppers:	"Watch out, you're playin' with fire chilies here."
Three chili peppers:	"Whoa, this is the kind of thing that might get your keyboard washed out with soap."

Potential Eudora users are advised: "MoodWatch won't stop you from acting irresponsibly in email, it will just let you know when you might be about to send a message you'll regret."^[1]

^[1]From Eudora's Web site, http://www.eudora.com/email/features/moodwatch.html.