Next Generation E-mail

Created by Theresa Rowe (Oakland University) on April 17, 2008

Things I want in e-mail that I don't have:
* A FedEx/UPS view on a message, so that I can do a real-time trace of a specific e-mail message, from the moment it is sent to the actual delivery, and watch it travel the delivery route. I want to be able to answer "where did the e-mail message go?" or "why am I not getting this message?".

* The same ability for all members of a list, so I can track particular list messages.

* If at all possible, a test feature for data breach notification processes. I'd like more testing options -- The ability to say "dry run" and test a notice without it actually landing in an inbox. If you don't want replies to go to the list, test both reply and reply-all functions to make sure that replies do not go to the list, and be able to do all this without it being real.

* The ability to instantly get Yahoo, Comcast, SBCGlobal or other providers to remove a block, or to get them to make it easier for the actual user of a message to report a block without us in the middle. We allow email forwarding (maybe we shouldn't). We emailed an emergency close, only to have providers block our email.

* The ability to control 'auto responses' to a domain or a list of individuals (so I could have a vacation auto-response that only went to my university domain, for example).

* An easy, so easy anyone can do it, way to encrypt an e-mail message.

* An easy, so easy anyone can do it, way to synchronize any e-mail system with a handheld device.

* I want the ability to absolutely prohibit someone from sending mail using my e-mail identity. Maybe somehow linking my e-mail address to my server? My IP range?

* A tolerance threshold I set - just because I receive 500 email messages a day doesn't mean I can respond to them all. I want to set a limit of 250, with a white-list of email that could still be delivered once my threshold is met (like the Pres or the CIO list email always comes through!). This would work like: I'd get the first 250 messages that day, but the person who sent message 251 would get a bounce and the auto-response: "I'm sorry, but I've reached my e-mail threshold for today and I'm not accepting any new e-mail. Try again tomorrow."

What new features do you want?

Theresa's blog
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easy, hard or unintended consequences

Submitted by Henry E. Schaffer (North Carolina State University) on May 31, 2008 - 8:27pm.

Those a a bunch of good questions - but some of the answers aren't all that easy.

E.g. there are fairly easy ways to encrypt you outgoing e-mail. Making sure that the recipient can unencrypt it is a different matter. :-)

For checking a route - read up on "ping" - it can do some of what you want, but since one of the "features" of the Internet is that routes can vary even over short intervals of time, route checking is limited in value.

As far as non-technical issues, "The ability to instantly get Yahoo, Comcast, SBCGlobal or other providers to remove a block, ..." means convincing the providers that you should be able to run *their* network!

This entire set of topics is worth a lot more discussion!

		Next Generation E-mail Created by Theresa Rowe (Oakland University) on April 17, 2008 Things I want in e-mail that I don't have: * A FedEx/UPS view on a message, so that I can do a real-time trace of a specific e-mail message, from the moment it is sent to the actual delivery, and watch it travel the delivery route. I want to be able to answer "where did the e-mail message go?" or "why am I not getting this message?". * The same ability for all members of a list, so I can track particular list messages. * If at all possible, a test feature for data breach notification processes. I'd like more testing options -- The ability to say "dry run" and test a notice without it actually landing in an inbox. If you don't want replies to go to the list, test both reply and reply-all functions to make sure that replies do not go to the list, and be able to do all this without it being real. * The ability to instantly get Yahoo, Comcast, SBCGlobal or other providers to remove a block, or to get them to make it easier for the actual user of a message to report a block without us in the middle. We allow email forwarding (maybe we shouldn't). We emailed an emergency close, only to have providers block our email. * The ability to control 'auto responses' to a domain or a list of individuals (so I could have a vacation auto-response that only went to my university domain, for example). * An easy, so easy anyone can do it, way to encrypt an e-mail message. * An easy, so easy anyone can do it, way to synchronize any e-mail system with a handheld device. * I want the ability to absolutely prohibit someone from sending mail using my e-mail identity. Maybe somehow linking my e-mail address to my server? My IP range? * A tolerance threshold I set - just because I receive 500 email messages a day doesn't mean I can respond to them all. I want to set a limit of 250, with a white-list of email that could still be delivered once my threshold is met (like the Pres or the CIO list email always comes through!). This would work like: I'd get the first 250 messages that day, but the person who sent message 251 would get a bounce and the auto-response: "I'm sorry, but I've reached my e-mail threshold for today and I'm not accepting any new e-mail. Try again tomorrow." What new features do you want? Email Theresa's blog Login or register to post comments 290 reads easy, hard or unintended consequences Submitted by Henry E. Schaffer (North Carolina State University) on May 31, 2008 - 8:27pm. Those a a bunch of good questions - but some of the answers aren't all that easy. E.g. there are fairly easy ways to encrypt you outgoing e-mail. Making sure that the recipient can unencrypt it is a different matter. :-) For checking a route - read up on "ping" - it can do some of what you want, but since one of the "features" of the Internet is that routes can vary even over short intervals of time, route checking is limited in value. As far as non-technical issues, "The ability to instantly get Yahoo, Comcast, SBCGlobal or other providers to remove a block, ..." means convincing the providers that you should be able to run their network! This entire set of topics is worth a lot more discussion! Login or register to post comments
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