Just the Fax ma'm

Before telephones there was the facsimile, more commonly known as FAX.
Later, the wireless picture (sometimes referred to as radio FAX), didn't come into play until the late 1920s. However, not until the mid-70s, through a series of improvements, was the telephone finally used to transmit images.

It was the Japanese who made usage of FAX as a popular medium. The Japanese language uses thousands of characters. To use the adage of "a picture is worth a thousand words" simplifies the reason the device quickly came into general use in the Orient.

The advent of Email, computerized files and the usage of PDF has supplanted the requirement for facsimile transmision. It now can all be done from your personal computer (PC) without having to get out of your chair.

Patois

It's amazing how technology, especially the Internet, affects how the written word, as opposed to the spoken word, is utilized. For example, FYI is an acronym that is different than FAQ, these are terms that are mostly used with text messaging, WEB pages or Emails.

It's almost impossible to keep abreast of all the "internet speak" as most of the items are not obvious. However, even though obscure, some terms are more appropriate than others. One of these is RTMF. This particular acronym has many variants but it generally conveys, to the recipient, the message that "I'm a bit lazy and I'd rather ask a question than read the answer".

Although not entirely technical, my favourite acronyn is TANSTAAFL. It implies that when it comes down to it, It's always a question of money. In other words, "you get what you pay for".