241. Asynchronous

From, “Disruptions: Life’s Too Short for So Much E-Mail,” by Nick Bilton, The New York Times, 7/8/12:

“E-mail is an asynchronous technology, so you don’t need to be on it to receive a message,” she said. “Synchronous technologies, like instant messenger, depend on people being present.” Although some people allow their instant messenger services to save offline messages, most cannot receive messages if they are not logged on. With e-mail, it is different. If you go away, e-mails pile up waiting for your return.

 

a·syn·chro·nous:

of or requiring a form of computer control timing protocol in which a specific operation begins upon receipt of an indication (signal)...