Communication apps are extremely popular nowadays. They are great ways to communicate with friends and family when you are apart and also gives users a way to meet and talk with new people. It can also be used in the classroom and the workplace as a way to have open lines of communication with students or employees. This blog focuses on one of the many communication apps available to users: Telegram.
Telegram is a chat-based app that allows users to talk with existing contacts in their phone or search for nearby users using GPS functions. It has a 4.3 star review on the Google Play Store and has over a billion downloads worldwide. The selling point on this app for me is that fact that all communication created in the app is completely safe and secure. The app designers used complex encryption techniques to make sure that user's privacy is not violated in any way. According to the developers, this app is one of the worlds top 10 most downloaded apps, which made me excited to use it. Based on the reviews and description, the app seemed very user friendly.
Telegram works similarly to other chat applications and reminded me a lot of Facebook messenger or the messaging app that comes with a phone. The layout of the chat and contacts were very similar to what users will already be used to using, so it doesn't take a long time to figure out how it works. When a user downloads the app, they have the option to sync their contacts to the app. The data also syncs to multiple devices at one time. A user can have it on their phone, tablet, and computer, and be able to continue conversations no matter what device they are using. There is unlimited data when it comes to photos and videos that are shared within the app. There is no max file size, for example. A chat can host up to 200,000 members, which seems over the top, but in reality if it can hold that many users, then a group chat should run smooth and effectively.
The app has several features that make it desirable to users. First, you can customize the chat theme for each chat, which gives it a personalization aspect that is desirable. The app also offers secret chats that are more secure than the normal chats because they are programmed to self-destruct and delete all data from the conversation completely. This would be great for confidential conversations or any other sensitive data. When the user is in a conversation, it offers stickers, emojis, GIFs, and other types of enhanced communication that make the app more fun and appealing. There is a way to buy additional stickers from the shop for $5, which is very reasonable. If someone that you want to chat with is not on the app, it has a way to invite users from the app. Chats also include a night screen option which is great when using the app in dark places or to prevent eye strain.
This app is a great way to communicate with others. It works because the interface is very simple to use and familiar to users. There are some accessibility features programmed into the app, like sending voice messages instead of typing, and making it failure free for users. In terms of UDL, this app mostly hits the mark for being accessible for all users. It is failure free, easy to use, and requires minimal effort with the exception of typing messages. The only issue that I see with it is that it doesn't have other accessibility features built in, like text to voice for users who have challenges seeing. It can be used in conjunction with adaptive equipment to alleviate
some of those frustrations for those users.
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