Real Snail Mail — 'World's first webmail service using live snails'

True.

Just in this morning from Dr. Sallie Baxendale, Consultant Neuropsychologist in the Department of Clinical & Experimental Epilepsy at the Institute of Neurology of University College in London, England, the following: "I have just seen these in action in Guildford, England. Awesome!! Not many people I know would appreciate this, but something tells me you would."

There's a reason Professor Baxendale is the Official Consultant Neuropsychologist of bookofjoe.

But I digress.

From the Real Snail Mail website:

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Improving slowness

With thousands of users choosing to take their time with Real Snail Mail™ our eight snails are starting to feel the pressure. We realise we must grow to cope with demand.

We are delighted to announce that our first step towards fine tuning the slowness of Real Snail Mail™ will be taken at the British Science Festival this year where we will present the first of a number of large Real Snail Mail™ enclosures.


Give yourself some time

The moment you click 'send' your message travels at the speed of light to our server where it awaits collection by a real live snail. Yes, that's right we're not called real snail mail for nothing! When time is worth taking RSM is the service for you.

How it works

Our snails are equipped with a miniaturised electronic circuit and antenna, enabling them to be assigned messages. Your message is collected from a despatch centre at one end of their enclosure. Once associated with the tiny electronic chip on the snail's shell your message will be carried around until the snail chances by the drop off point. Here more hardware collects your message and forwards it to its final destination.

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Want more?

No problema.

How about in-depth profiles — and photos — of the individual snails who make this service hum?

Not to mention action shots of some of the stars as they go about their business.

Such as it is.

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Current Status Report

• The current average delivery time for a message is 264 days 17 hr 43 min 20 sec*

• The current average transfer time for a message is 10 days 6 hr 53 min 4 sec**

Real Snail Mail™ is currently using ... 14 Agents ... which are carrying 20mm RFID disc tags.

The previous Agents (aka Cecil, Austin & Muriel) are presently inactive and resting in greener pastures.

* the average time from when the email was sent to when it finally arrives at its destination

** the average time from when the snail collected the email to when it forwarded the emails.

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Featured in TIME magazine last year.

Still can't get enough?

Visit the Real Snail Mail™ blog.

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