here was a time when virtual communication platforms were so limited that having a genuine activity flow and forming relationships online would be so hard,
if not impossible. Before 2015 there was Skype, and there was TeamSpeak, but there was nothing that people, especially gamers, would love to use. And, we mention gamers because out of everybody who used a web platform back then, gamers were the most demanding of a new and better option to hang out with their online friends and gaming buddies.
Poor sound quality, failed calls, dull user experience, and interface - these are just some of the characteristics we saw people face back in the day. So it was obvious that there was a demand for something better, something fresh and innovative. And that’s where Discord came into place to revolutionize online communication.
Its founders - Jason Citron and Stan Vishnevskiy - were not even aware at the time that they would change so many things with their new technology. Even more so as they were invested in developing video games before ending up with Discord on their hands. As passionate gamers, they acknowledged the problem that gamers worldwide were facing - the lack of a web platform that allowed real communities to form around a certain subject, in this case, video games.
And they were already off to a good starting point with their digital platform. We say that because the company that was formerly their focus - Hammer & Chisel - was a game that wasn’t going to bring them any success. However, they managed to bring a great feature into their game, namely a voice chat option that represented the main point of value the game registered. So it only made sense for them to ditch the game and pivot the company to what it did well - facilitating communication between gamers.
Discord In a Nutshell
Even though Discord is known mostly as a communications digital platform for gamers, you should not underestimate it. A lot of brands and people who have nothing to do with games are present on Discord nowadays, as the service has proved itself to be incredibly useful in forming communities and moderating them. If you’re passionate about history, you can find people alike who would love to join a community and debate on some of the greatest events of our past. And on Discord, that can be done seamlessly.
Discord allows users to text, voice chat, and also share images & videos with both users and communities alike. You can create your own server or join already-made ones that are tailored to your needs. The app is free to use and available on every device or operating system you can think of. Mac?
It’s important to keep in mind that the digital platform Discord is forever growing and changing using new technology to do so. New features are tested daily, but the ones that are already available include dynamic server roles, emojis, and integration with streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Not to mention that Discord has new technology bots that can undergo different tasks - like playing music for a virtual room of people.
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And the benefits of Discord are drawing more and more people every year.
Besides the fact that Discord is free, secure, and works both on smartphones and desktops, other benefits are worth mentioning since, after all, this is the app that succeeded in almost every way Skype and Teamspeak couldn’t.
On Discord, it is easier than ever to join a group chat or community(server), creating a better user experience. As Jason Citron said, people initially needed a place to create a real connection with people that maybe they will never see in real life, as is often the case in the gaming community where people from different parts of the world meet online to play the same game.
The service is flexible across web platforms. You can meet with friends who are on phones while you’re on a desktop and communicate with no problem. And there is something even cooler.
Ok, so you already heard that Discord has so-called servers where communities gather based on common interests. On these servers, some channels can coexist at the same time. And these channels act as rooms that are always open for people to enter, even if they are alone.
Imagine you want to talk to somebody and you are part of a Discord server for school-related topics. There is a channel called Mathematics, but there is no one talking at that particular moment, nor do you want to talk to any particular member of the community. So you just enter the room and wait, signaling to everyone online who sees you there that you are open for discussions on the topic, offering a good user experience.
It’s just an overall great way of allowing people to share ideas and connect via a service that works very efficiently. Not to mention that the User Experience and User Interface are top-notch and the sound quality on the web platform never disappoints.
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