If you take a look at Unix systems and their characteristics, a sort of communicative basic climate
becomes apparent which other systems do not have. Inside the Unix computers connected to the Internet there is an extremely large amount of "visibility", together with communication possibilities specific to Unix. Usually, every user can see who is currently logged on to the workstations, when a logged-on user was last active, when a user who is not logged on last logged on and from where, which computer directory is the "home" directory, if there are unread messages or mail is sent to another mailbox. Unix systems even sometimes provide information as to what logged-in users are currently doing (standard Unix commands: who, what, finger, ps). Users sharing a worksatation can send each other messages (write). Work on making this possible for remote computers is currently in progress (remote write). One means of communication for local and remote use is written screen dialogue between two Unix users (talk). Access to data or directories makes both collective as well as individual use possible (permissions). User information and information on the system is given, for example what type, how long the system has been running nonstop, how heavy the load is etc. All in all, the world of interlinked Unix computers makes for a communicative basic atmosphere, which is or was an important part of Internet community. Not all Unix computers are connected to the Internet. Not all Internet hosts work with Unix, but Unix is still a widespread host computer system. Although Apple and Microsoft Windows computers are more popular and have now been made "fit for the Internet", there is usually a Unix computer at the "connection point" between the Internet line and local computer network.