avoid these words for better personal and professional relationships
( 2 minute read ) We’re all about better communication at illumy. That’s why we created the first app to bring together text, email, and phone into searchable, threaded conversations. But sometimes, good communication is about what you DON’T say. Here are some words you should avoid in delicate conversations—at…
bulletin board systems: the secret history of the original online communities
( 3 minute read ) Each and every day on the internet, billions of devices–phones, computers, servers, even fridges–exchange petabytes of data. But, not that long ago, being “online” meant single computers connecting to each other via phone lines and modems. These connections, known as bulletin board systems or BBSs,…
the surprising origins of 7 famous idioms
( 4 minute read ) American English is chock full of idioms–phrases that have a very specific meaning different from the way they’re worded. One example is “hold your horses.” If you say this to someone, you’re not really referring to horses: you’re just telling them to wait a moment….
illumy’s 5 profile permission categories: what they are and what they mean
( 3 minute read ) When you create an illumy profile, you can adjust the visibility of the info that you put in each and every field. Your favorite sports team (for example) could be visible to everyone on illumy 🏈, but your birthday might only show to your closest…
plan your best trip ever: 5 expert travel tips
( 3 minute read ) Have you hit the road this summer? Hotels, restaurants, and event venues are welcoming guests, and we at illumy are thinking hard about what we want to do (and where we want to go). Here’s 5 expert tips for jumping back on the travel horse…
celebrating work and workers on Labor Day: 7 powerful quotes
( 2 minute read ) Labor Day has been on the American calendar for more than 120 years. Today, it marks the traditional end of summer–a time for travel, BBQs, and relaxation. But the day’s origins lay with union leaders in New York City who wanted to honor workers and…
back-to-school is here. here’s how to improve parent-teacher communication
( 2 minute read ) Late August means heat (and in many places, humidity, too). It means beaches. It means bugs. And it means back-to-school. 📚🍎 Are you excited 🤩? Anxious😬 Both It’s another strange school year—but the fundamental task of supporting and caring for students hasn’t changed. Here are…
how much do the illumy tiers really cost?
( 2 minute read ) how much does it cost to be an illumy member? Anyone can join illumy. The i1 plan is 100% free—no gimmicks, ads, or hidden costs. Our i2 and i3 tiers have a monthly service fee, but it might surprise you just how much you get…
put on your listening ears: 5 active-listening skills to start using today
( 3 minute read ) “Hmm, what? I’m sorry, Can you repeat that? I missed it.” We’ve all been with someone who’s not fully present in the conversation. It’s frustrating—and a little insulting. 😩 Even worse, we’ve all been that bad listener.🥺 If you’re distracted or tired, it’s easy to…
add tone, meaning, context to your text-based chats
( 3 minute read ) Let’s face it: Chat-based communication can be a bit… boring. 😴 But we built illumy to change that. Not only is illumy super fast and super secure, we’ve also incorporated lots of ways to convey meaning beyond just words—animated gifs (giphys), images, emojis, reactions, and…