I agree KC. I keep a 10MA of volume on a 1min chart and as a general rule, I won't initiate a trade if the MA is below 1000. This keeps me out of a lot of low volume chop.
A year ago, it was normal for the MA to be below 1000 during lunchtime, but rare that it was below 1000 during the morning and afternoon sessions (9:30-11:30 and 2:00-4:00 EST). During the last 6 months or so, it has gradually changed to the point where the MA is below 1000 most of the day, with volume spikes (program trading?)shooting it above 1000, only to fall back below shortly after. There is much less sustained volume throughout the day now, even if the overall volume has increased.