- What is Internet Relay Chat?
- Internet Relay Chat, or IRC, is the closest thing to a party you can
find online. It's a real-time, multi-user forum for live conversation that
takes place in areas of chat server networks called channels, with
dialogue
appearing on your screen in the form of a scrolling script to which you can
instantly add your two cents by typing in a message and hitting the Enter key.
IRC is a rapidly evolving universe. While chat is primarily a dialogue-based
environment now, its users can send each other sounds and images, and 3-D
virtual chat environments where you assume the shape of moving and talking
characters--or avatars--are evolving even as you read this.
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- Who uses chat, anyway?
- Internet Relay Chat is the Internet's great equalizer. Just about
anyone can join in
and just about anyone does. Chatters span the spectrum of ages and
occupations, many experimenting with virtual personalities and identities.
So the brazen IMKewl flaming everyone in your channel may in fact be a
mild-mannered accountant in "real" life.
The most popular use of IRC is probably for idle chatting--witness the crowd
in #hottub. It's often like an ongoing cocktail party rippling with
conversations,
pick-up lines, arguments, and banter. Most chat conversations are
mind-bogglingly banal, which is why plenty of experienced Web users avoid IRC.
But chatting has its practical uses, too. A public channel can be arranged
to host a special guest, with users asking questions and receiving answers
as a group in live time. A private chat channel can also be opened at a
prearranged time, with users meeting to discuss business or academic
matters. It's even possible to save on long-distance phone bills by inviting
family or friends to a private chat channel for a group conversation.
Chat channels can also act as a live newsfeed in crisis situations.
Following the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake, residents used IRC to
communicate when
phone lines were down, and IRC was also an important local communications
medium during the Persian Gulf War.
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- Can I use chat applications for business purposes?
- Real-time chat isn't just about fun and games: It can be a handy tool for
business conferencing, too, especially when telephones are inadequate or
unavailable. Private IRC chat channels can be arranged for meetings among
distant participants who need to share visuals, such as formulas or
text-based materials. And the emerging technology of desktop computer-based
videoconferencing--or CU-SeeMe applications, as they are often
called--promises to change forever the way we do business.
George Jetson, for example, would be right at home in a videoconference,
where participants interact through their computer screens. Run on ordinary
desktop computers, these programs connect speakers via the Internet,
carrying live sound and images back and forth between the parties. Unlike
regular phone calls or conference calls taking place on speakerphones,
videoconferencing allows participants to both speak to and see one another
in near real time.
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- How is chat different from mailing lists and newsgroups?
- Like mailing lists and newsgroups, chat is a form of
electronic group communication. However, chat takes place in real time, in
the form of live dialogue, as opposed to posted messages.
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- Do I need special software to chat?
- To participate in Internet Relay Chat, you need software known as a
client program, which connects you to a central server
hosting the chat
channels in an IRC network. Client programs and their features vary widely,
and they can be downloaded from the Web as freeware or
shareware. Check out the popular mIRC chat program, PowWow
from Tribal Voice, and Global Chat
from Quarterdeck.
Just remember that while IRC takes place across the Internet, not every
Internet Service Provider offers access to chat servers. Schools, libraries,
businesses, and other institutions routinely block IRC access, so make sure
your provider doesn't block before you invest in any special software. Some
commercial providers deny access to IRC but instead have their own
members-only chat rooms, which you access via the company's interface. These
chat rooms are similar to the ones in the IRC network but are less
freewheeling and more closely monitored.
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- Where are IRC chat channels located?
- Chat channels are carried on Internet Relay Chat server networks, which you
access with your client program software. Three major networks
exist: Efnet, the oldest and
largest one, Undernet, and DALnet. A few small newcomers exist too,
including ChatNet and UpperNet. You can connect to these servers manually,
by choosing one from a list presented to you when you fire up your client
program, or your client program may connect you to one automatically.
Private chat services, such as the ones run by AOL and
CompuServe, are automatically accessible via
their interfaces: Just point at the chat entryways and click.
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The Big Three
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All three Internet Relay Chat networks have their fans and detractors. To
learn more about
these quirky kingdoms, check out the Web sites for EFnet, Undernet, and DALnet.
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- How do I get into the IRC servers?
- To access a chat server, just start up your client program
software
and at its prompting, pick the server network you want to connect to. It
sounds simple enough, but if you're used to instant gratification you may be
disappointed. Internet Relay Chat servers are notoriously crowded and are
apt to refuse your
connection attempts. It's not unlike phone lines that are perpetually busy.
Efnet has a worse reputation than Undernet and DALnet, but all three suffer
from the same problem. Just keep trying different servers in the network
until you get through.
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- What IRC commands do I need to know?
- IRC client programs always include a message command area where you can
manually enter chat commands. Even if your client program has menus or
buttons which automatically execute some of the more common commands, you'll
still need to type them in yourself in many instances, because so many of
them must be followed by an argument or parameter, as in /whois BadBart.
Here are some of the most important commands:
/list | | list all channels currently open |
/join | connects you to a channel; starts a new channel |
/whois | display a particular user's profile |
/who | list the channel's current users |
/action | displays user actions |
/msg | sends a private message |
/ignore | ignore another user |
/away | announces you are leaving |
/help | displays information about a particular command |
/leave | disconnects you from the channel |
/quit | disconnects you from the server |
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- Does chatting cost anything?
- Chat channels don't charge an entrance fee, but watch out for the amount of
time you spend online if your service provider charges by the hour. Chatting
can be a highly addictive and therefore very expensive habit.
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Kicking the IRC habit
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If your IRC buddies are starting to seem more real than your "real" friends,
maybe it's time to check out the alt.irc.recovery newsgroup.
Its subscribers have plenty of war stories to share regarding the number of hours and the
amount of money they've spent online chatting.
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- Is anybody welcome in chat groups?
- Chat channels can be public or private. To access a public channel, just
click on its name in the Internet Relay Chat server's listing of
available channels--or type
it in manually--and you're in the channel and ready to gab. But remember:
Just because you can get into a public chat channel doesn't mean you can
stay there. You can be kicked out by the moderator or channel
operator--sometimes for good--for misbehaving, so make sure you read the
rules posted as you enter.
Some chat channels are entered by invitation only. If you try to access one
you'll receive a message explaining that the channel is private. You may
also be denied access if a given channel is overcrowded; just wait a while
and try connecting again. Private chat channels can also be invisible,
meaning they don't even show up in lists of available channels.
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- How do I find chat channels and information?
- If your client program doesn't list any channels, type /list
in your
client program's command area to get a display of the ones available to you.
The channels will appear--thousands of them, alphabetically--inside a frame
in your chat interface. Scroll and click on the channel you want to join and
you'll be dropped into the conversation. Don't forget: Chat channel names
always start with a #, so if you're typing in the name of a channel
manually, you'll type #hottub to join the "hottub" group.
You can also find plenty of IRC information on the Web. New *IRC*
Users is an excellent starting
point. It contains FAQs, software downloads, Internet Relay Chat network
information, and even a link to its own chat channel for IRC newbies. IRC
Related
Resources on the Internet lists chat channels that
have related Web sites, as well as general IRC information and plenty of links.
To swap information and questions with other chatters, visit some of the
IRC-related newsgroups, including alt.irc, alt.irc.ircii, alt.irc.questions, and alt.irc.undernet.
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Trimming those lists
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The /list command will produce an enormous index of channels, many
of which
will contain only one or two users. If you want to keep the list size more
manageable, type /list -min 5, which will give you channels which
have only
five or more people in them. You can set this figure for any number of users.
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- Can I search for a specific chat subject channel?
- When you ask your client program to /list the available chat channels, it
will display them in alphabetical order. So if you're 16 and
interested in talking with others your age, just scroll down the list until
you come to the "teen" section, with channels ranging from #Teens4Jesus to
#TeenRave. Topic titles are often prefaced by an age bracket, such as #kids,
#teens, #20s, #30s, and run the gamut from AIDS to Mormons to Zappa.
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- What are some good chat channels to try?
- Thousands of chat channels thrive out there, many existing only as long
as their creators decide to stay online. But some channels are perennials,
and usually worth a visit if you're interested in their focus. Among them:
#newbies | | a great place to meet new chatters
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#hottub | a relaxed place to chat
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#irchelp | the place to go for IRC questions
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#ircbar | a congenial hangout
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#gay | for gay topics
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#lesbian | for lesbian topics
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#teen | a teen hangout
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#espanol | for Spanish-language chat
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#france | for French-language chat
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#hackers | for computer buffs
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#sex | for sex-related topics
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- How do I get into a chat channel?
- Entering a chat channel from a list of channels is easy: Just click on its
name and off you go. If you're typing the channel title in manually, go to
the command box and type /join #channel, substituting the name of your
particular group for "channel."
Your client program may also display a list of channels when you
connect to the server. You may have the option to bookmark favorite
channels
here, in which case you can just click on them to enter a channel.
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The more, the merrier
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Some client programs allow you to open numerous windows. You may want to
join several chat channels simultaneously, or juggle multiple private
conversations, or both, just to keep things lively.
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- What can I expect when I enter an IRC chat channel?
- Your client program screen will be divided into separate frames: one
listing the nicknames of the other chat channel participants and one that
looks like a scrolling movie script, with lines of dialogue being added
right in front of your eyes. You'll also see a message area that contains your
cursor. Just type in what you want to say, hit the Enter key, and watch your
words appear on the screen.
If the channel is crowded and lively, get ready to read fast, as the screen
may scroll rather quickly to keep up with the stream of messages. You might
experience a slight lag in between your typing something and another user's
response showing up on the screen, but don't impatiently type the same thing
twice, lest you be accused of flooding the group with messages.
Your chat interface will include actions and announcements along with the
dialogue. Most programs automatically announce the arrival and departure of
chatters, and chatters themselves may type in actions as well as dialogue.
For instance, in mIRC, a
popular client program, dialogue appears as black, actions as purple, and
enter/exit announcements as green. So your screen might look like:
What's up?
Not much.
* KrazyKid gives IMKewl a slap upside the head with a dead fish
Ouch! I'm outta here
See ya later, alligator.
*** IMKewl has quit IRC (leaving)
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- How do I join the conversation?
- Entering a chat channel is like walking into a party already in full
swing: It's best to listen a moment before deciding which conversation to
enliven with your sparkling wit. Chances are several different
conversations will be taking place simultaneously. You'll
also see lots of emoticons, such
as {{hugs}}, and acronyms, such as BRB (be right back), sprinkled about, as well as action commands ranging from grins
to backrubs to, well, you name it.
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- How do I chat privately?
- Like a tete-a-tete taking place in a crowded room, private chats--or
whispers, as they are also called--offer users the chance to talk one-on-one
while simultaneously remaining in the larger chat channel. Some
client programs have a Query function that allows you to highlight a
particular nickname in the users list and double-click to send a private
message to that person. Or you can type /msg nickname, inserting the
person's name and a message into your message box. A small screen will pop
up on the other user's interface, and you can both converse privately inside
this new dialogue box while remaining in the larger chat channel as well.
Sometimes you'll be invited to a "private room" yourself. A private message
may appear in a little box on your screen. Just click on it to open the
dialogue box and type away.
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Walking on the wild side
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In some chat channels--make that many chat channels--an invitation to take
things to a private room is tantamount to a sexual pass. If you've been
flirting with a someone in #hottub, make sure you're game for whatever may
happen next if you decide to answer a private message.
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- Is there netiquette for chat channels?
- Like newsgroups and mailing lists, chat channels have their
own code of netiquette. Most chat channels post the rules quite
clearly when you enter the room. Whether they're edicts against swearing,
topic changing, sexual remarks, or the use of bots and sound WAVs,
make sure you obey them, or the all-powerful channel operators who control
individual chat channels will happily kick you out. Serious infractions may
result in your being banned from certain channels forever.
A few more tips:
- It's annoying to watch a constant string of hi's and byes
as chatters come and go. Keep these remarks to a minimum, especially since your arrival and
departure may be automatically announced.
- Keep your messages brief, as it's difficult to read lengthy dialogue on a
quickly scrolling screen.
- Don't SHOUT at other chatters; that is, don't use all capital letters.
- Don't flood, which means posting the same message repeatedly.
- If it's a topical discussion, stick to the subject.
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- Are chat rooms supervised?
- Channel operators, or chan-ops, are the rulers of Internet Relay Chat
fiefdoms. You'll recognize them by the @ in front of their nicknames, for
example, @IMKewl. Each IRC channel is supervised by at least one chan-op,
who has the power to kick out ornery chatters or even ban them permanently.
Since most chat rooms post a list of rules when you enter, be sure to obey
them if you don't want to provoke the wrath of the resident chan-op. Even in
anything-goes chat channels, think twice before flaming anyone with a @ in
front of his or her name.
Some channel operators set up IRC bots which automatically greet
chatters and maybe even serve them a virtual drink as they enter the
channel, but that's about all you can expect from these electronic
receptionists.
Private chat rooms like AOL's People Connection have
their own rules and regulations, and members are also expected to heed these
lest they be kicked out of the party.
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- How do I complain about being hassled in chat channels?
- If an obnoxious chatter is getting on your nerves, you can always leave the
channel, or better yet, ignore him or her. Some client programs have a
built-in Ignore function, which you can direct at specific chatters. It
prevents their messages from even showing up on your screen. You can
activate the same function manually by typing /ignore name in your
program's
message box, substituting the offender's nickname.
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The cold shoulder
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If you decide to use the Ignore function against an obnoxious chatter, you
might also want to send them a private message announcing you plan to ignore
them, just to rub it in. Complaining to the room monitor or channel operator
is another option, too, since only chan-ops have the power to kick out other
chatters.
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- Do I have to use my real name when chatting?
- No. In fact, most chatters use nicknames, also called handles, and have
different ones for different channels. So you can be IMFoxy while hanging
out in #hottub and IMSpacy in #StarTrek. Some client programs allow you to
change your nickname with just a click; you can even keep a list of aliases
handy for quick changes. To change your nickname manually, just type /nick
newnickname in the message area of your chat interface, substituting your
new nickname.
But don't assume you can hide your onscreen identity just by changing your
nickname. Some programs announce any name changes, and a channel operator
can still
trace you via your user profile.
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- How much can other chatters find out about me?
- Internet Relay Chat programs contain what's called a user profile, which
you need to use
when connecting to the server. It generally contains your name, e-mail
address, nickname, and perhaps some personal information about you. Other
users can access your user profile via the /whois command on their
chat program.
If you don't mind other chatters knowing who you really are, you can list
your actual name and e-mail address in your profile. Or you can type in a
fictitious e-mail address and nickname, if you prefer.
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Now you see me, now you don't
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You can make yourself invisible to snoopy chatters using the /whois
command
to find out more about you. Just type in /mode yourname +i into the
message
bar on your chat program. This command also keeps your name from appearing
in the list of users.
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- How can I learn more about other chatters?
- To access another user's profile, type /whois nickname, substituting
his or
her nickname, into your message bar. A brief user profile listing the stated
name and e-mail address will show up in your chat status file. Your
client program may have a function that allows you to do this
automatically. You can also try to finger--or look up--his or her e-mail address
if your program allows this.
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- How do I exit a chat channel?
- To leave an Internet Relay Chat channel, type /leave or /part
in the message area, followed
by the name of the channel you are in, and hit Enter. Your client program
may also have an Exit function you can click on to depart a channel.
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- How do I disconnect from the IRC server?
- To exit the Internet Relay Chat server, thereby terminating your
connection, type /quit in the message bar, or if your client program has it, click on the Disconnect button. If your Internet Service Provider charges you for your time spent
online, don't forget to disconnect from the IRC server if you plan to be away from your chat channel for a long period.
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- What if I'm invited to go to another chat channel?
- Sometimes when you're in one channel, a private message will appear from
another user, inviting you to join another--often sparsely
populated--channel. If you choose to accept the invitation, just type /join
-invite, or /join #channel (substituting the name of the
channel) into the
command area, and you'll be whisked off to this new room.
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Split personalities
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Ever wished you could attend two different parties simultaneously? Just
because you've been invited to join another chat channel doesn't mean you
have to abandon the one you're in now. Many chat programs allow you to hang
out in multiple channels, if you can keep track of that many conversations.
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- Are chat conversations archived?
- Unlike mailing lists and some newsgroups, chat channels don't
archive their sessions. Some chat client programs keep limited
records--minus the user dialogue--of each session, which you can print out
or save in a special file. It's also possible on some systems to cut and
paste dialogue from the screen, or to set up a log which saves all the text
from a particular session in a special file. But just as in "real"
conversation, the main thing that lingers after a chat session is the
impression you've made on others.
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- How do I start my own public chat channel?
- Creating your own public, or visible, chat channel is easy. Just go to the
command area in your client server and type /join #channel,
substituting the
name you've chosen--after making sure it isn't already in use--for the
channel. This is exactly the same command you use to join any channel, but
since you are choosing a new name for this particular one, you will actually
be creating it as well as joining it. This automatically makes you the
channel operator, with all its attendant privileges.
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- How do I create a private chat channel?
- It's possible to create a private channel that won't show up in any IRC
lists, meaning that users can access it only by knowing and typing its exact
title into their command bars. It's not unlike having an unlisted phone
number that you pass out only to certain friends. To start a private
channel, begin by typing the command for creating a public channel: /join
#channel, substituting the name you choose for "channel." Make sure the name
isn't already in use. Once the channel is created, go to the message bar and
type /mode channel +p, again substituting your chosen name for
"channel." Your channel is now omitted from all listings.
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- How do I keep my chat channel running when I'm not there?
- As soon as the last user exits a chat channel, it ceases to exist. If you
want to leave a channel but ensure that it will keep running, appoint
another user channel operator by typing /mode channel +o name,
substituting
the nickname of the user you want to leave in charge. But be careful who you
choose to mind the store, because this person is now in charge, and that
means he or she could kick you off or even ban you from your own channel.
You can also get an Internet Relay Channel bot--sometimes
called "annoybots"--to
baby-sit your channel while you are away. A bot will keep the channel
running and automatically greet new visitors--some even serve up virtual
cocktails. Many IRC channels and servers are adamantly opposed to bots, so
make sure you are allowed to run one before you try. Otherwise you may find
yourself kicked off a server for good.
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Back from the dead
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Don't despair if you leave your channel and can't find someone to babysit
it, or the babysitter you appointed leaves, allowing the channel to
disappear. You can always come back later and recreate it, using its same name.
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- What are 3-D virtual chat worlds?
- Three-dimensional chat worlds are Internet-based, multiuser environments in
which players assume the shapes of characters and interact with one another
other inside virtual landscapes. The characters, or "avatars"--derived from
the Sanskrit term for reincarnation--can range from whimsical, as in
butterflies and bears, to weird, as in vampires and flying skulls. Many chat
worlds even let you create your own avatars, truly a new concept in
reincarnation. While the 3-D characters navigate via your mouse, the "chat"
is still text-based, meaning you need to type what you're saying into a
dialogue box on your screen, not unlike traditional Internet Relay
Chat-style chat.
But unlike IRC chat channels, where the onscreen dialogue is all that's
there, 3-D virtual worlds are so visually engrossing that it's easy to
ignore the other avatars--oops, make that people--as you wander about. And
unlike real life, if someone gets boring or pushy you only have to click on
a button to vanish from the room.
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- Who uses 3-D virtual chat?
- Currently, most 3-D chat environments serve no more serious purpose than
providing virtual explorers with places to meet and mingle. In virtual
worlds it's possible to have prearranged meetings with "real" friends in
your avatar guises or to just wander about chatting with strangers. As in
Internet Relay Chat channels, you can also single out other users
for private
conversations and even, in one 3-D world, exchange virtual business cards.
You can also choose to remain mysteriously aloof, although it's a bit harder
to lurk discreetly when everybody can see you. In the more sophisticated
3-D worlds characters can swivel and rotate on the screen, and even convey
some limited movements or emotions. Mostly, though, avatars resemble paper
dolls in their limited means of expression. Chat environments with real-time
audio are emerging even now, with avatars communicating via their users'
actual voices. Most environments currently provide sounds and music to keep
you company as you type.
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- How do I access 3-D chat environments?
- Like Internet Relay Chat channels, 3-D virtual environments are
client/server based,
meaning you need access them with a special piece of software called a
client program, which links you to a central server that
other users
are connecting to also. These virtual chat client programs are available as
freeware and shareware, and you can download them from Web
sites. If you want to explore what's new in avatar-based environments, try
Worlds Chat, The Palace, and
MTV's Tikkiland.
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- What is a MUD?
- Before there were 3-D virtual worlds, there were MUDs. Multi-User
Dimensions--or, as some insist, Multi-User Dungeons--are virtual worlds
based on text, not images, where users disguised as
characters explore and interact with one another. MUDs are to 3-D worlds
what books are to television: One relies on words and imagination, the other
on words and images.
MUDs range from fairly simple, chat-room-style environments to sophisticated
worlds that users are actually building as they move about in them. TinyMUDs
are not unlike many Internet Relay Chat channels: Their denizens hang out and
socialize. LPMUDs are role playing and gaming worlds where you'll encounter
dragons, treasures, and other adventures. The more adventurous might prefer
MUD's cousins: MOOs. These MUD-Object-Oriented games expand upon the MUD
universe by allowing participants to do their own programming, thus adding
to the virtual world as they navigate it. MUSEs (Multi-User System
Environments) are similar variations upon the same theme
All MUDs are controlled by "wizards," who, like IRC channel
operators, police the action in their little corners of the virtual
universe. Since MUDs are text-based, action and interaction takes place via
words. So if you enter a "room," you'll be told, "There's a mantel with a
candle on it," as opposed to being shown a picture of the environment.
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- How do I access MUDs?
- Like Internet Relay Chat channels, MUDs are carried on
servers. However, MUDs
are usually reached via Telneting or client
software programs that
work on Unix-based systems. You can also try some experimental World Wide
Web gateways open to various MUDs. A good place to sample these and to learn
more about MUDs is The MUD Resource Collection. Not only do its
FAQs explain everything you might ever want to know about MUDs, but its
extensive links collections lead to more sites about MUDs and the members of
their virtual global community.
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Read the friendly manual
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Because they're harder to access than IRC channels and require more
expertise to navigate, MUDs have tended to attract more experienced computer
users. Be sure to read their "help" sections before you dive in, as
experienced players can be intolerant of newbies.
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- How do I use audio-based chat?
- Web-phone technology is still in its infancy, but programs are available
that provide real-time audio connections between different parties
via their desktop computers. To participate, users need the Web-phone
software, computers with sound cards, microphones, speakers, and Internet
connections of at least
14.4 kbps, although, realistically, faster ISDN or T1
connections provide
far superior performance.
In conversations via Web-phone, users speak into their computer's
microphones just like they would a telephone, and the Web-phone software
sends a digital approximation of their voices to the other users. The
quality of the transmission varies considerably, depending upon the systems
used and the quality of the user's connections. In some programs, only one
user can speak at a time.
A sampling of the more advanced systems available now are WebTalk from Quarterdeck, DigiPhone from Third Planet Publishing, and Internet Phone
from VocalTec.
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- What is real-time videoconferencing?
- Space-age guy George Jetson, for example, would be right at home in a
videoconference, where participants interact through their computer screens.
Run on ordinary desktop computers, these programs connect speakers via the
Internet, carrying live sound and images back and forth between the parties.
Unlike regular phone calls or conference calls taking place on
speakerphones, videoconferencing allows participants to both speak to and
see one another in near-real time.
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- How do I use real-time video?
- Real-time videoconferencing requires its participants to have desktop
computers with soundcards, microphones,
speakers, video cameras, and Internet modem connections of at least 28.8
kbps, although faster ISDN or T1 connections are
preferable. It's possible for one or more participants
to watch, or "lurk," without sending their own images, meaning they can do
without the video cameras.
Participants run their conferencing programs, turn on their cameras,
microphones, and speakers, position themselves in front of their computer
screens, and speak. Images are conveyed in black-and-white or color,
depending upon the system. However, the medium isn't without its
limitations. Only one user can speak at a time, and depending on the speed
of the Internet connections, the images and sounds transmitted may lag
behind the real-time conversation. While jerky images are annoying, garbled
and delayed sound may defeat the purpose of the conference in the first
place. Some programs include the fallback option of typing in the
conversation when the sound fails to keep up.
For videoconferences with more than two participants, users must link
together through a mirror reflector site--an Internet-based
server which acts as a
conduit for the sound and images.
One of the best known examples of this technology is the CU-SeeMe program developed at Cornell University in
1992. Its Web site offers a freeware version for Macs and PCs and ample
explanation of the technology, including server tips. Enhanced versions of
CU-SeeMe are also available from White Pine Software.
A similar system for one-on-one conferencing is available through VDOLive, whose VDOPhone program offers the added bonus of
full-color images.
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--By Kathryn M. McGrail
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