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Chatting, conferencing, and gaming
What is Internet Relay Chat?
Who uses chat, anyway?
Can I use chat applications for business purposes?
How is chat different from mailing lists and newsgroups?
Do I need special software to chat?
Where are IRC chat channels located?
How do I get into the IRC servers?
What IRC commands do I need to know?
Does chatting cost anything?
Is anybody welcome in chat groups?
How do I find chat channels and information?
Can I search for a specific chat subject channel?
How do I get into a chat channel?
What can I expect when I enter an IRC chat channel?
How do I join the conversation?
How do I chat privately?
Is there netiquette for chat channels?
Are chat rooms supervised?
How do I complain about being hassled in chat channels?
Do I have to use my real name when chatting?
How much can other chatters find out about me?
How can I learn more about other chatters?
How do I exit a chat channel?
How do I disconnect from the IRC server?
What if I'm invited to go to another chat channel?
Are chat conversations archived?
How do I start my own public chat channel?
How do I create a private chat channel?
How do I keep my chat channel running when I'm not there?
What are 3-D virtual chat worlds?
Who uses 3-D virtual chat?
How do I access 3-D chat environments?
What is a MUD?
How do I access MUDs?
How do I use audio-based chat?
What is real-time videoconferencing?
How do I use real-time video?
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
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.
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
/joinconnects you to a channel; starts a new channel
/whoisdisplay a particular user's profile
/wholist the channel's current users
/actiondisplays user actions
/msgsends a private message
/ignoreignore another user
/awayannounces you are leaving
/helpdisplays information about a particular command
/leavedisconnects you from the channel
/quitdisconnects 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
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.
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
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.
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
#hottuba relaxed place to chat
#irchelpthe place to go for IRC questions
#ircbara congenial hangout
#gayfor gay topics
#lesbianfor lesbian topics
#teena teen hangout
#espanolfor Spanish-language chat
#francefor French-language chat
#hackersfor computer buffs
#sexfor 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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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

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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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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