Classroom using the web

It's Good to Talk - Starting out with Online Chat

Classroom

[ introduction ]
[ web-based chat ]
[ internet relay chat (IRC) ]
[ how does it work? ]
[ getting started ]
[ starting chatting ]
 [ hints and tips]

[ introduction ]
[ web-based chat ]
[ internet relay chat (IRC) ]
[ how does it work? ]
[ getting started ]
[ starting chatting ]
 [ hints and tips]

[ introduction ]
[ web-based chat ]
[ internet relay chat (IRC) ]
[ how does it work? ]
[ getting started ]
[ starting chatting ]
 [ hints and tips]

[ introduction ]
[ web-based chat ]
[ internet relay chat (IRC) ]
[ how does it work? ]
[ getting started ]
[ starting chatting ]
 [ hints and tips]

It's Good to Talk - Starting out with Online Chat

Thanks to the Internet it is possible for you to chat with anyone, anywhere in the world, for the price of a local phone call. And it's not only fourteen year old boys wanting to talk about Britney Spears who want to chat online - conversations take place in virtual rooms called "channels" and there are literally thousands of them relating to many different topics so you'll definitely be able to find one which appeals to you.

So you've decided you want to try some virtual chat, the next thing you have to do is decide how you want to speak. There are several different ways of going about it so here's a quick rundown of some of the choices:

Web-based Chat

Lots of websites have now started putting in mini chatrooms for their visitors. You click on a link from the main page and a window will come up of the conversation going on with a space at the bottom for you to type in what you want to say (just remember that what you are saying will not come up until you hit Enter).

This is useful if you are looking for chat around something specific, as chances are the chat going on in a chatroom will be related to what an individual web site is about. It also means you don't have to install any special software to chat. Also, try www.talkcity.com a self-styled "virtual community" which has space for people discussing lots of wide ranging topics.
[ back to top of page ]

Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

Although this is a bit harder to get the hang of IRC is one of the most popular (and oldest!) forms of chat on the net.
[ back to top of page ]

How does it work?

Basically, IRC works like this: You install and run an IRC programme on your computer. The IRC software connects you to an IRC server through your Internet connection. The IRC server is just a computer set up on the Internet that is running special software. It holds all the information about the channels and individuals on IRC and sends messages you type to other users. So simply speaking if you have the IRC programme and an Internet connection you'll now be able to join conversations or start your own. Easy, see? You participate by typing your message, as you want it to appear to all the participants on the channel. Your message will not appear to others on the channel until you press your computer's enter key.
[ back to top of page ]

Getting Started

You first need to find and install a chat programme. You'll be able to find software for any operating system or type of computer, but in this tutorial we're going to look at a programme called mIRC, a piece of shareware for Windows 95. This is one of the simplest and easiest to learn pieces of chat software, and is popular and widely available (and also free!).

There are various ways of getting a copy of mIRC. Your ISP might have given you a copy of it (or something similar) on your startup CD, but if not you can download the software free of charge (try www.download.com) or look for computer magazines which might have it free on the cover disk (useful especially if your internet connection is slow as it might be cheaper to buy the magazine than spend an hour downloading the software from the net).

Installing mIRC is the next step, and is quite simple. Run the setup.exe file, either from Windows Explorer or using the Run option from the start menu, and then follow the on-screen instructions. You'll have to fill in some personal information and some information about your internet connection. If you don't know the answers to any of the queries about your internet connection you can either refer to your ISP or read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page which comes with mIRC and which covers everything you need to know in detail.
[ back to top of page ]

Starting Chatting

The first thing to do is start up the mIRC programme whilst you are online. When you start up you should get a little box called mIRC Options pop up. If it doesn't, click on the second icon from the left (the green and red dots with black lines), which means connect. You will be given a choice of chat servers from across the world. Pick one, any one at random if you like, just choose one that is near to where you are, as this will increase the speed of the connection.

When you have chosen a server click on Connect to IRC Server. Once you have connected a channel folder will pop up showing you all the available channels. Highlight one you like the sound of and press Join.

A new window divided into three parts will open. On the left hand side you will be able to see the conversation going on, on the right hand there is a column showing you everyone who is in the room, and across the bottom is a space where you can type. Just click on the box, type what you want to say and hit Enter.

If you want to talk to someone individually the easiest way to do it is to double click on their name in the right hand column. A new window will open which only they will be able to see. You can now talk to them privately.

It is possible to join as many channels and have as many conversations as you want in one go. You will see across the top of your screen tabs for each space you are talking in. If the tab is red that means someone has said something new. If they remain black then there has been no more said since you last looked. [ back to top of page ]

Hints and Tips

Well there you have the basics of chat. Don't worry if it seems a bit difficult to get the hang of to start with, the more you do it the easier it gets, and people are generally friendly. Try to remember the following though:

* As with email and newsgroups, try not to be too sloppy in your typing. If you spell every second word wrong people will find it difficult to understand what you are saying. DON'T SHOUT!

* When you first enter a channel just type "Hello" and then sit back and read the conversation for a while. "Lurking" like this will help you see where the conversation is at - remember it could have been going on for hours before you joined the channel.

* Everyone has heard a horror story about people in chatrooms not being what they seem. Don't be scared by it, just use some common sense: don't give out your address or phone number to people you don't know, don't give *anyone* your password and don't believe everything you read as fact. And just remember; if you are uncomfortable with anything being said just leave the channel. You don't have to keep writing.

And now you're ready for the next tutorial: Mailing Lists