There are basically two ways that we can communicate in real-time with each other. First we can use a program that allows us to type so that the other people can read what we type. The second way we can communicate is with voice over the Internet.
In order to use a voice type of program you must have a microphone and speakers and a system that's fast enough to allow it to work. A 28.8 modem with a 486 or Pentium processor is fast enough.
We will be using the Yahoo Club for chatting purposes. Other teachers use the software discussed next. You may want to use any of these software programs to chat privately with teams, it is up to you what you do with the following information. It is not mandatory for this class to download or use the following information.
There are other freeware programs available that offer voice, text, and combinations of voice and text communication. An address where you can start looking is http://tucows.mcp.com/ I found PowWow and vIRC there, but PowWow wasn't listed the last time I checked.
PowWow is a user-friendly program that supports both text and voice communications. The only thing I dislike about it is that we can't 'log' a chat, which means make a copy of it to send to others. It can be downloaded directly at: http://www.tribal.com/powwow/download/
vIRC is in the class of programs called Internet Relay Chat, thus the IRC in the name. There are others that work just as well. The thing I like about vIRC is that it is free and chats on it can be logged and copies sent to non-participants.
Please download and install one or both of these programs if you don't already have them installed. That will enable us to communicate in real-time.
I'll be available for chats during the term. I solicit suggestions for chat times from each of you. Also, if you have this capability, you can chat amongst yourselves with out me being there.
Another option that I like in Netscape's newest version is that it includes at no cost, AOL's Instant Messenger. I have subscribed - user name tomblack12. If you list me in your Buddies list, you will know anytime that I'm on line when you are on line and you'll be able to contact me instantly.
Once you've downloaded Powwow, go to where you put the file and double click on it. It will install itself. As it installs it asks you for some information such as where do you want it, etc. It will offer to put a shortcut on the desktop and I allow that and then drag it into my Internet folder where I keep all of my shortcuts together.
It's been a while since I installed mine, so I don't remember at exactly what point it asks for your real name, email address, and other information. You have to tell it that to register to use it.
Once registered, you can edit information in the Preferences window. There are several tabs where you can change settings. One thing I've done is give it an address where a photo of me is stored so people I'm talking to can see what I look like if they want to.
Once it's installed, you can click on the shortcut to start it. To use it from there, you can enter an email address and connect with another party that has Powwow up and running. While connected there are two ways to communicate, voice and text. In fact you can type to each other until you make voice contact. Powwow allows several people to connect at one time and hear each other as in a conference call.
There is a fairly good help system available.
There is a very good, FREE, program called ViRC available at either of the following sites.
http://www.megalith.co.uk/virc
http://www.virc.com
The program is about 1.1M in size (meaning it will fit on a blank, formatted floppy disk) in its download, zipped state. I use a 56K Flex modem and usually connect at 42,000 or 44,000. It takes me about 7 minutes to download the program.
My advice is to create a new folder on your hard drive. You can use Windows Explorer, select File, New, and Folder, and then name it.
After you have downloaded ViRC the next step is to install it. To use it, you must first unzip it, then install it. You can use an unzip programs for this. Generally you can right-click on the program and select unzip from the menu.
Once ViRC is unzipped, there is an install program that you click on (in Windows Explorer) and it starts and runs and sets itself up. Once installed there is an extensive help menu to help you use it.
As it installs, it will ask a few questions. Once installation is finished, you start the program by clicking the icon/name in the folder. I have made an Internet folder on my desktop and I put a shortcut to the program in this folder. Then all I have to do is click the shortcut.
When it opens there is a toolbar at the top of the ViRC window. Click the Start button and when a window opens you can select and enter a chat room. Once connected to a chat room, click on the # sign in the Server notices window and then enter #mg363 in the Channel box at the bottom of the Channel Box window to enter or create a MG363 room. You probably will want to have the Favorites tab selected. There is a chat room I've found at Louisville.KY.US.ChatNet.Org, port 6667 that we can use and it has a relatively small amount of traffic. If you know of one that doesn't get much use, please let us know! The problem with using a chat room on a busy site is that you get unwanted drop in, sometimes disruptive visitors.
There will be a listing on the right telling you who else is in the room. On the left is a big window where whatever is typed and sent is displayed and at the bottom is a line where you can enter whatever data you want to send to everyone else.
This is a very brief look at the capabilities of ViRC and other communication programs. I hope it is enough for us to get started. Teams can use these with or without my being there.