It's a virtual slice of life... |
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is an amazing phenomenon. If some astute psychology major hasn't done a thesis on it yet, they should. What appears on the surface to be a harmless, somewhat primitive (given todays technology) method for people to communicate |
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  For those of you who have never experienced IRC, we'll give you a brief technical explanation. At first sight, it may seem a bit daunting, but even the most basic functions are actually quite simple to learn. If you're already experienced with it, you might want to skip this part and jump on down to the sections on software, servers, and resources. |
A very basic overviewThere are a number of forms of "chat", a few that have been around almost as long as the Internet itself. The earliest ones were primitive and text based, requireing a considerable number of key strokes. This was the Internet before there was a graphics based "World Wide Web". Once the Web came along and gained popularity, things developed rapidly. Web based chat sites flourished, and although limited in features and somewhat tough to follow, caught the attentions of many. Plenty of these sites still exist. Soon, computers were set up for the expressed purpose of "chat servers". This, in one form or another, is the most popular type of text based chatting around today. You enter the address in your software, connect to the server and can request a list of "channels". Some servers offer as many as 5,000+ channels to choose from and, if that isn't enough, you can even open your own with just a few key strokes. A channel is like a room, capable of holding up to 100 or more people. You type which one you want to join, hit the enter key, and off you go (provided it's not a "private" channel), the screen filling with lines of scrolling text. Netscape released a chat program sometime ago that allowed users to type active URL's (Web site addresses) in the chat window. With your Netscape Navigator open in a separate window, it would automatically go to the address typed. Tandem surfing! Great way to show your friends new interesting sites you had found. Other programs allowed direct connections between individuals (DCC) for the purposes of chatting and file transfer. |
mIRCSometime ago, a young man named Khaled Mardam-Bey released a shareware program called mIRC combining all these features and more. Users can pre-program long winded sayings, or "pop-ups", that can be sent to the screen with just a click of the mouse. If you have a particular sound file on your hard drive and you or someone else activates the sound feature, everyone else in the channel will hear it, provided they too have it. Anyone who doesn't, can either request it, or set the program up to automatically down load it when it's played. With a little effort, you can even record your own voice for all to hear. The "DCC Send" feature makes it very easy for people to transfer files back and forth to each other like pictures, sounds, documents, and programs. I've only scratched the surface of what this program can do and it continues to improve. |
Palace ChatA company called "Palace" has released a program giving a new twist to chatting. Now, instead of a white background and scrolling lines of text, users can enter into worlds containing high resolution graphic backgrounds depicting fully furnished rooms, nature scenes, landscapes and some amazing computer generated backdrops. Instead of just a name, you assume the form of an "Avatar", or floating icon. Whatever you type appears next to your Avatar as a cartoon-like speech bubble. The ability to play and hear sounds, limited interactivity with the backgrounds (i.e., click on a lamp and it turns on and off) plus adding animation to your props and Avatars, can't even begin to describe all the fascinating things you can do. Amazing sites with lush graphic backgrounds keep popping up all the time. After you get it installed, check out the main Palace site (it's address comes preprogrammed into the software). There you'll find links to other sites, and a small selection of props and Avatars. One of the best things about Palace is you get both the client and server software together. With very little effort you can design and run your own Palace site! |
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Voice Chat Voice chat is quickly catching on in popularity, although the technology is still somewhat new and not without bugs. And if the major phone companies have their way, it is not going to get any better (they want it outlawed, or find a way to make you pay for it). Until such time, it's perfectly legal and lots of fun. Basically, you plug a microphone in your sound card, start up the software, connect to one of the servers and off you go. You can either wait for someone to call you, pick a name from the list and "ring" their phone. You can also first set up a meeting through IRC chat. Main problem with all these programs is you can only talk with people who have the same software as you (there is currently an effort underway to design a universal standard to remove this problem). There is an array of titles to choose from and some offer two registration numbers when you buy the full commercial version. Use one number and give one to a distant friend or family member. Some, like Vocaltech's Internet Phone and Microsoft's NetMeeting, offer a combination of all 3 types of chat (text, voice and video) simultaneously (commonly refered to as 'Video Conferencing'). You can talk to anyone, anywhere in the world for no more than the cost of your internet connection (now you know why the phone companies hate it!). All things considered, it still has a way to go before it is as reliable and clean a connection as Ma Bell provides (cough, cough). A number of factors can have a drastic effect on performance, like modem speed, processor (CPU) speed, ISP connection, and amount of network traffic. A sound card/modem combination that allows "full duplex" transmissions (you can both talk at the same time) makes the effort much more enjoyable. Otherwise, each has to wait until the other is done before speaking (like a CB). Since most programs are available for a free trial, why not give it a spin? |
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Video ChatThere are a number of Video Conferencing programs available today with an amazing array of features. Many are available as limited use shareware. You'll need to add a camera (about $75.00 for B/W and around $120.00 for color), or get a video capture board ($200.00+) and use your Camcorder. Check out Connectix's Color Quickcam II (the one that looks like a golf ball with a lens on one side) or our favorite, Creative Labs color Web Cam II. System requirements (a Pentium® 166MHz+ level processor is highly recommended) and network status effects are similar to voice chat. Plug a microphone in your sound card ($10.00) and you have your own unlimited, world wide video phone for no more than the cost of your Internet dial-up. Great if you have family across the country that are also on-line. Most of the time, connections are made through servers similar to IRC chat and most programs come with lists included. There are a large number of video chat servers available, allowing you to see, hear and talk to others, all over the world. And both parties are not required to have a camera in order to connect. Most of the better programs also provide a way to directly connect ("DC") to one or more individuals, without the use of a "chat server". Doing this usually provides a faster, more reliable connection. It's a great way to meet new friends and learn about distant cultures! |
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SOFTWAREmIRC- mIRC is an excellent chat program that has developed considerably over the past few years. The latest version (v5.x) has a number of interesting functions including direct file transfer (DCC Send), drag and drop sounds, private chat, direct chat (DCC Chat), color pop-ups, more powerful user definable scripts, independent floating windows and more. It can be down loaded for free as fully functional Shareware. (Win 3.x,/Win95) |
Palace- Originally programmed for the Mac, versions for Win 3.x and Win95 are now available. Registered versions ($25.00) allow the use of custom Avatars and on screen names (or "nicks"). Non-registered versions are restricted to a round yellow smiley face, you can't collect props, and you can't change screen names, but hey, it's free. (This may be changing, allowing unregistered users a limited number of Avatar add-ons) (Win 3.x/Win95/Mac) |
WaveGet- From Paul Beuger comes a handy .wav file utility especially designed for use with mIRC. Great for organizing your audio files. Auto download, one button play, preview, more. Displays a floating window showing your catalog of sounds. Can also check for corrupted or incomplete files. (Win 3.x / Win95) |
IPQuery- Handy for use with Palace to set up your own server. Written by David Terracino, it shows your current IP address. Tiny file, simple to use. Good for other uses too (like some Video Chat programs). (Win95) |
Internet Phone v5.x- Voice/Video/Text. Demo version lets you try it for a limited time. Pay for the retail version and get 2 license numbers. (Win 95) |
CuSeeMe- Video/Voice/Text. A very popular program for video conferencing. Allows multiple connections, all can simultaneously see and hear each other. Numerous servers available (try one of the search engines), as well as IRC chat rooms. Limited use trial version available for free. |
Microsoft NetMeeting v2.x- Text/Voice/Video. Freeware (surprised?). Allows multiple connections, but only 2 participants can see/hear each other at any time (you can switch between participants). Text chat can be viewed by all. Greatest features are the "Whiteboard" (a drawing board) and "Program Sharing" (individuals can control a program, i.e. word processor, located on any other participant's computer!) |
SERVERS |
Sorry, we are currently revising our list of sites (many have changed). For now, try one of the major search engines like Yahoo or C|Net. If you have any handy, send them our way and if we don't already have them, we will gladly add them to the list and give you credit. |
RESOURCESYes, this list of links to mIRC FAQ's, How-to's, and script pages, plus Palace prop and script pages is receiving an overhaul too. Check back soon. Again, if you have any handy, send them our way and if we don't already have them, we will gladly add them to the list and give you credit. |
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across the Internet has, in effect, all the drama, heartache, joy and emotion of real life. "How can this be?", you ask. "It's just words typed on a screen by some faceless person often thousands of miles away!". True enough, but it is also certifiably addicting. More and more these days you see stories in the news about people who have found true love, had their hearts broken, made great friends, got divorced, got married, found a new life, got murdered, all from chatting with strangers.
The beauty of IRC is that, should you feel compelled, it allows you to be whatever you want. Or, at least it gives you the freedom to make others believe it. Want the body of a Penthouse Pet? You got it. Sexy? Worldly? Debonair? I type, therefore I am. And you can change as often as you like. Until reality mixes with virtual reality, it's basically harmless. You can't get in a bar fight, get pregnant, or catch some strange disease (although we do know of people whose computers caught a virus). If something is going on that you don't feel comfortable with, you can leave anytime you wish. One click of a button and you're gone, off to explore some other area. From stuff so tame that a 6 year old can participate, to emotional support groups, software assistance, regional and local topics, hobbies, it's all there!