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Instant Messaging and Web cams

    If you're constantly sending e-mail and sometimes wish you could contact someone even faster, this subject is just for you. This section will cover how to talk to people you know on the Internet... live! If you haven't started doing this already, you're definitely missing out.

    First, let's define Instant Messaging. Pcwebopedia.com once again, has the definition:

Instant Messaging: A type of communications service that enables you to create a private chat room with another individual. Typically, the instant messaging system alerts you whenever somebody on your private list is online. You can then initiate a chat session with that particular individual.

There are several competing instant messaging systems. Unfortunately, there's no standard, so anyone you want to send instant messages to must use the same instant messaging system that you use.

    In short, instant messaging is your personalized chat room with someone. When you type a line of text to them in the instant messenger program, and press "Enter", they will receive the text immediately. In turn, the person on the other side who has received the text can then send you a line of text back, and thus an online conversation takes place. For people you will talk to on a regular basis, each as a buddy list, and whenever a "buddy" of yours logs on to the instant messenger via the Internet,  you are alerted in some way (i.e. a sound, or a small pop-up window). The same goes for when you log on and you are listed as a buddy on someone else's instant messenger.

Choosing an Instant Messenger (or two, or three)

        As the definition stated, there is currently no set standard for instant messaging. However there are three popular instant messenger programs currently available for free online. Yahoo Instant Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, and MSN Instant Messenger are all well used by the Internet community.  Of course since they're not compatible with each either, you should pick to use one that many of your friends and other contacts use. If you're friends all use different instant messengers, don't worry, it doesn't hurt to run more than one at a time... or all three like I do.

    FYI Oh, and by the way, anyone who has a Hotmail account can log into MSN messenger with the same ID, anyone with a Yahoo account (e-mail for example) can log into Yahoo messenger with the same ID, and anyone on AOL can either use the Instant Messenger built into AOL or log on in the stand alone instant messenger program under the same ID.

WEB CAMS And Voice Chats

    Web cams are a fun addition to instant messaging. With a web cam, you can type messages as you would to one of your buddies online, while the person on the other side watches you on your web cam ... live! When both parties have web cams, it then becomes a video conference, i.e. both parties can see each other. Of course if you have a microphone or headset ( with a microphone) plugged into your computer's sound system, you can go completely hands free and talk rather than type. It's a great way to talk to someone, regardless of distance, and isn't very expensive. If you're connecting to the Internet via a dial-up connection, don't pay over $50 for a web cam. Most  web cams are about $30. (Not to be confused with Digital Photo Cameras, which usually cost around $200.) If you're connecting to the Internet via a high speed DSL or Cable Modem, you can spend more on a higher quality web cam if you like, but your picture quality is still dependent on how fast the connection of the person you are broadcasting to has. Any microphone or headset will do for voice chats. Both Video Chats, via web cams, and voice chats, via microphones or headsets, can be used independently of each other or at the same time. (IDEA: Voice chats can cut your long distance costs!)  Currently AOL Instant Messenger supports Voice Chats, but does not support Video Chats. Both Yahoo Instant Messenger and MSN Messenger support Video and Voice Chats.

"See" you online!

---Steve

E-mail me if you have further questions contact Steve Baham here.

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