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Next: Web Chat Implementations Up: Exercises Previous: AJAX
Textual Conferencing
Get together with one or a few other students and assemble the simple Java IRC client given in the lecture notes. Each of the group should now connect to an IRC network such as EFNet. Use the sample IRC session to remind you of IRC commands. One of you should create a channel and the rest of you can converse on it. Experiment with changing the channel's topic and mode. Be prepared to respond in a timely way to PING requests otherwise you will be logged out.
Now compare using the simple IRC client with a more sophisticated client such as ChatZilla (run seamonkey) on a Linux host. Commands for this client should be prefaced by "/". Use /HELP command for help on available commands. Alternatively a Java IRC applet is available at http://www.hotscripts.com/Java/Applets/Chat_Systems/
Remember that use of IRC is addictive and some IRC users are deceitful and manipulative so don't disclose personal details about yourself without prior thought. A user who professes to be a shy, innocent 15 year old nymphette from Sweden could well be a 50 year old fat male trucker from Detroit with a highly weird set of proclivities.
If you haven't used an instant messenger before, team up with a friend and try out an Instant Messenger. The CS department's Linux distribution supports an IM client called gaim. Start it, register with them and try out the service by chatting to a friend who is using gaim at the same time. Alternatively you can download and install an IM client. Use the lecture to find links to these. Then chat to a friend who is also online with that IM service. How does this kind of textual conferencing service compare with IRC from the point of view of convenience, accessibility, ease of use, support for privacy, scope? How much does a presence service add to the convenience of instant messaging?
| Lecture Exercises | XHTML 1.0 | Slide 19 |