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Introduction: Definition and
use of Instant Messaging (IM) Programs
What is Instant Messaging?
"A service that alerts users when friends or colleagues
are online and allows them to communicate with each other in real time through
private online chat areas. With instant messaging, a user creates a list
of other users with whom he or she wishes to communicate; when a user
from his or her list is on line, the service alerts the user and enables
immediate contact with the other user. While instant messaging has primarily
been a proprietary service offered by Internet service providers such
as AOL and MSN, businesses are starting to employ instant messaging to
increase employee efficiency and make expertise more readily available
to employees." --Source: http:www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/experiences/glossary_h-n.asp.
"Instant messaging is the ability to exchange
messages in real time with other people over the Internet. To send
and receive instant messages, you need a connection to the Internet
and instant messaging software. The instant messaging software enables
you to set up a list of friends who also use the program. Once you
set up this list, you can see if each friend is online at a particular
moment. If so, you can begin a conversation with them quickly and easily.
Most conversations are typed text messages that are sent back and forth,
though more advanced users can exchange voice, video, files and more".
--Source: http://messenger.yahoo.com
How Do I "Instant Message"?
Perhaps the four most well known Instant
Messaging (IM) programs are AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Instant Messenger,
Yahoo Instant Messenger, and ICQ. These free programs are very
similar in terms of their functionality and features. A
limited subset of this same type of functionality is found in WebTycho's "class
awareness" and "chat" features.
What Should I Consider Before Using
An Instant Messaging Program?
Each faculty member and student is free to choose
whether or not he/she wishes to utilize an instant message program as a course-related
communications tool. Use of these programs requires real-time participation
by one or more participants and is, therefore, strictly optional. Before
you and/or some of your students elect to use an instant messaging program,
please consider the following:
- Beyond the information contained in
this document, UMUC does not provide technical support for any third-party
instant messaging programs. Most IM programs provide sufficient help
menus and information.
- At the present time, most IM programs
are not compatible with each other. Though you may easily be
able to run one or more IM programs on your computer at any given
time, these programs do not "speak to each other." For example,
you cannot use AOL Instant Messenger to communicate with users of
Yahoo Instant Messenger.
- IM programs are best categorized as
a "communications" tool, rather than "teaching/learning" tools. As
with any communications tool, IM programs can be used effectively
or ineffectively. The perceived benefits derived from
using this particular method of communication will vary from one
person to the next, based on communication preferences, knowledge
and understanding of instant messaging, the specific tool being used,
and one's willingness to use the program in a manner considered "acceptable
and appropriate" to other users. Just as there are times that
people do not wish to be contacted by phone or email, the same is
true of IM programs. To avoid annoying the people who have
agreed to share their usernames with you (for your IM program's "buddy" or
contact list) we recommend that use your IM program in a thoughtful
and purposeful manner. Uninvited, incessant instant messages can
be as annoying, if not more so, than "pop-up" ads.
- As with any software that runs over
the Internet, IM programs present certain security and privacy concerns. Some
of these concerns may be addressed through end-user controls,
such as firewalls, anti-virus software, and selective vs. continuous
usage. You can also set the "preferences" (settings) in your
own IM program to exclude (forbid) file transfers to and from your
computer (strongly recommend). Most IM programs also
provide "preference" settings whereby you can limit IM communications
to only those people whose names appear on your contact list. Although
it is possible to run your IM program continuously while you are
online, the choice to do so is yours alone. Some IM Programs, such
as Yahoo Instant Messenger, provide you with the ability to log on
in "invisible" mode. If you are "invisible", no one on your
contact list can tell that you are online. Should you choose
to make your "online presence" known to the colleagues, students,
or friends on your own personal contact list, simply change your
status from "invisible" to "available". Finally, most IM programs
will enable you to create multiple user accounts. For example,
if you use an IM program at work, you may not wish to receive instant
messages from your friends during work hours. Likewise,
if you are logged into your IM service during the evening or
weekend hours so that you can chat with son or daughter who is away
at college, you may not wish to receive IMs from colleagues who may
also happen to be online "after work hours". A simple
solution to this dilemma is to use two different accounts or usernames
-- one for work and a second one for home.
- The popular IM programs offer the ability
to communicate with other users in the following manner:
- one-to-one private messaging (text
and possibly audio/video, depending on the IM program) with another
person whose username is on your contact list.
- group messaging (text and possibly
audio/video, depending on the IM program) with two or more people
whose usernames are on your contact list.
- With group messaging, it is important
to understand the difference between "chat" and "conferencing". Unlike
WebTycho, where "conferencing" refers to asynchronous posting and
reading of messages, conferencing with IM programs is the same
thing as "real-time chat" (text, audio and/or video). If you
are "conferencing" with people whose usernames appear on your contact
list, your chat is restricted to invited participants. However,
the "chat" feature in some IM programs can also be used to participate
in the service provider's "public chat rooms". Use of
those "public chat rooms" is beyond the scope of this tutorial and
strictly "at your own risk".
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