Inkanta
Group: Admins
Posts: 1453
Joined: Feb. 2000 |
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Posted: Dec. 11 2005, 13:56 |
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| Quote (Korgscrew @ Dec. 11 2005, 00:21) | | Still, the reason to use IRC is simply that chat as such isn't possible here. Forums really don't lend themselves to real-time conversations, which IRC does. |
A great feature of IRC is that it is platform-free-both Windows and Mac OS users are supported. We are experimenting with several types of software at work for large online meetings. Currently we use iVocalize, which supports both text chat and voice, if you have a microphone. If you don't have a mic, you can type. It's incredibily easy to use. You can share PowerPoints, pictures, whatever through the software, and the voice quality is excellent. Connectivity has been good, too, even when there are large numbers of users. You don't need to download any special software. You only go to the web address you are given, log in, and there you are. Well...the first time you log in, you will be asked to download a tiny applet, but it's not like you have to go out looking for the appropriate software.
The down side of iVocalize is that right now it doesn't work well with many versions of Mac; otherwise, I'd be glad to host a meeting. We are looking into something else that might be more Mac-friendly but its name escapes me at the moment.
No matter what program you are using for real-time group chat, when you have several people logged in at once, lots of simultaneous threads can get going and it becomes very confusing to interact. We'd have to establish some protocols to make it go more smoothly (very easy to do, really).
BTW, we've been graced with some very good conversations over the years on the Mike Oldfield IRC chat, not to mention the sharing of some wonderful live music.  Maybe we can get back to having regular times when we meet (though often there are a couple of people about).
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"No such thing as destiny; only choices exist." From: Moongarden's "Solaris."
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and work to pay for the internet 
