Chapter 11: Real time communication on the Internet

Objectives Learn different ways to chat on the Internet. Explore different chat client programs. Find chat rooms devoted to specific topics. Explore virtual worlds that offer entertainment opportunities.

Objectives Explore the history of the wireless Internet. Learn about different wireless networks. Locate wireless devices that let you access the Internet.

What Is Chat? Chat is a general term for real-time communication that occurs over the Internet. Voice Chat: where participants speak to each other in real time, much like they would be using a telephone. Video Chat: where participants can see and speak to each other. Chats can be continuous, with participants entering and leaving ongoing discussions for a specific time and to last for a specific duration. Because chatting requires participants to type quickly, and not to worry about proper spelling and grammar, acronym is used.

Commonly Used Chat Acronyms

Chat terms Lurking: the practice of reading messages and not contributing to the discussion. Shouting: typing in all capitals letters. Flaming: when a participant insults or ridicules another participant. Spamming: when someone or an organization sends unsolicited and irrelevant messages to a chat room. Netiquette: rules of the Internet.

Internet Relay Chat Internet Relay Chat - You need special chat client software and connect to an IRC server. Talk – used by early UNIX computers that allowed users to exchange short text messages. Internet Relay Chat (IRC) - In 1988, Jarkko Oikarinen wrote a communications program that extended the capabilities of the Talk program to multi-user. IRC uses a client-server network model - IRC servers are connected through the internet to form an IRC network.

Internet Relay Chat Individual chat participants use IRC clients that connect to the servers in the network. The original network was EFNet, which is still one of the largest IRC networks today. Other major IRC networks include IRCNet, Undernet, DALnet, and NewNet. Servers in each of these IRC networks are connected to each other as part of the Internet, but IRC traffic is segregated by network.

Independent IRC Networks on the Internet

Internet Relay Chat IRC networks organize their chats by topic. Each topic area is called a channel, participants connect to an IRC network join specific channels in which they conduct their chats. Each channel has a name, or a channel heading, that uses the pound sign (#) to indicate the chat’s topic. When a participant creates a new channel, he becomes responsible for managing the channel and is called the channel operator, channel op, or IRCop.

Internet Relay Chat The channel operator can change the channel’s topic and heading, determines which users may participate in the channel, and can change whether the channel is public or private. Participants select nicknames when they log on to an IRC server. Nicknames must be unique. A channel operator’s nickname is preceded by @. IRC servers run automated programs, called IRC robots or bots, which perform routine services on the IRC network.

Commonly Used IRC Commands

Instant Messaging Software Instant messaging software lets two users chat in real time over the Internet. Instant messages usually occur between people who know each other, popular with friends and families separated by geographic distances. The software has built-in tools that let you identify your friends and alert you when your friends are online.

Chat in Progress Using ICQ

Instant Messaging Software Instant messaging is different from e-mail in two important ways: When you send an e-mail message to a user, you do not have a way to determine if that user is online at the time you send your message. An instant message occurs faster because you do not have to wait for your e-mail program to send and download messages.

Instant Messaging Software To use instant messaging to talk to other Internet users, you must download an instant messaging software. Instant messaging software programs: ICQ AOL Instant Messenger Windows Messenger Yahoo! Messenger

Instant Messaging Software You must use the same instant messaging software to chat with other users. Some instant messaging software programs have options for logging on to your chat account using a Web page so you can use the software when you are away from your primary computer. All instant messaging software programs have some features that work on wireless devices, such as cell phones. All instant messaging software is free.

Windows Messenger

Web-Based Chat Sites Web-based chat sites offer the same features as text-based IRC chat networks and instant messaging but are often easier to use and do not require users to download and install any software. In Web-based chat, some users lurk and others have multiple conversations going at the same time. The chat room identifies users as they speak with their user names. Conversations are often open-ended and rarely follow the prescribed topic.

Web-Based Chat Sites Most Web-based chat sites prohibit spam messages, the use of automated programs,vulgar language, and threats to individuals. Most sites require you to register before using their chat rooms. Although Web sites that provide chat rooms have rules of appropriate conduct, you might encounter offensive conversations taking place.

Web-Based Chat Sites

Evolution of Wireless Networks When you connect to your Internet service provider, you’re creating a wired connection. A wireless connection occurs when data, such as a person’s voice, is transferred to another location without the use of any wires.

Evolution of Wireless Networks The year 1999 saw the introduction of the first “wireless” connections to the Internet. Personal digital assistants (PDA): handheld computers act as personal organizers, perform calculations, store notes, and download Web pages formatted for handheld devices. The wireless Internet has expanded to include different hardware devices, networks, and other options.

Evolution of Wireless Networks Cell phones - one of the first wireless connections to transfer a person’s voice. Text messaging occurs over second-generation wireless systems, or 2G wireless. Short Message Service (SMS) - send text messages of up to 160 characters over a 2G wireless network to a wireless phone. SMS is slow and need a network connection to receive the data.

Evolution of Wireless Networks Some handheld computers use Infrared technology to “beam” information from one source to another without the use of wired connections. Japan and South Korea have new 3G wireless systems (third-generation wireless) in place. Some European countries are building and licensing 3G wireless systems. 3G wireless systems offer data transfer rates of up to 2 Mbps and constant connections. Bandwidth and cost are two obstacles for getting 3G wireless systems going in the United States.

Evolution of Wireless Networks The conversion from 2G to 3G wireless requires the carriers to invest in technology to make the change. The technology is only as good as the network and its coverage area. Many carriers have transformed and upgraded their existing networks by creating 2.5G wireless systems.

Wireless Local Area Networking Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi): a trademarked name of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) that specifies the interface between a wireless client and a base station or between two wireless clients. A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a network in which devices use high frequency radio waves instead of wires to communicate. Wi-Fi operates in the 2.4 GHz radio spectrum, which is the same spectrum used by cordless phones, garage door openers, microwave ovens, and other devices.

Wireless Local Area Networking wired local area network wireless local area network

Wireless Local Area Networking Because Wi-Fi is unlicensed, it is free. The 3G wireless spectrum needs to be licensed for huge fees. Four of the most widely used standards for WLANs are 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. Transfer rate: the speed at which data is transmitted from an access point (or base station) to the wireless device. Access point: a hardware device with one or more antennae that permits communication between wired and wireless networks for sending and receiving data.

Wireless Local Area Networking Wi-Fi usually refers to the 802.11b specification which is the specification on which most Wi-Fi devices operate. Dual access point: a new device that makes the 802.11a and 802.11b wireless standards and the 802.11b and 802.11 g wireless standards interoperable. Wi-Fi is often used as an alternative in an office building or other area in which you might find a traditional wired local area network. It may be used where wiring cannot be installed.

Wireless Local Area Networking Laptop computers and other devices must have Wi-Fi compatible hardware installed in them to send and receive data with the network. If you position enough access points within the appropriate range of each other, the WLAN can grow to cover an entire office complex or geographic area. There are two major types of personal area networks: Infrared and Bluetooth.

Infrared Technology The Infrared Data Association (IrDA) is a group dedicated to developing low-cost, high-speed wireless connectivity solutions. Using Infrared technology, you can wirelessly beam information from one device to another compatible device using Infrared light waves. This technology is used with PDAs, notebook computers, printers, phones, and other peripheral devices. A disadvantage is the lack of software products that can handle the transfer. The devices and the software that runs them must be compatible with each other.

Bluetooth Bluetooth is a technology that provides short-range radio links between personal computers, handheld devices, wireless phones, headsets, printers, and other electronic devices. For devices without chipsets that enable them to receive Bluetooth radio waves you can purchase an adapter to enable use with other Bluetooth devices. Bluetooth doesn’t need an access point for communication; devices communicate with each other automatically. Bluetooth isn’t really “owned” by any specific manufacturer or group.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth Using Bluetooth technology, you can synchronize and share data between as many as eight Bluetooth compatible devices within the specified range at a rate of up to 1 Mbps. A collection of devices connected via Bluetooth technology is called a piconet. A piconet can connect to eight devices at a time. You can use Bluetooth-enabled devices to transfer files, listen to music playing on a computer through a headset, print documents, or connect your notebook computer to the Internet using a wireless phone.

Comparing Wireless Network Standards & Bluetooth

Wireless Wide Area Networking The next horizon for wireless connections is being able to access the Internet on a PDA, wireless phone, or notebook computer from anywhere in the world without a wired connection. A WLAN provides a wireless connection to a network, but devices must be within the stated boundary of the WLAN. In 2.5G and 3G wireless systems, wireless wide area networking (WWAN) makes it possible to access the Internet from anywhere within the boundaries of the wireless network to which you are connected.

Creating a Wireless Wide Area Network

Using Wireless Devices to Access the Internet The technology and standards that dictate what you can accomplish with a wireless device change on a daily basis. New standards emerge, new hardware is created, and new ways of connectivity arrived (WiMAX). Free? Some networks, such as those found in airports and hotels, let you pay a daily fee to use the networks. Others require a monthly fee.

Summary There are different Internet resources to chat in real time with friends and business associates. There are different types of wireless networks, wireless network standards, and wireless devices. When selecting a wireless device, make sure that you understand the features of the network on which that wireless device operates.

Summary You should carefully examine the network’s geographic coverage area, pricing options, and the provider’s future expansion plans before selecting the device that most closely matches the functions that you need it to perform.

Sources: Schneider, G. & Evans J. (2004), “The Internet, New Perspectives”, 5th edition, Course Technology, Tutorial 8. The Star InTech, “MSN Messenger goes Live” & “Yahoo! Messenger gets updated”, 22nd June 2006. www.bluetooth.com www.palowireless.com www.ibm.com/developerwork/wireless www.wimax.com www.fiplanet.com www.iwtwireless.com