chat, online

In general terms, to “chat” is to communicate in real time by typing messages to other online users who can immedi-ately type messages in reply. It is this conversational imme-diacy that distinguishes chat services from conferencing systems or bulletin boards.

Commercial Services

Many PC users have become acquainted with chatting through participating in “chat rooms” operated by online services such as America Online (AOL). A chat room is a “virtual space” in which people meet either to social-ize generally or to discuss particular topics. At their best, chat rooms can develop into true communities whose par-ticipants develop long-term friendships and provide one another with information and emotional support (see vir-tual community).

However, the essentially anonymous character of chat (where participants often use “handles” rather than real names) that facilitates freedom of expression can also pro-vide a cover for mischief or even crime. Chat rooms have acquired a rather lurid reputation in the eyes of the general public. There has been considerable public concern about children becoming involved in inappropriate sexual con-versation. This has been fueled by media stories (sometimes exaggerated) about children being recruited into face-to-face meetings with pedophiles. AOL and other online ser-vices have tried to reduce such activity by restricting online sex chat to adults, but there is no reliable mechanism for a service to verify its user’s age. A chat room can also be supervised by a host or moderator who tries to prevent “flaming” (insults) or other behavior that the online service considers to be inappropriate.

Distributed Services

For people who find commercial online services to be too expensive or confining, there are alternatives available for just the cost of an Internet connection. The popular Inter-net Relay Chat (IRC) was developed in Finland by Jarkko Oikarinen in the late 1980s. Using one of the freely avail-able client programs, users connect to an IRC server, which in turn is connected to one of dozens of IRC networks. Users can create their own chat rooms (called channels). There are thousands of IRC channels with participants all over the world. To participate, a user simply joins a chan-nel and sees all messages currently being posted by other users of the channel. In turn, the user’s messages are posted for all to see. While IRC uses only text, there are now enhanced chat systems (often written in Java to work with a Web browser) that add graphics and other features.

There are many other technologies that can be used for conversing via the Internet. Some chat services (such as Cu-SeeMe) enable participants to transmit their images (see videoconferencing and Web cam). Voice can also be transmitted over an Internet connection (see voip). For a very pervasive form of “ad hoc” textual communication, see texting and instant messaging.