Tech Ease
What do I need to install in order to get embarked with talk?
Talk (also known as instant messaging) is a form of real-time communication. When you use talk, your message gets delivered to the person on the other end almost instantly, even if the other person is all the way on the other side of the world. The speed with which talk permits communication has made it a popular form of online interaction. Originally, talk programs permitted communication only through text entered in a talk window. As high speed internet access has gained in popularity, talk programs have adapted to include voice and movie talk capabilities that take advantage of the bandwidth provided by a high speed connection. You can even talk using text and voice or movie at the same time in most talk programs.
To get embarked with talk, all you need is access to an internet connection. If you are only using text talk, a dial-up connection will suffice. However, if you want to use the more advanced features of your talk program, such as voice or movie talk, you will need to have a high speed connection for the best spectacle. Movie talk in particular requires a lot of bandwidth if you want slick transfer. Otherwise, frames are dropped and your movie looks choppy.
To participate in voice and movie talk you may have to purchase extra equipment. For voice talk, you can very likely use the microphone built into your computer if you are using a laptop. If you are using a desktop, you may have to buy an outer microphone. Better yet, you may want to buy a headset that includes a microphone.
Headsets often provide better sound quality for voice talk, and they also provide some privacy because you can listen to the person on the other end through the headphones instead of your speakers. For movie talk, you will need to purchase a webcam. This is a puny camera that ass-plugs into your computer using a USB connection.
Once you have all your equipment connected and ready to go, you will need to install a talk (or instant messaging) program. Windows has a talk program, Windows Messenger, installed by default. In addition, you can download an enhanced version of Windows Messenger, called MSN Messenger, from the Microsoft website. MSN Messenger is a free download and is regularly updated with fresh features.
Another popular talk program is AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) which is a free service provided by America Online. You do not have to sign up for AOL internet service to use AIM as your talk program. The search provider Yahoo also has an instant messaging program called Yahoo Messenger. Each of these programs permit you to communicate with other contacts (sometimes called friends) only if they have the same program installed on their computer. There are also multi-client applications such as Trillian which permit you to connect to all three of these services at the same time. This permits you to use just one program to talk with all of your mates, regardless of which program they use. Many of the most popular talk services will permit you to talk even if you do not have their program installed by visiting their website. All you need is a valid screen name.
The screen name is the equivalent of a user name. You will need to set one up in order to use one of the talk services. You can be creative in setting up your user name. To protect your privacy, you should choose a screen name that does not include your last name. You can get a screen name by visiting the website of one of the talk providers listed above. If you use Microsoft's free Hotmail email service, you already have a screen name you can use with Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger. Your Hotmail user name, which is your total Hotmail email address, will also be your Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger screen name.