Filed under: Instant Messaging | Tags: Aggregators, IM, Instant Messaging, library 2.0, web 2.0
Wikipedia offers the following Overview of Instant Messaging:
Instant messaging (IM) is a collection of technologies that create the possibility of real-time text-based communication between two or more participants over the internet or some form of internal network/intranet. It is important to understand that what separates chat and instant messaging from technologies such as e-mail is the perceived synchronicity of the communication by the user – Chat happens in real-time. Some systems allow the sending of messages to people not currently logged on (offline messages), thus removing some of the differences between Instant Messaging and e-mail (often this is done by sending the message to the associated e-mail account).
IM allows effective and efficient communication, allowing immediate receipt of acknowledgment or reply. In many cases Instant Messaging includes additional features, which make it even more popular. For example, users can see each other by using web-cams, or talk directly for free over the Internet using a microphone and headphones (or speakers). Many clients allow file transfer as well, although they are typically limited in the file-size allowed.
It is typically possible to save a conversation for later reference. Instant messages are often logged in a local message history, making it similar to the persistent nature of e-mails.
There are several different methods of “doing” IM. You can download software to your computer from sources like:
http://messenger.yahoo.com/
http://www.google.com/talk/
http://www.aim.com/download.adp
http://www.myspace.com/myspaceim
http://www.jabber.org/
http://download.live.com/messenger
Or, if you don’t want to add software to your computer, you can IM through your web browswer with sites like these:
http://messenger.yahoo.com/web/
http://www.aim.com/aimexpress.adp
http://webmessenger.msn.com/
One of the challenges is that you have to use the same IM service to connect with friends and collegeauges. But IM aggregators ameliorate that problem, either through software:
http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/
http://www.pidgin.im/
http://www.digsby.com/
or web browswers:
http://www.meebo.com/
http://www.radiusim.com/
As a staff, of course, we can use the chat option through Communicator.
For this thing, chat with a colleague using any one of the IM options discussed above. (If you choose Communicator and haven’t already, spend some time learning how the software works and setting up your options.) In your blog, write about your experiences. If you’ve IMed before, do you use it as a regular form of communication? Why or why not?
Some libraries provide reference service via IM. (Belk Library at Elon University is one.) Think about the benefits and/or challenges of providing IM this way. If you have any experience using IM for reference, either to answer or ask questions, comment on that too.
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