Online Chat Communities

If you can say it in real life you can say it in virtual online chat communities. These virtual realms have taken over the internet and offer much more than traditional chat rooms. A virtual online community can completely mimic your real life or it will allow you to create a new life.

Chat

Chatting in online chat communities takes on many different forms. It can include email, IM or instant messaging, web cams, voice recognition, and other methods. The most popular chats in the virtual realm are IMs.

In a virtual world you can type in what you want to say and it will immediately be posted on screen. This allows simultaneous communication which is a great way to communicate online. For example, in the popular virtual world Second Life members use avatars to represent themselves and their avatars chat with each other. Avatars can also leave messages, send notes and group notices or use voice chat. They can also use web cams to improve communication.

Avatars are virtual characters functioning in a virtual world. They represent you and are designed by you from the ground up.

Avatar Chat

An avatar allows you to get around in the virtual community. It can attend classes, go to plays, explore the virtual world and hold business meetings. Most importantly, your avatar can chat with other avatars. It is the way all Second Life members communicate with each other online.

To communicate using an avatar you simply have to type in IM form what you want to say and it will show up as a thought bubble next to your character. You can also adjust the level of your voice to communicate with one person or many people and even use gestures to do simple actions and express emotions.

A ‘whisper’ will be heard by anyone within 10 m of you in Second Life. ‘Say’ comments are heard up to 20 meters away; ‘shouts’ go for 100 meters; and ‘region say’, available only to region owners, carries your voice throughout an entire region. Private chat is also possible through the use of IM and even voice chat is available too. All these options mean you chat with whoever you want within a certain distance.

The basic chat setting is ‘say’. To change settings you must click on the drop down menu once you have completed typing your message. Say is the most popular way to communicate, especially when you are with a group of friends.

In Second Life you have gestures to express different types of emotions and do many different simple actions like: clapping, smoking, laughing and pointing.

Emoticons are also popular in online chat communities. An emoticon can be used to express your mood or emotion and involves cute symbols like smiley faces and frowns. These can be sent alone or incorporated into a message.

Chatting in online chat communities is a great way to make new friends and express yourself. One of the greatest things about the virtual realm is that you are free to express yourself without recrimination. Chatting online has become very popular and in Second Life the use of avatars only makes it more interesting and creative. Using the chat options in virtual worlds like Second Life will make your online experience more meaningful and exciting.