instant messaging

Instant Messaging

Part of Birmingham Public Library’sTech Tuesdays

By Mary Beth NewbillBirmingham Public Library (AL)

25 September 2007

www.bplonline.org

From Wikipedia:

Instant messaging (IM) is a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text. The text is conveyed via computers connected over a network such as the Internet. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_messaging)

In plain English:

IM allows you to have live chats with friends and family using your internet connection. It’s free and easy to use.

Why IM? Conversations take place in real time. No waiting

for an e-mail response or a call to be returned. It’s free and accessible wherever Internet access

is available. IM chats are often very causal and more informal

than letters or e-mails. IM takes multi-tasking to a new level. Phone

calls, web surfing, and IM can all be done simultaneously.

Getting Started Choose an IM service (Yahoo!, AOL, and MSN

are some of the most popular). Download the free software. Sign in with a username and password. Choose a screen name that you can remember

and that is descriptive. Add friends to your Buddy List, allowing you to

see when they are online. Have your friends add you to their lists. Start chatting!

Instant Messenger Services/Protocols Yahoo MSN AOL

These are all free and easy to install. Some IM services are now letting you talk to users of other services. For instance, users of Yahoo! and MSN can now talk with each other.

IM on the Web

Many IM services are now available in a scaled down version that uses just a web browser. No installation is required and you can use it anywhere Internet access is available. Just sign up and you’re ready to go.

IM on the Web

Yahoo! Messenger for the Web

AIM Express

MSN Web Messenger

Meebo Meebo is a site for Instant Messaging on

the Web. No downloads or installation required. Just sign in with your Yahoo!, MSN, AIM, ICQ, Jabber, or Google Talk password.

Meebo is free and allows you to chat with people using a variety of IM services.

Buddy List The Buddy List is a list of friends who are using IM

that you frequently send messages to. By adding their screen names to your list, you will

know when they are online and available to receive IMs.

Have your friends add your name to their Buddy Lists. You can change your status if you are going to be

away from your computer and want your Buddies to know.

Acronyms IM abbreviations and acronyms

If you’ve ever seen abbreviations like this:

BTW, TMI, or PAW and wondered WITW they mean, then you need this handy list explaining the meaning of various IM acronyms.

Emoticons and Smilies Emoticons are fun, visual ways to express

emotions in your IMs or e-mails using a sequence of characters on your keyboad. ; )

Smilies are a twist on the traditional yellow smiley face. Hundreds of smilies exist from pirates to bikers. Most IM services come with a standard menu of smilies and more can be downloaded on various web sites.

Security Concerns Security concerns with IM are similar to

those with e-mail. Basic common sense always applies. Do not give personal information to

strangers, never type sensitive information like a credit card number or ATM PIN in an IM.

10 Tips for Safer Instant Messaging

Don’t forget the Library Birmingham Public now uses IM for

reference questions. Add us to your AIM or Yahoo! Buddy List

and when we’re online, send us a question. BPL screen names

BhamLibrarian for general reference questions BPLgenealogy for genealogy questions