Thing 13 Instant Messaging & Skype

Instant Messaging

IM allows participants to communicate via a small text-box on their computer screen and it tends to be informal. Wikipedia has a description of the development and nature of Instant Messaging.

What software is needed?

There are a lot of different packages available that allow people to IM. In fact, you may have such a package on your own computer and if you use Windows you will almost certainly have MSN Messenger available to you.

Windows live messenger
Google talk
Skype Chat

Discovery Resources:

Examples of using IM in a teaching and research environment:

Instructional use of instant messaging (IM) during classroom lectures
Instant Messaging on Campus: Use and Integration in University Students' Everyday Communication.

Library reference support:
Libraries use Instant Messaging to provide reference support to users - have a look at the 2 links below from Dundalk IT and UCD:

http://ww2.dkit.ie/library/library_news/new_online_help_service

http://www.ucd.ie/library/services_&_facilities/chat/index.html

Running Searches:
An example of using IM to run searches can be found in the Microsoft Encarta encyclopedia which has an IM interface. If you add Encarta@botmetro.net to your list of contacts, you can open up a reference session and query the encyclopedia without reference to your browser.

Contacting Colleagues:
IM can be a very effective alternative to e-mail. For example, when setting up a meeting, it may be quicker to IM the person and say "how is 3pm for you?".

Discovery Exercise:

1. For this exercise we just want you to think of how IM could work in your department or how it could work for you. What benefits would it bring to your job?

2. And of course write a blog about you thoughts!

Play around with Skype

Skype is a software application that allows you to communicate by way of the internet to another Skype user, anywhere in the world, for free. Your computer works as your phone. Skype setup and configuration are easy and it is generally a very user-friendly application.

Discovery Resources:
How Skype Works

The main advantage of Skype is free phone calls to other Skype users and here's how the process works:
a. Download the software
b. Install the software. It automatically configures itself for your computer and network
c. Register as a Skype user. (Finding a unique name will be the tough part)
d. Get a headset for your computer. Using external speakers and a microphone is possible but not practical
e. Locate another Skype user - you can search for this
f. Click on a Skype contact name. You can do this from a variety of places within the client application.