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The term chat room, or chatroom, is primarily used to
describe any form of synchronous conferencing, occasionally even asynchronous
conferencing. The term can thus mean any technology ranging from real-time
online chat and online interaction with strangers over instant messaging and
online forums to fully immersive graphical social environments.
The primary use of a chat room is to share information via
text a group of other users. Generally speaking, the ability to converse with
multiple people in the some conversation differentiates chat room from instant
messaging programs, which are more typically designed for one-to-one
communication. The user in a particular chat room are generally connected via a
shared interest or other similar connection, and chat rooms exist catering for
a wide range of subjects. New technology has enabled the use of file sharing
and webcams to be included in some programs.
Graphical multi- user environments
Visual chat room add graphics to the chat experience, in
ether 2D or 3D (employing virtual reality technology). These are characterized
by using a graphic representation of the user. An avatar ( vitiating elements
such as games (in particular massively multiplayer online games) and
educational material most often developed by individual site owners. Who in
general are simply more advanced users of the systems. The most popular
environments also allow users to create or build their own spaces. Some of the
most popular 3D chat experiences are IMVU and second life.
Some online chat room also incorporate audio and video
communications, so that users may actually see and hear each other.
Games
Games are also often played in chat rooms. A historic
example is hunt the wampum. Chatroom-based implementations of the party game
mafia also exist.
Rules of behavior
Chat rooms usually have stringent rules that they require
users to follow in order to maintain integrity and safety for their users.
Particularly in rooms ofr children, rules usually do not allow users to use
offensive/rude language, or to promote hate mail, violence and other negative
issues. Also chat rooms often do not allow advertising in their rooms or
flooding, which is continually filling the screen with repetitive text. Typing
with caps lock on is usually considered shouting (suggesting anger) and is
discouraged.
Sometimes chat room venues are moderated either by limiting
who is allowed to speak ( not common) the venue watching for disruptive or
otherwise undesirable behaveiour.
Yet, most commonly used chat rooms are not moderated and
user may type what they personally choose to send.
Language issues
Even today, relatively little is know about the discourse
produced in one-line communication contexts. While there is a growing body of
literature on sociolinguistic variation in French chat of example, other forms
of computer mediated communication (e.g discussion for a, weblogs, etc.) have
received less attention.