Synchronous Conferencing & IRC

Synchronous conferencing has been available in a number of forms since the bitnet network was developed. Current Internet-based systems for synchronous conferencing include IRC, FirstClass and CU-SeeME.

Internet Relay Chat

The most widely used and powerful system for synchronous chat on the Internet is the Internet Relat Chat (IRC).

• Penn State has a local IRC server available for use by classes, clubs and any other memebers of the psu.edu domain. Here is more information about the Vclass IRC server.

• Here is a link to Yahoo resources regarding IRC.
• Here is a link to a local directory with a few good irc clients
• Here is a link to Quarterdeck's simple and easy Global Chat IRC client.

• Here is a link to the IRC FAQ.
• Here is some IRC Documentation from the University of Michigan.
• Here is a link to some IRC documentation for new users
• Here is a link to a number of serious and humorous documents about IRC.
• Here is information about many different IRC networks

FirstClass

The FirstClass system (by SoftArc, Inc.) supports synchronous and asynchronous communication, and is used by some Penn State courses.

• Here is The Unofficial FirstClass Information page.
• Here is a FirstClass tutorial
• Here is a link to the FirstClass FAQ
• Here is a document titled FirstClass for the Instructor

• Here is a link to a directory of FirstClass Pages

Other Synchronous Chat services

There are other services for synchronous chat on the Internet. Following is an abridged list.

• Web-Chat is a simple, web-based chatting system. Here is a link to info about Web Chat.
• Cornell U's CU-SeeMe is a system for interactive videoconferencing. Here is a link to the CU-SeeMe Home Page