Virtual Chat Community
A virtual chat community offers users the opportunity to communicate with friends, discuss interesting topics, meet others, participate in online games or grow professionally. Some websites exist for purely social reasons while others may have other uniting features such as a common interest or distance learning via the Internet. In some instances, participants may be looking for a romantic partner and there are online communities that cater to that demographic. Education may be the goal for some communities and when this is the case, participants may take advantage of chatting technology for study purposes. Many virtual chat community websites allow participants to set up their own personalized chat rooms. Plug ins that allow users to converse via webcam or microphone may be available as well. Security issues can be a concern for many communities and some sites will take pains to cut out the presence of annoying spam.
Getting started in one of these communities is relatively simple and most sites will require a minimum amount of information when registering for membership. The use of the word community is no accident. Just as in actual communities, many of these websites offer users a number of features in addition to online chatting. Some communities feature stores where members can purchase merchandise as well as links to other related merchant sites. Others will offer the opportunity to send out e-cards to online friends and on site email accounts. Online conversations can also be supplemented with Internet radio websites or streaming music of the user's choice. Connections can be forged and enhanced in a number of ways within a virtual chat community. Members can set up pages for the purpose of photo sharing. Viewing images can be limited to members of a specific group through protective passwords. Some websites will also accommodate users who are interested in online games. Groups can even gather on the site and play the game together. Some groups have more idealistic motives. These members will unite under a particular social cause, discussing relevant issues and making contributions to charitable organizations. Members may even plan virtual parties and gatherings.
Avatar communities add a unique twist to the concept of a virtual chat community. Participants choose alternate identities and select a cartoon representation of that identity, or avatar. The choices that are available when creating an avatar are many. The anonymous experience that online chatting can provide has fostered the creation of entire virtual worlds and even universes. Chat room participants began to create these alternate identities out of a desire to place a face, even an imaginary one, with the words that their friends were sharing, These make believe worlds even offer tourism centers that allow participants to travel to worlds created by other users. Want to take a virtual vacation from the convenience of the home computer? There are a number of imaginary tourist attractions and vacation spots that can supply a little make believe leisure. In the mood for a movie? Cinemas in these Internet worlds offer users the opportunity to check out movies that were created by other members. Online comedy clubs invite members to inject a little humor into these fanciful web lives. Poetry readings, trivia contests, and many other features keep members busy with possibilities.
A specialized virtual chat community of this nature may offer users ready made avatars, or the opportunity come up with their own creation. In many cases, the images appear to be three dimensional and can move about in an online space. Commands to move the characters can be achieved through the use of the keyboard or the mouse. The whole process is similar to manipulating video game characters. When making a text comment, the words will appear in a conversation bubble near the head of the avatar on screen. Even the health of the avatar is a concern with points awarded for meeting certain needs such as rest or nutrition. Participating in an avatar based virtual chat community has become a very popular pass time for many enthusiasts, and the trend continues to grow.
A big benefit of a virtual chat community is that it can unite individuals who are struggling with similar issues. Many chatting communities will center on a specific issue such as disability, a hobby, or a profession. For example, an online community that welcomes users with a disability would address the needs and problems that this segment of the population faces. Not only would disabled individuals benefit from the website, but family members, medical rehabilitation specialists, caretakers, and others can participate in discussions as well. These sites may function as social networking portals as well as distributors of help and information. Discussion forums will usually center on topics of interest to participants and can be a helpful vehicle of connection and camaraderie. The Bible tells of the great love of Christ for all mankind. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Online educational opportunities abound and many institutions take advantage of virtual chat community technology. Classes may be made up of students in many different locations. In some cases, students can see and communicate with the instructor online. Instructors can also speak to individual students, asking them questions and making sure that they are up to speed. Since many students are not only comfortable but enthusiastic about online chatting, taking classes in this manner may seem like second nature. In what ever way participants in these communities choose to take advantage of this technology, the opportunities for connecting with others on the web are abundant.
Getting started in one of these communities is relatively simple and most sites will require a minimum amount of information when registering for membership. The use of the word community is no accident. Just as in actual communities, many of these websites offer users a number of features in addition to online chatting. Some communities feature stores where members can purchase merchandise as well as links to other related merchant sites. Others will offer the opportunity to send out e-cards to online friends and on site email accounts. Online conversations can also be supplemented with Internet radio websites or streaming music of the user's choice. Connections can be forged and enhanced in a number of ways within a virtual chat community. Members can set up pages for the purpose of photo sharing. Viewing images can be limited to members of a specific group through protective passwords. Some websites will also accommodate users who are interested in online games. Groups can even gather on the site and play the game together. Some groups have more idealistic motives. These members will unite under a particular social cause, discussing relevant issues and making contributions to charitable organizations. Members may even plan virtual parties and gatherings.
Avatar communities add a unique twist to the concept of a virtual chat community. Participants choose alternate identities and select a cartoon representation of that identity, or avatar. The choices that are available when creating an avatar are many. The anonymous experience that online chatting can provide has fostered the creation of entire virtual worlds and even universes. Chat room participants began to create these alternate identities out of a desire to place a face, even an imaginary one, with the words that their friends were sharing, These make believe worlds even offer tourism centers that allow participants to travel to worlds created by other users. Want to take a virtual vacation from the convenience of the home computer? There are a number of imaginary tourist attractions and vacation spots that can supply a little make believe leisure. In the mood for a movie? Cinemas in these Internet worlds offer users the opportunity to check out movies that were created by other members. Online comedy clubs invite members to inject a little humor into these fanciful web lives. Poetry readings, trivia contests, and many other features keep members busy with possibilities.
A specialized virtual chat community of this nature may offer users ready made avatars, or the opportunity come up with their own creation. In many cases, the images appear to be three dimensional and can move about in an online space. Commands to move the characters can be achieved through the use of the keyboard or the mouse. The whole process is similar to manipulating video game characters. When making a text comment, the words will appear in a conversation bubble near the head of the avatar on screen. Even the health of the avatar is a concern with points awarded for meeting certain needs such as rest or nutrition. Participating in an avatar based virtual chat community has become a very popular pass time for many enthusiasts, and the trend continues to grow.
A big benefit of a virtual chat community is that it can unite individuals who are struggling with similar issues. Many chatting communities will center on a specific issue such as disability, a hobby, or a profession. For example, an online community that welcomes users with a disability would address the needs and problems that this segment of the population faces. Not only would disabled individuals benefit from the website, but family members, medical rehabilitation specialists, caretakers, and others can participate in discussions as well. These sites may function as social networking portals as well as distributors of help and information. Discussion forums will usually center on topics of interest to participants and can be a helpful vehicle of connection and camaraderie. The Bible tells of the great love of Christ for all mankind. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Online educational opportunities abound and many institutions take advantage of virtual chat community technology. Classes may be made up of students in many different locations. In some cases, students can see and communicate with the instructor online. Instructors can also speak to individual students, asking them questions and making sure that they are up to speed. Since many students are not only comfortable but enthusiastic about online chatting, taking classes in this manner may seem like second nature. In what ever way participants in these communities choose to take advantage of this technology, the opportunities for connecting with others on the web are abundant.
Virtual Chat Community
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