1. Vocabulary
IRC (Internet Relay chat) - интернет-чат
channel - канал
chat room - виртуальная комната
chat client - чат-клиент
chat server - чат-сервер
web chat - веб-чат
nickname - ник, имя пользователя
channel operator (chanop, op) - чат-оператор
IM (instant messaging) - мгновенный обмен сообщениями
buddy list - список друзей
contact list - список контактов
video conferencing - видеоконференция
online telephone conversation - телефонный разговор онлайн
applet - прикладная программа, апплет
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) - интернет-телефония
three-dimensional (3D) - трехмерный
avatar - аватар, картинка
VRML - (Virtual Reality Modelling Language) язык моделирования виртуальной реальности
2. Translate from Russian into English:
При выборе ника для регистрации в программе мгновенного обмена сообщениями пользователи часто изобретают необычные имена.
В следующий раз наша компания проведет видеоконференцию со своими зарубежными партнерами.
3. Интересно, сколько людей из твоего огромного списка контактов ты никогда в жизни не видел?
4. В интернет-чате вы можете общаться сразу по нескольким каналам одновременно.
5. Современные технологии позволяют использовать трехмерные изображения для аватаров.
6. Сейчас существует большое количество чат-клиентов, и каждый пользователь может выбрать программу на свой вкус.
7. Все большую популярность приобретает интернет-телефония – возможность общаться с друзьями по всему миру практически бесплатно.
8. Я собираюсь изучать язык моделирования виртуальной реальности чтобы иметь возможность самому создавать симуляторы.
9. Владельцы и операторы интернет-чатов обязаны контролировать поведение пользователей в виртуальных комнатах.
10. Несколько дней назад популярный веб-чат был взломан, и хакеры получили доступ к спискам контактов всех пользователей.
3.1. Read the text
NETIQUETTE
Wendy Grossman for BBC| 9th September 2010
The word netiquette is a combination of 'net' (from internet) and 'etiquette'. It means respecting other users' views and displaying common courtesy when posting your views to online discussion groups.
As you become involved with online discussion groups, you will find that each group has its own accepted rules of behaviour. Many of these have come about because of technical limitations.
For example, on an email discussion list - where not everyone may have seen past messages - it's considered polite to quote from a message you're replying to, so your response has context. It's also considered polite to keep those quotes short and relevant. On a web-based forum, however, where the original messages are visible to all, quoting is often unnecessary.
The basic rules
Refrain from personal abuse. You may express robust disagreement with what someone says, but don't call them names or threaten them with personal violence.
Don't spam. That is, don't repeatedly post the same advertisement for products or services. Most sites have strict and specific rules about who is allowed to post ads and what kind of ads they are.
Write clearly and succinctly. On a site that has many non-native English speakers, avoid using slang they may not understand.
Remember that your posts are public. They can be read by your partner, your children, your parents, or your employer.
Stay on-topic, especially when you're new. Don't post about football in a hair-care forum or about hair care in a gardening forum!
Don't expect other people to do your homework for you. If you're looking for technical help, for example, don't ask questions you could easily list yourself by reading the manual or online help provided with the product. When you do ask for help, include details of what attempts you've made to solve the problem. It will save time and also show people that you are making an effort to help yourself.
Do not post copyrighted material to which you do not own the rights. Sites vary in how strict they are about this, but as well as facing the possibility of legal action by the rights holder, you may also get the site sued.
The site's owner, perhaps assisted by one or more moderators, has the final say in enforcing the rules.
Helpful hints
Almost every site has a page for newcomers that describes its rules of good behaviour. Usually this page will appear as the terms and conditions you must agree to when you open your account. However, sites may have additional information. You should read all of it.
Check to see if the site has a FAQ (frequently asked questions) section. FAQs typically include questions that have been asked and listed hundreds of times. If you have any queries about site protocol, you will most likely discover the dos and don'ts here.
Finally, it's always wise to see what the discussion group have been talking about for a week or two before you begin to post your messages. Online, as in real life, it can take a long time to get past a bad first impression.
3.2. Comprehension tasks
Using the information in the article, complete these statements
Quoting on an email discussion list
is essential and its absence is considered impolite
must be avoided
is given only if past messages have not been read by participants
is accompanied with the context
Which of the following rules are not mentioned in the text?
your language must be comprehensible
avoid using words which can be understood only by a small group of people
your messages should not be long
non-native English speakers must write in clear, understandable language
If you are looking for technical help
you may expect that people will explain everything in detail
you may ask any questions you want
describe your problem in detail
you can find all necessary information in manuals and online help for the product
Newcomers to the site can find useful information in
site protocol
their account
frequently asked questions section
manuals
Which proverb best reflects the message in the last paragraph?
no pains, no gains
first impressions are most lasting
when in Rome do as the Romans do
haste makes waste
4. Discussion
In virtual worlds people often do not know each other and that gives users the feeling of freedom what to say and how to say. As a consequence, people ignore rules of behaviour and verbal abuse is a usual thing in the Internet nowadays.
Is it possible to control users' behaviour in forums and chat rooms?
What can be done to stop Internet abuse?
How do you react to other users' insults?
What is trolling? Why do people troll?