ICQ INTERNET CHAT SOFTWARE
Brief Description
ICQ Internet chat software is available as a free down load from the
ICQ Homepage http://www.icq.com. ICQ
allows up to four people to be involved in a live Internet chat session
simultaneously.
Background
The use of ICQ as a support tool for students who are deaf or have
a hearing impairment came about after a student lost their hearing in
the middle of their health professional degree. Not being familiar with
Auslan and having minimal lip reading skills meant the students' communications
were limited to writing and typing. ICQ allows the student to communicate
one to one with academics, librarians, support workers and fellow students
at designated times or when the student requires support. The student
can use ICQ on specialised PC's on campus or remotely such as when on
professional placement and contact is essential for support and feedback
to ensure the placement is successful.
User Profile
Students who are deaf or have a hearing impairment and can type at a
reasonable speed.
Students who have a speech impairment and can type at a reasonable speed.
Advantages
· Software is available as a free Web down load
· Easy to install and use.
· Immediate unlike e-mail
· Interactive and personable
· Can be used at any PC with an Internet connection.
· "pc to pc" chat - like any verbal exchange / conversation
over the phone if you have the compatible microphone & sound system
on the computer
· When used with voice recognition software on a high end PC
text can be produced extremely quickly inside the ICQ window thus optimising
the flow of information
· Audio and visual options for various alerts (eg. On-line alert,
incoming e-mail) that are user-friendly for people with disabilities.
ICQ in particular have a great range of text colours, styles, sound
alerts and visual alerts that you can chose from to suit your needs/preferences.
· Cost-effective - can have real-time chats to anyone, anywhere
in the world over and over again during the same period connected to
Internet for the cost of a local phone call (for Internet access).
· Invite multiple on line people in your contact list (from anywhere
in world/Aust/state) to join the single chat session, opening possibilities
to on-line, real-time conferences/meetings.
· Provides more extensive real-time options than other chat software
such as msn and yahoo, for example:
· "chat" on some other software = "messaging"
on the icq. Many people don't realise this until they actually use icq
and see each letter typed one at a time.
· SMS text messaging via ICQ (I can send your mobile a SMS by
using ICQ)
· Message Archive option that automatically saves message exchanges
and provides option to save chat sessions. This can be helpful if you
are having a tute session, or forget to write down important information
during the on line chat.
· Basic "Reminder", "Notes" & "To
Do" functions that allow you to save such information and be reminded/alerted
at a set point in time (or upon opening these files yourself).
Disadvantages
· Being registered with the ICQ network can generate some junk
e-mail.
· Can be very time consuming.
· Plug-ins, that may otherwise optimize your chat software performance,
may cause irreversible damage to hard drive or other computer software.
Therefore be very careful installing plug-ins.
· ICQ takes a considerably longer time to down load than other
messaging/chat software.
Training Requirements
ICQ is extremely simple to install and to use. It requires a support
person with some basic computer knowledge to down load the software
onto individual computers or make a CD copy. Once this has been done
the support person can install ICQ, set it up it for the student or
staff person and provide some basic training. All up this process should
only take about half an hour if there are no Internet connection, or
major computer resource problems.
Integration/Conflicts
ICQ seems to exist happily on most PC's without any conflicts. Be careful
of plug-ins.
Source and Approximate Cost Range
Free Internet down load from:
http://web.icq.com/
Hardware Specifications
8Mb RAM
5Mb Hard disk space
486 DX-2-66Mhz (Pentium recommended)
Windows 95/NT/98
An open Internet connection
User Comments
"It has been especially good for me after just losing that bit
of hearing last year. This means of communication has made the whole
idea of going deaf easier to cope with (than what it might have been
for me 10-20 years ago)."
3rd year Uni student who was hearing impaired and then became
deaf.
ICQ Chat Software
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