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Webheads 2.0 - Moodle for Webheads | M4W Wiki | Frapper slide show | Skypecasts | Worldbridges: webheadsinaction.org / EFLBridges
Webheads 1.0 - Main Page | Join us | Welcome | Students | Virtual Community | Software for Meeting Online | Chat Logs | Reports and Studies | Grammar | Tutorials | Games | Webheads in Action
Time conversions - http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/full.html: fixed and Webheads version
Voice presentation portalsAlado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | Text Chats: Tapped In | Homestead text chat (Guest Book not working) | GroupBoard text chat & whiteboard) | Palaces | Active Worlds | Discussion forumsefiwebheads YahooGroup | Moodle for Webheads | Instant MessengersYahoo! Messenger | MSN Messenger Service | Skype

Gloss this page - http://www.voycabulary.com/ | Translate this page - http://world.altavista.com/ | Proxies - http://www.cnproxy.com/proxyedu1.html | http://www.guardster.com | Shanghai Guide | http://www.safeweb.com (redircts to Semantec which has acquired Safenet; click here for an article on Safenet services)

Webheads chat logs are posted on the Internet to assist language learners with comprehension of our conversations and to strengthen our sense of community through shared familiarity with one another. All are welcome to join us, but your participation in our activities implies that you approve of our posting on the Internet interactions in which you take part. Please address any comments or concerns to Vance Stevens.


WFW: Writing for Webheads
You can chat with us live, online, free
All you need is an Internet connection and a browser

When? Any Sunday from NOON to about 14:00 GMT and at other times as scheduled
What time is that where you are? Check:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/full.html

Find links to all our current chat areas at the top of most Webheads pages!

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting

Fernanda Rodrigues has created a site which polls users for information on CMC tools they find useful. Nominate a tool or view the dbase here: http://www.prof2000.pt:9999/users/mfr/wia/cmc_tools.asp

Here's how to find us ...

Webheads meets live online every Sunday noon GMT
(for around 2 hours)

All are welcome.

What time is that where you are?
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/full.html

We've been meeting every Sunday at this time since 1998! Since January, 2000 Webheads have been meeting in online VOICE chat, and we've been using video since October 2001.

Voice chat:
Sometimes we have Skypecasts Sunday noon GMT to 14:00, and at other times when announced.
To find the Skypecast when we're there visit http://www.skypecast.com and find Webheads or EFLBridges or Worldbridges in the list of Skypecasts NOW.

Second Life:
We tend to migrate to SL later than Sunday noon GMT and stay later than 14:00, and at other times when announced.
To find out more check out our Second Life page here or at its mirror here.

What you need on your computer ...

To join us in Yahoo voice and/or webcam chat, you need:

  • a sound card (for voice)
  • a Yahoo account and/or a Skype account
  • download Yahoo Messenger and/or Skype
  • You need a mic ONLY if you want to talk back and web cam ONLY if you want to broadcast one - you can hear and see others without these items

What do we do when we meet online? Since 2001 we've been meeting at Tapped In. We also experiment with numerous other places (see column at right) depending on what's hot and who's online. As your skills in chaos navigation improve, you can engage us in several places at once.

Some of us try to talk in voice chat site at the same time as we write to each other in one of our text chat sites. We've also been playing around with web cams. It would be best if you try to visit our sites before noon on Sunday to see which are working for you.

Hope to meet you online soon,

Vance

For more information, see http://wfw.webheads.info

Text chat

  • Meet at Tapped In, an online environment for students and educators. Start at http://www.tappedin.org and /join VanceS or go to /reception and find us there.
  • We don't use our Homestead chat room for text chat anymore, but it still works if you need an alternative venue

In addition to Yahoo voice and webcam conferencing, we experiment with these sites during our regular chat sessions

Instant Messengers: You might find us by contacting:

Webcam-enhanced chat - see and hear us on Yahoo Messenger

Discussion board - Our GroupBoard text chat with Paint graphics and guest book - http://www.homestead.com/vstevens/files/efi/groupboard.htm

Having trouble getting the Java applets to launch? Check out our troubleshooting guide.

Webheads are constantly experimental. In the summer of 2006 we were playing around with a number of Web 2.0 tools with are similar to Talking Communities / Alado and Eluminate / Learning Times. I am tracking developments here until I can think of a better way to present this information (and once we sort out which of these tools are truly useful: This process continues into late 2007 as we gear up for EVO 2008.

There's a Webopedia Quick Reference (March 02, 2007) Guide to Public (Read: Free) IM Services here: http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3146,1,busk,bchh,h922,6rol

Robin Good's

This one works well: In May 2006 Yaodong and Venny met Geoff from /Australia and reported "He generously offers us a nice e-conferencing room with calendar to schedule international collaborative learning. It's at: http://www.inetconferenceroom.com/rooms.nsf/discovere05. Anyone can click the Conference room and enter an ID without password to enter the room. If you're a teacher and need moderator's authority, please feel free to write Venny. The chat room now has 10 seats. Please feel free to use it and jot down (book) the room on the schedule."

When to meet?


Poodwaddle.com

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
Quick Start - How to join us at noon GMT, any Sunday

For more information and to find out about the people you'll be talking to and see their pictures, visit one of the following

During meeting times, many of us open more than one of our sites in separate browser windows.

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
Alado voice-enabled presentation room - Andy Pinchon has been a Webhead since Global Learn Day VI in 2002 (he might have joined the group after that, but he became a Webhead on that day). He has been very supportive of Webheads activities and has arranged for us to use - and maintained for us - a voice enabled meeting room at http://www.alado.net/webheads. No registration necessary, relatively small plugin to download, maximum capacity ten simultaneous users, though Andy will arrange for larger capacity if needed.

In January 2008, Andy reports: The new version is MAC enabled. The changes we've made include the Whiteboard feature, the recording in flash feature, MAC enable flash for Firefox brower only feature, and how to upload your powerpoints onto either our server or your own server using FTP.

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
DiscoverE voice-enabled presentation room - Geoff Kaye at DiscoverE, Australia, has set up a 10 user virtual conference room for use by the Webheads group. You can view all the features of the room by visiting www.compued.com.au/conference/tour Here are instructions to access the room. 1. Go to http://www.compued.com.au/discovere/webheads 2. Click on the 'enter the conference room' link 3. Allow the voice chat software to automatically download. 4. Enter any screen name and leave password blank 5. Have your speakers and microphone connected

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
Learning Times/Elluminate: vClass voice-enabled meeting room- The Learning Times community have been very supportive of Webheads and have created a voice-enabled meeting room for us at: http://home.learningtimes.net/learningtimes?go=273662. I made a Tiny URL for it: http://tinyurl.com/y3eh. It is also available using the "Member Offices" link on the left side navigation of the http://www.LearningTimes.org community. We're the last listing, "Webheads - Virtual Office." Registration with Learning Times necessary prior to use, slightly long download on first use, works with Macintosh, 24/7 use for up to 8 simultaneous users and up to 25 with prior notice.

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
Homestead text chat and Guest Book - The easiest chat for most people to reach used to be our Homestead chat room. However, now that we use Tapped In, we don't go there so often any more. You are however welcome to use the site at any time you wish. To go there, visit http://www.homestead.com/prosites-vstevens. There used to be a Guest Book there but I don't think it works any longer.

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
ICQ - This is the first instant messenger many of us old timers were using to find each other online when Webheads started in the mid 1990's.

Here's a conversation I had with Felix in 2001. He'd found a site where you can go to access your ICQ.


Grisham 9/5/01 4:15 PM HI VANCE.. i AM AT WORK... JUST FOUND OUT A WAY TO USE ICQ WITHOUT HAVING TO INSTALL IT ON THE COMPUTER
Vance 9/5/01 4:16 PM NOT! How?
Grisham 9/5/01 4:16 PM THE WWW IS http://www.icq.com/icqwebbie/
Grisham 9/5/01 4:16 PM IT'S AMAZING
Vance 9/5/01 4:17 PM Cool. I will try that. Gotta run now.
Vance 9/5/01 4:17 PM thanks for the info
Grisham 9/5/01 4:17 PM SO DO I, BYE BYE

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
MSN Messenger from http://messenger.msn.com. Has voice and text chat, lets you know when buddies are online, and you can record chats by cutting and pasting from chat window. MSN Messenger used to also be a convenient way to start a one-on-one voice/video conference using Netmeeting, but since it became webcam enabled I haven't noticed this feature in its interface. MSN Messenger is one-on-one for voice and webcam.

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
PalTalk

Venny keeps us informed about Pal Talk. Here is what he told us in Dec. 2004:

PalTalk messenger 7.0 is released and look just like a messenger. It is at: http://www.paltalk.com/

  Yahoo Messenger PalTalk Messenger
Pal list Yes Yes
Group List Yes No
Create room Yes Yes
Create group No Yes
Audio Yes Yes
Video Yes Yes (frozen without pay)
Adsed not too annoying annoying (too many)
Porn No Yes (many adult groups)
Porn filter (not sure) Yes

Yahoo messenger seems to be better as a free messenger. The good point for PalTalk is its groups (rooms). You can create a permanent group to form an online commnity. You can see some English learnign groups under Distance Learning and Premium Learning categories. There are also many other categories with lots of groups, like Palk Radio, Social issue, Friend categories.

I've create WebHeads group under Distance Learning category. The admin code is 1234 if you want to enter and admin. Just come and take a look.(from Venny, Dec, 2004)

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
TAPPED IN - This is a MOO-like text chat area and community space where many webheads have offices. To find us, click on a Webhead's name (like vances), pull down your ACTION menu, and select JOIN. (You should then join that member; if not just ask anyone you find at Tapped In to help you).

Webheads are recognized contributing members of Tapped In:

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
The Palace - We have recently (c.2002) download the Palace browser client for PC or Mac from

Webheads who were with us before 2001 were most fond of The Palace, but at that time, Palace products became harder and harder to find, and Communities.com was no longer supporting them. However, many independent Palace communities survived, and as of April 2002, it appears that our Virtual Schoolhouse has returned :-(but in 2003 gone away again). Here are the sites we use or fall back on, in order of preference:

To reach one of these palaces:

There are many resources, including discussion lists, tools, and a Palace directory at: http://www.palacetools.com.

There used to be Palace avatars at http://www.digimask.com.

The Palace User Software used to be available at the following sites (I'm not sure where you find it as of Oct 2001 - download.com was no longer providing it at that time):

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
YAHOO Messenger - We use Yahoo as our voice chat client, and to broadcast web cams if anyone has one handy. download Yahoo Messenger from http://messenger.yahoo.com/messenger/download/index.html

As of Sept 2002, there's a Mac version: http://messenger.yahoo.com/messenger/download/beta/macbeta.html

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
Java troubleshooting guide

Here are some of the complaints we see:

Here's what you have to do to fix it:

First, thing, are you behind a firewall? If so ask your network administrator what restrictions there are on chat. Or if you're doing this from a home computer, route yourself around any personal firewall or security programs you're running.

Second, check that Java is enabled on your browser (in IE6 it's Tools / Internet Options / Advanced)

If that doesn't work, run Windows updates: http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp. Get all the ones you're missing. The latest Direct X might be particularly important, so you might want to start with that.

If that doesn't work, or if you're using a browser other than IE, try downloading and installing the update here: http://java.sun.com/getjava/index.html

If it doesn't work, try "Frank Langa's BrowserTune2000 homepage, where you can get a comprehensive testing of your browser's functioning, while at the same time getting a tutorial on all the hidden assets of your browser." If you want to get right to the point, run the first stage tests and then skip to the ones that deal with Java. http://www.browsertune.com/newbt/

Still no Java? Visit http://www.download.com and try downloading a different browser, or get a more recent version of the one your using. Some browsers you can try are IE (Internet Explorer, Netscape, or Opera)

If that doesn't work come to Tapped In any Sunday noon GMT to about 14:00 and we'll try to help you live and online (Webheads, I guess you saw our web page).


For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting
Here's a chart of some of programs and sites we have used (for my records mainly):

Program

How to get there and where to get it (free)

Delphi text forum http://forums.delphi.com/webheads/messages - This site has got so blatantly commercial we hardly use it anymore. In its heyday it used to allow voice chat using the robust HearMe client.
Excite, now defunct As of May 1, 2001, our Excite chat room went off the air at http://www.excite.com/communities/chat/voicechat/rooms (this was just days before Vance gave a plenary address in Cyprus at which Excite was to be used).You used to be able to log in as a guest and GO! Webheads
the Groove

Groove has chat, forums, instant messaging, audio chat, and shared file spaces - and if you look carefully you can still find a free version in early 2003 (read the license information): http://groove.net/ or http://www.groove.net. After trying it with Michael, Vance agrees that it has potential, but attempts to use it with other Webheads revealed shortcomings in our knowledge of how to properly use this tool, and since then, we haven't practiced with it. (Stop presses: Yaodong and Venny were experimenting with Groove in early 2003)

Homestead text chat

When Homestead was a free site, setting up a chat room here was a matter of drag and drop (it still is that easy, but it's no longer free). Because getting transcripts from the Java applet is a hassle (cut and paste, no thank you, esp. as Tapped In is so convenient) we rarely use our Homestead text at - http://www.homestead.com/vstevens/

There used to be a guest board here but it unexpectedly went belly up in 2003.

Real Media

Tapped In Classic

For Tapped In Classic, we had screen shots of these instructions at http://www.vancestevens.com/findbuds.htm#tappedin.

Tapped In Notes
Here are a few commands we used in Tapped In CLASSIC (this is now for historical interest; they don't work at all in Tapped In 2)

  • Explore /help @messages to figure these out; e.g. @leave me is leaves the room in a hurry OR @arrive vances is "new message" - there is some difference between @enter me is and @enter susannen is; and there appears to be an @join me is ...
  • To see what's in my pocket, I type /audit vances and then look in MY ITEMS
  • To put things in containers type /put nameofitem in nameofcontainer
  • info is at http://www.tappedin.sri.com/info/software.html

BJB's notes:

How to drop and retrieve info from recorders

  1. Type /create &recorder named year/month/day webheads (or whatever name you choose)
  2. Type /drop year/month/day webheads (this turns the recorder on. It has a finite capacity of about 1200 lines which is usually an hour's worth of dialogue. When full it will automatically stop recording.)
  3. To turn a &recorder into a note use the command /unrec nameofrecorder. Since the recorder is already in the room, it is still visible to everyone and anyone can read it. If you don't want anyone to read it, type /get nameofnote. That will pick it up and put it in your items where only you can read it.
  4. Type /get year/month/day webheads to pick up the recorder to take it to your office.
  5. /mailme: you can use that command for any note you hold, any note that is dropped in a room, or any help file in TAPPED IN.
To make recordings available to others
  • Option A: get an emailer from supplies, drop it in your office, and put the transcripts in the emailer...then you can direct people to the emailer in your office. An emailer is what is used in the ASO for retrieving transcripts. The only problem with using an emailer is that only TAPPED IN members can retrieve the scripts.
  • Option B: get a container from supplies (name it webheads transcripts) and put your webheads notes in the container. Anyone can still read the transcripts in a container. If you don't want anyone to read them, and want to put them somewhere, get a library from supplies...you can lock that container.
If you want to bring your class to the SAC, you will need to get student accounts for them. A student account provides a private, safe and secure opportunity for the student to log in to the SAC. For more information about how to apply for the accounts and information about how the accounts work see http://www.tappedin.org/info/students/join.html. Please allow a week to 10 days for the accounts to be established.

Tapped In 2

Profiles and Descriptions in TI2

Your membership ID is your introduction to the community members. Help us build a sense of community by making sure you update your profile and description after you have registered in the new version of TAPPED IN (http://www.tappedin.org/new) To do this, click on the ME tab, go to Settings, and then Edit Description. What you enter in your description is what people will see when they ID you.

Advanced Tech Tip: Photos and Icons in TI2

A new feature has been added to TI2. You can add your photo and an icon. Currently, photos appear in your description and icons show when you click on the ME tab and go to People (Buddies). To add a photo or icon click on the ME tab and go to Settings. Under Edit Description you will see directions. The size limit for photos is 160 x 160 pixels and the size limit for icons is 40 x 40 pixels.

Telcopoint

Telcopoint was supposed to be a reincarnation of Hear Me, but free sites were never given enough bandwidth for them to work properly.

Wimba

At one time Wimba let Webheads trial their synchronous voice tool, Voice Direct.

We used to have sites where you could add your voice to our recorded discussions, but Wimba ceased being free in early 2002 and all our threaded voice discussion boards disappeared. For the historical archives ...

For information about: Quick Start | Alado | DiscoverE | Learning Times | ICQ | MSN Messenger | PalTalk | Tapped In | The Palace | Wimba | Yahoo Messenger | Java troubleshooting


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For comments, suggestions, or further information on this page
contact Vance Stevens, page webmaster.

Last updated: January 6, 2008- 06:00 GMT

Copyright 2007 by Vance Stevens
under Creative Commons License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/

January 12, 2007