Google Chat
Google Chat is an instant messaging (IM) application - you type a message and it instantly pops-up on your friend's or co-worker's computer. Instant messages are fun, but they can also be useful at work - especially when you want someone to receive information right away, but you don't want to interrupt by calling.
Potential Uses for Google Chat:
- Communicate with peers and co-workers
- Telecommuting
- Desktop web conferencing
Learn More:
Google Chat is not officially supported by the ITS Help Desk. This section covers the features available in Google Chat so that you can imagine the possibilities and start exploring. More information on Google Chat is available in the Google Help Center.
Google Chat Basics
- Start Chatting: Chat is on the left-side of your Gmail screen. It may already contain the names of some people you email frequently. To start a chat, click the name of the person you want to chat with - a small chat window will appear in the lower-right corner of your screen.
- Invite Others: To invite others to your chat list, enter their name or username in the box at the top of your chat list and press the Enter key.
- Chat History: The content of your chats is saved in Gmail just like an email message. If you would prefer not to keep a record of your chats, you can turn off chat history in Chat Options - at the bottom of your chat list.
- Pop-Out: Once you've started a chat you can pop it out into a separate window that it isn't part of the Gmail page. The pop-out option is at the bottom of your chat window.
- Go Off the Record: If you want to say something in chat that you don't want saved to your chat history or your friend's chat history, you can "go off the record." The "off the record" option is at the bottom of your chat window.
- Status: The dot next to your friends' and co-workers' names indicates their status.
The following status change automatically: Green = available; Orange = idle (temporarily away); Gray = unavailable.
You can manually set a Busy (Red) status or type a custom status (ex - out of town). - Blocking People: Is there someone you want to hide from so they don't know when you're online? You can "block" them so that you always appear to be unavailable in their chat list. To block, hover over the person's name in the chat list, then select "video & more."
- Adding a Photo: To add a personal photo, open Gmail Settings (upper-right corner of Gmail). On the General tab you'll find the "My picture" setting.
Video and Voice Chat
When typing your message isn't enough, you can have a real conversation (out loud) or even talk face-to-face.
See how it works:
Requirements:
- Install the video and voice plug-in.
- Voice requires a microphone and speakers; video requires a webcam and speakers. (Google's webcam recommendations)
First steps:
Log into Gmail and look at your chat list. If someone has a camera icon next to their name, you can start a voice or video chat. Click the person's name to start a regular chat, then at the bottom of the chat window, click Video & more to change to a voice or video chat.
If your friend or co-worker doesn't have the camera icon, you can invite them to download the voice and video chat plug-in from the Video & more menu. Even if your friend doesn't have a video camera, you can still have a voice chat or a 1-way video chat.
Group Chat
With group chat you can chat with multiple people in the same conversation. There is no limit to the number of people who can participate in the chat, and any participant can invite others to join.
First Steps (using Google Chat):
Log into Gmail and start a chat with a single person. Then, click Video & more at the bottom of the chat window and select Group chat. In Add a person to this chat field, enter the name of the contact(s) you want to add to your group chat.
To end your chat, click the X at the corner of the chat window. Others in the group chat will get a message saying that you've left the conversation. If you want to rejoin, you'll need to be invited back by a contact who's still in the group chat.
Chat in Google Docs
Chat is built into Google Docs, so that you can discuss a document with co-workers as you make edits.