Chat the Cool Way, Using Avatars
TV versus books. Computer games versus board games. No contest in your kids' minds, right? So if they're bored with the usual chat room, take them to ThePalace.com --assuming they haven't already discovered it. This chat site specializes in avatars--cartoon characters you pick (or, if you're really artistic, create yourself) to represent your presence on screen. Rather than look at boring text, you see others' avatars--and they can see yours--against cool backgrounds. You can move your avatar around the screen, play sounds and, of course, type messages. Here though, the text appears in little speech balloons, as if you were in a comic strip. This puppetlike chat is a hoot, especially for kids.
The Palace isn't the only avatar chat site on the Web (another, much less family-oriented site is Worlds), but The Palace is by far the best for families. The Palace software is free, comes in versions for both Windows and Macs, and can be downloaded in about 15 minutes. (You can try out The Palace without downloading the software by using your Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator browser.)
And there are plenty of kid- and family-friendly chat rooms to visit, including those dedicated to the environment, science fiction and kids of all ages. (Kids Nation has more than 60 rooms.) You can even download software that lets you create private chat rooms that are large enough to hold eight people at once.
With so many ways to chat, I may never stop. At least I know that I can always find others who are ready to gab by simply logging onto the Internet.
Would you recommend this story? YES NO
- Recommend:
- 0 Comments
-
Speed Up Everything!
PCWorld shows you the secrets to improve performance on all your hardware.
-
Become an Android authority
Play music or games, run productivity apps and essential utilities.
-
ThinkPad Edge E420 Lenovo Style in an Affordable Package
Buy now direct from Lenovo -
ThinkPad X220 Fast and light, with great input ergonomics and battery life, this powerhouse ultraportable is best-of-breed.
Buy now direct from Lenovo -
ThinkPad X120e One of the best netbooks ever, X120e has the best netbook keyboard ever--nothing else comes close
Buy now direct from Lenovo
- How to Use Skype for Voice and Video Chat on Your Android/iOS Device
- How to Video Chat With Tango on Your Android or iOS Device
- YouTube-Google+ Feature Lets Users Have Video-Watching Party
- TelyHD Review: Conferencing Device Brings Skype to Your Living Room
- How to Forward Ports on Your Router
- Countdown to The Sims 3: A Chat with Executive Producer Ben Bell
- 21 Great Free Games You Can Play in Your Browser
- 12 Criteria for Selecting the Best ERP System Replacement An ERP system is your information backbone and reaches into all areas of your business and value chain. Replacing it can open unlimited business opportunities. This white paper explains the 12 criteria that allow you to identify and select the solution that will meet these expectations.
- Leveraging Social Computing Technologies for ERP Applications This white paper details how Web 2.0 technologies support business strategies by improving efficiency, productivity, and collaboration.















