Talk programs make it possible for two, possibly three people, to have a typewritten conversation with one another at the same moment in time. I have found them immensely useful in maintaining an ongoing conversation with an online collaborator while simultaneously talking on the phone or with someone else in the room. In this way I don't have to break the flow of conversation with anyone. Of course it also overcomes the problem of costly long distant phone calls when you areworking with someone and you need their instant feedback such as when they might be taking you step by step through installing some alpha-test software. In a Talk session you will usually see your screen divided evenly in two and in one section you will see your own typing appear and in the other section you will see the typing of the person you are conversing with.
Copyright © 1996-2002 Dr. Katherine Phelps