Using the Instant Communicator for private a/v and text chat
- What do I need to use the Instant Communicator?
- I have a pop-up window blocker installed on my machine and cannot receive messages from other users. How can I see who has sent me a message?
- How do I use the Instant Communicator?
- How do I send a message?
- How do I send a message in bold, italic or underlined?
- How do I add information to my profile?
- How do I add a user image to my profile?
- Where can I see my friend’s profile?
- How do I view my preferences?
- How do I set my status to ‘away’?
- How can I tell if my friend has received my message?
- Can I see the video I am sending to my friend?
- I can’t see my friend’s video. What’s wrong?
- My friend can’t see my video. What’s wrong?
- I can’t hear my friend’s audio. What’s wrong?
- My friend can’t hear my audio. What’s wrong?
- Can I restrict the Instant Communicator to allow only video or only audio?
- How do I mute all audio?
- How do I add friends?
- How do I block users?
- Can a blocked user see if I have blocked them?
- Can I see my friend list?
- How do I send a ‘kiss’?
- How do I send a ‘smack’?
- How do I logout?
- How do I configure my web video camera to use the Instant Communicator?
- How do I configure my microphone to use the Instant Communicator?
You will need a connection to the internet, a web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Safari or Opera) and the Macromedia Flash Player 6.0+. The Macromedia Flash Player is a plugin for your web browser which allows you to view Flash content on the web. Most current web browsers come with the Flash Player plugin installed. If you receive a notice—when trying to connect to the Instant Communicator—that the Flash Player is not installed, you may download it and install it for free from Macromedia at:
http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash
For more information on Macromedia Flash and the Macromedia Flash Player, please visit www.macromedia.com
You must configure your pop-up blocker to allow popups from the site you are accessing the Instant Communicator from. Please contact your software developer for instructions on how to do so. If this option is unavailable, you must disable the pop-up window blocker. If it is not disabled, you will not be able to receive incoming messages from new users.
Type your message in the light blue box above the ‘send’ button. You may either send your message by hitting ‘enter’ or ‘return’, or by clicking the ‘send’ button.
Type your message. Select the part of your message you would like to format. You may click any one or more of the formatting buttons to apply that style to the text.
bold italic underlined
Your profile is determined by the site hosting the Instant Communicator. Please contact your webmaster to edit your profile.
If the website using the Instant Communicator allows user photos, your user photo from your online profile should display as our Instant Communicator photo. If you wish to change this photo, please contact your system administrator.
Your friend’s profile is visible in the top left corner of the message window.
If this option is available, you may view your preferences by clicking on the ‘view preferences’ button in the message window.
You may set your status to ‘away’ by moving the slider from right to left. You will be notified that your status has been changed. You will become available again immediately if you send a message to another user. User’s will not know that you are away until an attempt has been made to send you a message. While your status is away, you may continue to receive messages in the message window.
Messages are transferred as soon as you send them. If you are making a new connection to a user, you will receive the notice *** User’s IC window is open indicating a window is now open on your friend’s desktop and they have received the message. This does not guarantee that they have read the message, but simply that they have received the transfer.
Yes, you may click on the ‘show a/v’ button located in the bottom right corner of your message window. This will open up the lower pane of the window. You will be asked to allow the use of your audio and video devices. To configure your devices, please see FAQ 4. Once you have connected, you will be able to view the video you are sending to your friend in this lower pane.
You may alternatively opt to hide your a/v by clicking the ‘hide a/v’ button.
Be sure that your friend has connected his/her video camera correctly. Your friend will receive this error if his/her camera is not connected:
*** Could not connect to your camera. Either your camera is not installed properly or it is in use by another application.
Continue reading on how to configure your camera for the Instant Communicator. Once your friend has determined that his/her video is set up correctly, click on the ‘a/v’ button in the top-right pane of the message window. If video is set to ‘off’, click on it once to turn on your video.
Make sure that your camera is connected correctly. You will receive the following error if your camera is not connected:
*** Could not connect to your camera. Either your camera is not installed properly or it is in use by another application.
Continue reading on how to configure your camera for the Instant Communicator. Once you have determined that your video is set up correctly, click on the ‘a/v’ button in the top-right pane of the message window. If video is set to ‘off’, click on it once to turn on your video.
Make sure your speakers are connected correctly and that they are turned on. Check your volume levels to confirm that your are receiving sound. Be sure that your friend has connected his/her microphone correctly. Your friend will receive this error if his/her microphone is not connected:
*** Could not connect to your microphone. Either your microphone is not installed properly or it is in use by another application.
Continue reading on how to configure your microphone for the Instant Communicator. Once your friend has determined that his/her audio is set up correctly, he/she will be able to see the sound levels of his/her audio output in the lower pane of the message window. Click on the ‘a/v’ button in the top-right pane of the message window. If audio is set to ‘off’, click on it once to turn on your audio.
Make sure your friend’s speakers are connected correctly and that they are turned on. Have your friend check his/her volume levels to confirm that he/she is receiving sound. Be sure that you have connected your microphone correctly. You will receive this error if your microphone is not connected:
*** Could not connect to your microphone. Either your microphone is not installed properly or it is in use by another application.
Continue reading on how to configure your microphone for the Instant Communicator. Once you have determined that your audio is set up correctly, you will be able to see the sound levels of your audio output in the lower pane of the message window. Have your friend click on the ‘a/v’ button in the top-right pane of the message window. If audio is set to ‘off’, click on it once to turn on his/her audio.
To restrict sending either audio or video, click on the appropriate button in the lower pane of the message window.
Note: These buttons are only available once you have opened your a/v pane and made a connection to your devices. Once a connection has been made, you may hide your a/v. Hiding your a/v does NOT turn off your devices, it simply minimizes the lower pane. You will still be transmitting audio/video until you have disconnected your devices. To disconnect from your devices, click the appropriate buttons (see above) or close your message window.
To restrict receiving either audio or video, click the ‘a/v’ button in the upper right pane of the message window, then click the appropriate button.
If this option is available, you may mute all incoming audio by clicking on the ‘mute audio’ button in the message window.
If this option is available, you may add friends by clicking on the ‘add friend’ button in the message window.
If this option is available, you may block individual users by clicking on the ‘block user’ button in the message window. You must have that user’s window open for the user to remain blocked. The user’s message window will display a sticker warning you that the user has been blocked.
You may alternatively unblock a user by clicking the same button.
Yes. When a blocked user attempts to send you a message, they will receive the following notice that their message has not been received and that they are blocked:
*** You have been blocked by User_Name
When a user is blocked, you may still send him/her messages. He/she will receive the message with no error.
If this option has been made available, you may click the ‘view friend list’ button to access your list.
Click this button and select ‘kiss’ from the options available.
Click this button and select ‘smack’ from the options available.
If there is a ‘logout’ button in the bottom right of your friend list window, you may logout by clicking this button. Otherwise, you may logout by simply closing the friend list window.
Select ‘open a/v’ or ‘show a/v’. Right-click over ‘mic off video off’ and select ‘Settings’. You will see the following Macromedia Flash Player Settings dialogue box. Select ‘Allow’. Click the webcam icon. Once you are in the Camera Settings dialogue box, select your camera from the drop-down list. If your camera is not available, your camera is not properly connected. Check to make sure that you have the proper drivers installed for your camera and that your device is plugged in and turned on, if applicable. Please contact your peripherals support for specific troubleshooting solutions.
Most web video cameras and digital cameras will work with the Instant Communicator. If you are having a problem connecting your device, check for its compatibility with your operating system.
Close this dialogue box.
Select ‘open a/v’ or ‘show a/v’. Right-click over ‘mic off video off’ and select ‘Settings’. You will see the following Macromedia Flash Player Settings dialogue box. Select ‘Allow’. Click the microphone icon. Once you are in the Microphone Settings dialogue box, select your microphone (or ‘Built-in Audio’ if available) from the drop-down list. If your microphone is not available, your microphone is not properly connected. Check to make sure that your device is plugged in correctly and turned on, if applicable. Please contact your peripherals support for specific troubleshooting solutions.
Most microphones will work with the Instant Communicator. If you are having a problem connecting your device, contact your device manufacturer.
Close this dialogue box.
