The Internet is primarily a communication medium. It allows users to send messages, chat online, play interactive games and even talk to each other, using software installed onto a multimedia computer. The most popular method of communication is email, but this is not the only way to send and receive text-based messages. Other popular formats allow virtually instantaneous exchange of messages via Internet Relay Chat. There are many message boards on web sites where comments can be left and Newsgroups where messages can be posted for others to read.

Email

This is the most widely used form of text communication used on the Internet. If you have the email address of someone you wish to contact, you can send them an email. This works in the same way as if you had their postal address. To receive mail from organizations you can also subscribe to mailing lists.

Internet Relay Chat

This method of communication allows you to hold 'live' text conversations with other people. To use Internet Relay Chat, you must install software on your computer. This type of software is called client software. Usually it can be downloaded from the software provider's web site. One of the first software applications to enable Internet Relay Chat is ICQ (I-Seek-You) which is still the most widely used.

A guide to how to use ICQ software can be found at http://www.icq.com/icqtour/ 

Newsgroups

Newsgroups are areas, where discussions about certain topics take place. For example, if you use Macromedia Dreamweaver to create web sites, you are not alone. Newsgroups exist where you can enter into discussions about it with other users. You may be able to inform others about some difficult-to-master feature you have used, or find out why you are unable to make something work from people who have more experience than you. 

Unlike email, where you only send your message to the people you want to receive it, newsgroups allow you to 'post' your message so that anyone viewing that newsgroup discussion can read it at a later date. Anyone can then post a reply to your message that everyone can read. This is not instant communication, like Internet Relay Chat. It is more like a bulletin board where passers-by can read messages left by other people.

Newsgroups are often useful places to visit for answers to technical questions because so many people can view your question. Often you can find your question has already been asked and answered by other people. If you see the answer to a question posted in a newsgroup, it is good manners to reply to it. The downside of using newsgroups is that you must wait for someone to see your question and post a reply.