IRC, Talk and MUSE IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat, and it allows many people to discuss with each other in real time. The user joins or creates a channel and then he or she can read and write messages that are printed on the screen as soon as they are sent. In IRC there are thousands of discussion channels you can participate in. The channels can be accessed from anywhere in the Net. Most IRC users tend to seek entertainment and social connections, but it is possible to hold conferences and consult professionals there, too.
Talk is a less sophisticated discussion method.
MUSE means Multi User Simulation Environment, and is mostly used for games. These applications could also be used to simulate real situations for research and study purposes. Both IRC and MUD are said to be addictive and therefore they are forbidden in some institutes and workplaces. When used properly, they can offer both information and entertainment that can be valuable, especially if a translator works alone. WWW conversion by Pekka Taskinen.