Talker

A talker is a chat system that people use to talk to each other over the Internet.^[1] Dating back to the 1980s, they were a predecessor of instant messaging. A talker is a communication system precursor to MMORPGs and other virtual worlds such as Second Life. Talkers are a form of online virtual worlds in which multiple users are connected at the same time to chat in real-time. People log in to the talkers remotely (usually via Telnet), and have a basic text interface with which to communicate with each other.

The early talkers were similar to MUDs with most of the complex game machinery stripped away, leaving just the communication level commands – hence the name "talker".^[2] ew-too was, in fact, a MUD server with the game elements removed.

Most talkers are free and based on open source software.

Many of the online metaphors used on talkers, such as "rooms"^[3] and "residency", were established by these early pioneering services and remain in use by modern 3D interfaces such as Second Life.

^ Hahn, Harley (1996). The Internet Complete Reference (2nd ed.). Osborne McGraw-Hill. pp. 498. ISBN 0-07-882138-X. A TALKER is a multiuser talk facility that is easy to use and is devoted primarily to conversation. You connect to a talker by using telnet ... The word 'talker' is a descriptive term. For example, some talkers are muds, while others are BBSs; there is no strict definition. If it's easy to use, and you connect in order to talk to other people, it is a talker.
^ Ito, Mizuko (1997). "Virtually Embodied: The Reality of Fantasy in a Multi-User Dungeon". In Porter, David (ed.). Internet Culture (pbk. ed.). Routledge. pp. 89–90. ISBN 0-415-91684-4. These combat-oriented MUDs stand in contrast to non-gaming 'talker' MUDs or educational or professional MUDs.
^ Levine, John R. (1997). More Internet for Dummies. IDG Books. p. 197. ISBN 0-7645-0135-6. Talkers are for talk only, with no games, no monsters to fight, no quests, and no bizarre rules to learn. All you do is talk and make new friends. Talkers are much like IRC, except that rather than join a channel, you move into a room.

[hahn-1] Hahn, Harley (1996). The Internet Complete Reference (2nd ed.). Osborne McGraw-Hill. pp. 498. ISBN 0-07-882138-X. A TALKER is a multiuser talk facility that is easy to use and is devoted primarily to conversation. You connect to a talker by using telnet ... The word 'talker' is a descriptive term. For example, some talkers are muds, while others are BBSs; there is no strict definition. If it's easy to use, and you connect in order to talk to other people, it is a talker.

[internetculture-2] Ito, Mizuko (1997). "Virtually Embodied: The Reality of Fantasy in a Multi-User Dungeon". In Porter, David (ed.). Internet Culture (pbk. ed.). Routledge. pp. 89–90. ISBN 0-415-91684-4. These combat-oriented MUDs stand in contrast to non-gaming 'talker' MUDs or educational or professional MUDs.

[3] Levine, John R. (1997). More Internet for Dummies. IDG Books. p. 197. ISBN 0-7645-0135-6. Talkers are for talk only, with no games, no monsters to fight, no quests, and no bizarre rules to learn. All you do is talk and make new friends. Talkers are much like IRC, except that rather than join a channel, you move into a room.

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