We're getting ready to bring you into our multi-user, virtual environment where you'll be able to interact with anyone else connected while you're here. We also have a number of automated tours guided by what we call 'bots (short for: robots) ...think of them as actors that will perform a skit or scenario to help you better understand how our technology is being used.
Hopefully, the trail of links that led you here included the pages that talked about our Mission and our Technology. That information that will serve as valuable background. But don't worry if you skipped straight to here! The only really critical thing to understand is: What is a MOO?
In this environment places, things, and people are all represented in text. Each person or object present has a description and other attributes that others will see when they 'look' at them. You can interact with things in the environment using commands like 'look', 'go', 'say', 'take' and other similar verbs.
You can speak with other people present, either out loud so that all can hear, or privately (whisper.) You can move around with commands like "go east" and the environment will show you the result. There is an extensive help facility which you can invoke at any time by typing "help" and following the directions provided.
In order to talk to someone all you have to do is enter a quote mark [ " ] in front of the text you wish to send. For example, if I met you online and wanted to greet you I would type:
"Greetings and welcome.You would see:
Steve says, "Greetings and welcome."
Once you understand "quote mark first - then message" you'll be able to talk with anyone online.
Exactly how the environment looks depends on which web-browser you are using. The Connect to LanningSpace page has links for the whole range or browsers:
- Text Only (Lynx)
- Graphics but no JavaScript
- Java-enabled browsers
Text-only users are at something of a handicap when it comes to viewing graphics obviously but it is important to point out that the multi-user environment technology originated in the days before the WWW. All interaction was described via text with the precise images and colors and shapes being left up to the individuals imagination ... in many cases that was more satisfying that what a computer graphic can convey. So, yes, text-only users can connect and interact here.
Your link will open up a Telnet window (assuming you have told Netscape where to find your telnet application...if not you can review our trouble shooting page.) So you'll have 2 windows; the telnet window allows you to input your text and watch the responses from the server, while the web browser will show the graphics and other HTML objects being sent from the server.
Note that a raw telnet application does not separate input from output meaning you are typing in the same window the server is sending text to. This can be confusing when text from the server is inserted into the middle of what you are typing. User who are unable to upgrade to more recent browser version (supporting JavaScript or Java) can work around this problem by using specialized telnet clients.
When you enter the environment, leave your browser window visible so that you can enter the address you will be given to display the projector view. Be sure neither window is completely hiding the other so you can move between them.
Your telnet window will show a large upper portion in which you will see the text describing what is happening in the environment, and a small lower portion in which you type your input (your input isn't sent until you hit return, and you can edit it first if you make a typo.)
At the first screen in the telnet window, enter "guest" unless you have a permanent character. Enjoy your visit.
JavaScript is implemented quite differently on different platforms and even in different browser versions within the same platform. For example, even though the Macintosh version of Navigator includes support for JavaScript, we've uncovered an problem with the scroll function...something quite important to our output frame. If you experience anomalies while connected we would very much appreciate you contacting us with details for your experience.
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