Voxware's VoxChat Beta Version 1.0 About VoxChat ============= VoxChat provides voice and text chat capability over the Internet. VoxChat is designed to: · Allow you to speak with up to four users simultaneously · Allow you to create public and private rooms · Allow you to listen to other users in a room · Allow you to create and edit your user profile · Allow you to communicate using Text Chat · Provide the current list of users connected to this session · Perform as an Internet Browser plugin This ReadMe file discusses the following topics: . System Requirements . Downloading VoxChat . Installing VoxChat . Starting VoxChat . Configuring VoxChat . Using the Setup Wizard . Using VoxChat . Using VoxChat as an Internet Plugin . Contact Information System Requirements ==================== Minimum Recommended ======= =========== - Pentium 100 - Pentium PC 133 or greater - Windows 95, Windows NT - Windows 95, Windows NT - 8 MB RAM - 8 MB RAM - 2 MB disk space - 2 MB disk space - 256 color monitor - 256 color monitor - 8 bit sound card - 16 bit sound card (full duplex drivers) - Microphone and speakers - Microphone and speakers - Winsock 1.1 or higher - Winsock 1.1 or higher - Internet access (either - Internet access (either a direct connection or a a direct connection or a 14.4 kbps modem with a 28.8 kbps modem with a SLIP or PPP connection) SLIP or PPP connection) - Printer configured and operational, set as the default online printer. Downloading VoxChat =================== The beta version of VoxChat is available to download free of charge from the Voxware, Inc. Web site at http://www.voxware.com. Using Netscape Navigator (or another Web browser), access the Voxware site. Follow the instructions for downloading VoxChat. Installing VoxChat ================== After you have downloaded the file from the Voxware Web site, install VoxChat on your system. To install VoxChat: 1. Start the Windows Explorer or File Manager and view the directory in which the downloaded file is located. 2. Windows 95/NT users: double-click on the file named Vcb1b026.exe. 3. Follow the instructions on your screen during the installation. Starting VoxChat ================ You must be connected to the Internet before starting VoxChat. 1. Establish your connection to the Internet. 2. Click on the Start button in the taskbar, then select Programs, Voxware, VoxChat (Beta 0.n) (where n is a number) Configuring VoxChat =================== You can set up VoxChat by using the Setup Wizard, or by entering configuration information directly. The configuration options allow you to: · Edit the user profile · Add, change, or remove a server · Enable additional system sounds · Ignore Text Chat · Select recording and playback devices The configuration functions in VoxChat are: . General . Server Information . Audio GENERAL CONFIGURATION Use General Information to set up how your name is to appear on the user list on the main VoxChat window. To set up general information, follow these steps: 1. From the VoxChat main menu, select Options...Configuration. 2. On the General Information tab, type your first and last name. 3. To enable system sounds, check the Enable System Sounds checkbox. 4. To ignore incoming text chat, check the Ignore Incoming Text Chat checkbox. Note: If the box is left unchecked, the Text Chat window automatically displays when a user sends a text message. 5. When you’re finished, press OK. Note: Changing your general information setup automatically restarts your connection. SERVER CONFIGURATION Use the Server Information tab to add, remove, or view existing server properties. To select the server, follow these steps: 1. From the VoxChat main menu, select Options...Configuration. 2. Click on the Server Information tab. 3. Select a server from this list. In addition, if you want to view existing server properties, press Properties. To add new server properties, press Add. To remove the current server from your list, press Remove. 4. When you’re finished, click on the Audio tab to proceed, or press OK. **Note: For this beta, you will not need to change any server data information. AUDIO Use the Audio tab to select sound devices for recording and playback. To select sound devices for recording and playback, follow these steps: 1. From the VoxChat main menu, select Options...Configuration. 2. Click on the Audio tab. 3. From the Recording drop-down list, select an audio device. 4. From the Playback drop-down list, select an audio device. 5. When you’re finished, press OK. Note: Changing your audio information setup automatically restarts your connection. Using the Setup Wizard ====================== The Setup Wizard helps you check your present system configuration (speakers and microphone), and make any needed changes for enhanced sound performance. * Refer to the Troubleshooting section of the online help if you have any problems with your audio (playback and recording) settings. The Setup Wizard covers the following setup areas: . Audio Devices . Play Test . Record Test AUDIO DEVICES The Audio Devices page of the Setup Wizard makes sure your speakers and microphone (recording and playback) are connected to the correct devices. It also enables full duplex operation if your system is capable of it. To test recording and playback devices: 1. From the VoxChat main menu, select Help...Setup Wizard. 2. Go to the Setup Wizard Step 2 of 4 window. 3. Select the device you use for recording from the Recording drop-down list if the one already selected is not what you want. 4. Select the device you use for playback from the Playback drop-down list if the one already selected is not what you want. 5. For a full duplex setting, check the Use Full Duplex checkbox. 6. When you’re finished, press Next to proceed with the next step in the setup, or Finish to save changes and exit the Setup Wizard. PLAY TEST The Play Test page of the Setup Wizard tests your audio and playback settings. To test audio and playback settings: 1. From the VoxChat main menu, select Help...Setup Wizard. 2. Go to the Setup Wizard Step 3 of 4 window. 3. Press Play the Message to hear a pre-recorded message. 4. If you hear the message, adjust the speaker volume slider button until you are satisfied with the sound. 5. When you’re ready, press Stop Playing Message. 6. If you didn’t hear the message at all, check the I could not hear the message checkbox. This alerts the system that there is a problem with your settings. 7. When you’re finished, press Next to proceed with the next step in the setup, or Finish to save changes and exit the Setup Wizard. RECORD TEST The Record Test page of the Setup Wizard tests your recording settings. To test recording settings: 1. From the VoxChat main menu, select Help...Setup Wizard. 2. Go to the Setup Wizard Step 4 of 4 window. 3. Press Record. Speak in a relaxed voice into your microphone. Try not to put your mouth right up against the microphone. Record for around 2 to 3 seconds. 4. When you are finished, press Stop Recording. 5. Press Playback to hear your recorded message. 6. You can adjust the speaker volume slider button until you are satisfied with the sound. 7. If you didn’t hear your message at all, check the I could not hear what I said checkbox. This alerts the system that there is a problem with your settings. 8. When you’re finished, press Next to proceed with the next step in the setup, or Finish to save changes and exit the setup wizard. Using VoxChat ============= To carry on a conversation with other users with VoxChat: 1. To carry on a conversation, click and hold down the Talk button with your mouse, or press and hold down the Spacebar on your keyboard. 2. Speak clearly into your microphone. You’ll see the status indicator change to "Press to talk." For best results, try to avoid putting your mouth directly up to the microphone. 3. When you are finished speaking, release the Talk button and listen for a response. Note: Up to four users can talk on VoxChat simultaneously. * Refer to the Troubleshooting section of the online help if you have any problems with your audio (playback and recording) settings. Using VoxChat as an Internet Plugin =================================== The VoxChat application can perform as an Internet Browser plugin. This provides you with the ability, via an HTML tag, to automatically launch the client application as soon as a particular web page is encountered. Group information such as Name, Address, and Port are provided to the client plugin automatically. The tag has the following definition: TYPE=application/x-broadcast This is the MIME type definition that the Internet Browser uses to know which plugin to contact. GROUPNAME = This is the name of the group (server) you should connect to. GROUPADDRESS = This is the IP address of the group (server) you should connect to. It should be a "static" IP address. PORT= This is the port number which the group (server) will be monitoring. Example: Contact Information =================== You can contact Voxware and receive technical support via email by filling out the form on our Web site at http://www.voxware.com. Voxware, Inc. 305 College Road East Princeton, NJ 08540 USA Phone: (609) 514-4100 Fax: (609) 514-4101