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The word MOO is an acronym for Multiple user domain-Object Oriented. To appreciate the MOOs potential impact on language learning, it is important to understand how they differ from chat rooms such as IRCs (Internet relay chats). Though they share with chat rooms the ability to bring together language learners with other language learners at different geographical locations (and even native speakers), MOOs offer users many more communication features than are available on these other systems. First, MOOs offer a variety of communicative modalities. Not only can a user converse with others in the same room or across different virtual rooms, but one can also "whisper" to another person (so that others in the room do not see what is being said), "shout" (so that everyone in the MOO sees, regardless of their room location) and, most importantly, "emote" (that is, express feelings or "physical" actions through words). Second, MOOs have manipulable objects and straightforward programming capabilities. For instance, users can create a (virtual) recorder with which they can record entire discussions and play them back at a later date. They can also write notes for other users&emdash;and even post them on noteboards. Though the number and kinds of objects possible are potentially only limited by each user's imagination, all involve a considerable use of the target language. Third, instead of using pre-defined and abstract spaces, MOOs allow users to create personal rooms and describe them in a personal way. The ability to personalize space and objects in the MOO allows a community of users to create and even analyze their own virtual target-language culture. Finally, with the enCore Xpress MOO Core Database (developed by Jan Rune Holmevik and Cynthia Haynes, creators of LinguaMOO), the newest generation of MOOs is now fully integrated with the web. This development means not only that users can access our MOO via Netscape or any other web browser, but they can also import web pages and other graphics into the MOO and send them to other people in the MOO to look at. And since the links in these web pages are active, users can jump from the MOO to the web and back again with just a few clicks. As a result of these changes, the MOO has retained the text-based features which its supporters have always admired while being able to hold its own against any of today's graphic-oriented multimedia programs. Enter MOOssiggang as a guest (just leave the password field blank)
[Updated: 4 June 2000] |
