MS Technology Vocabulary Aim
Gracie Voss
January 2009
Computer 7-4
AIM (Aol Instant Messaging)
Aol Instant Messaging- a downloaded program from your web browser in which you can send and receive messages from others who have the program. Now you can ichat if you have a camera attached to your computer. Invented by AOL in 1994 and constantly improved, aim (as frequently called) remains extremely popular. Features include an icon display, the ability to display a message under ones screen name, and show smiley face expressions in a message. Since version 2.0, AIM has included person-to-person instant messaging, chat room messaging, and the ability to share files Peer-to-peer with one's buddies. Version 4.3 introduced the storing of one's contact list on AOL's servers and allowed for a maximum of 200 buddies to be stored. Version 6.1, added Buddy List docking, support for inserting images into Buddy Info, the ability to change the highlight colors of the UI, improvements to the displaying of Linked Screen Names, several bug fixes, and improved Windows Vista support. There are over 40 different versions including aim express, aim for the iphone and aim for the Mac.
Terminology:
- Away message: A function of some instant messaging applications whereby a user may post a message that appears automatically to other users if they attempt to make contact when the user is unavailable. It is analogous to the voice message on an answering machine or voice mail system.
- Block: An AIM user may block a specific screen name on their buddy list. The blocked user cannot contact or see the status of the blocker. Both users in this case will always see each other as offline until the blocker "unblocks" them.
- Buddy Info: Information about the user that may be edited by the user. The user's buddies are able to view the information as a pop-up. There is a character limit that cannot be exceeded.
- Buddy List: The centerpiece of AIM, a list containing the status of up to 1000 buddies stored on an AIM server so you can access this list from any instance of AIM. The status of the buddies can be seen as 'online', 'away', 'idle', 'mobile', or 'offline'.
- Screen name: Term for user name with AOL origins. These are available for free with registration at the AIM website.
- Icon: A small, personalized picture that a user can set up to appear whenever they message another user. Also referred to as an avatar.
http://wiki.sjs.org/wiki/index.php/MS_Technology_Vocabulary
Bibliography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AOL_Instant_Messenger#History
Edited by Paige Avery 2016
