How to fully participate in an LTC Webcast

Most broadcasts have two primary elements:
• The Live Broadcast via RealPlayer streaming audio and/or video.
• The Chat Room
• The Online Survey

The Live Broadcast or Archive

Minimum requirements for RealPlayer G2:

Windows: 90MHz Intel¨ Pentium¨ processor or equivalent, 16MB of RAM, 14.4Kbps modem (audio only); 28.8Kpbs modem (video), 16-bit sound card and speakers, 65,000-color video display card (video), Windows 95 operating system, Internet connection and web browser.
Macintosh: Mac OS 8.1 or later, 32 MB RAM, 65MB virtual memory, 604 PowerPC (200 MHz or better), Internet connection, Browser support: Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or later or Netscape 4.05 or later.

If your system does not meet or exceed these minimum system requirements, please click here to download an older version of RealPlayer.

On the Date and at the Time listed on the schedule or the event page you will have the option of selecting a link to the ram file for Video playback or Audio Only playback. If you have successfully installed RealPlayer and you click on one of these links the Player will automatically open to the location of the broadcast.*

RealAudio Player will give you only an audio playback of the event.

or...

RealVideo Player will give you both an audio and video playback of the event.

*(If you hear or see something on your player prior to the event, it is probably an interim NASA TV program.)

The Chat Room

How the Chat Room works:

• In brief, the Chat Room is an opportunity for students and the general public to meet and ask questions of scientists and experts appearing in the broadcast. From their own desktop, people can type comments and questions into a "chat room" and receive live responses during the broadcast.

• Chats are easy! They're powered by our own software. No download is necessary.

• If you plan to chat, you may need to register for the event. You may observe without registering.

  To register: Click on the link entitled: ***Register here for this chat.*** This is your entry to reserve a spot in the chat room.

  *Registering for the first time: Please take the time to do this carefully and completely. You will not have to repeat the whole process in the future.

  -You will need to enter: How many people will join you (maximum is you plus five more, or six total) Note on number of computers vs. number of chatters Your email address Your zipcode Your telephone

  -You will also be asked to create your "handle" or your online identification. It should include no spaces. We suggest: name/organization for example: ScienceClass/KennedyHigh

  -You will be asked to read the rules at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/common/rules.html and confirm that you have done so.

  -You will then be asked to create a password.

  At this point, please check your work carefully. After you have submitted your registration, an automatic confirmation will be sent. If your email address is incorrect, your registration may be cancelled.

  -Click on submit and when you receive it SAVE your confirmation so that you'll have your handle and password to enter the chat room.

  *Registering next time is a cinch! All you need to enter is: Your handle Your password Select number of spots - six maximum (you + 5)

• To CHAT...you will type your message into a box and submit it. The question or comment will in turn be posted into the Main Room where the expert and all chatters can see it and respond to it.

  Messages submitted are posted automatically unless the room is in moderation. This means your questions or comments appear in a queue that is only visible to the moderator. From this list the moderator selects and posts appropriate questions and comments into the Main Room.

  MESSAGE BOX AND CONTROLS
  Below the Main Room (you may have to scroll down) there is a large box. Directly under or beside that box is a button entitled "Refresh Screen or Submit New Message". Both are key to your end of the chatting:

  Use the box to type your message (It accommodates no carriage returns - one question per message please). The "Refresh Screen or Submit New Message" button both submits your message and also updates the Main Room. So, even if you aren't posting a message, in order to see new messages you must remember to click on this button frequently during the chat.

  Below these are two additional entry areas: "Show at least" with space for a number, controls how many messages you will see each time you refresh the screen. It is set at a default of 10, but you can change this number to accommodate your needs or screen size. "Scroll back __ messages" allows you the one-time option of reviewing however many messages you like. For instance, say you are showing 10 messages each refresh, and you'd like to look back 15 messages without changing your permanent setting. If you type in 15, for that one click of the refresh button you will go back 15 messages.

  If you arrive after the chat has begun, please read all submitted question and answer pairs so that you will not duplicate what has already been answered. We try to avoid submitting the same question twice, even if the originator is different.

• type a message that lets us know that you have arrived. Include the name of the school (if appropriate),or your city or town.

  The Online Survey

  When a broadcast is over we ask that you respond to our survey. Your response is very important! It is from these surveys that we continue to improve and provide feedback to our experts and our funding agencies.

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