MUD/MOO- related Definitions

Address

There are two forms of addresses that are commonly used within the Internet. They are email addresses and dotted quads. On the Internet, both of these forms will identify the machine being contacted. In IP (Internet Protocol) form, it consists of a series of numbers--separated by periods--which enables a machine in one part of the world to contactanother (much like a postal or zip code). For example, an email address is BERGE@GUVAX.ACC.GEORGETOWN.EDU. The IP form for GUVAX.ACC.GEORGETOWN.EDU is 141.161.1.2.
*** You can use either form of the address: either the numbers OR the name. For example, to go to MediaMOO, you could use either mediamoo.media.mit.edu OR the related IP form, 18.85.2.46

Client

In network terminology, "client" can have two meanings. Sometimes it is synonymous with "user". Other times it is used to denote a relationship between two computers where one computer is a host and is serving a client machine. In this situation, the client computer becomes a guest on the host computer in order to use the host computer's resources. The program on the client machine that provides the user interface for those resources is typically called the client software.
*** In MOO/MUD use, the word client machine refers to the machine running the MOO. For example, the client machine sitting in the Austin, TX office of the Daedalus Group, a nice Gateway 486 running UNIX, is the DaedalusMOO client machine.

Client-server interface

A program that provides an interface to remote programs (called clients), most commonly across a network, in order to provide these clients with access to some service such as databases, printing, etc. In general, the clients act on behalf of a human end-user (perhaps indirectly).
*** Most folks who visit MUDs eventually get a client-server interface, but you'll find that no one calls it that. Everyone will refer to the software as a client. The client is usually a kinder, gentler interface which makes the process of navigating and communicating on the MUD easier.

Emoticon - (smiley)

Electronic text likenesses of human faces used in mail and news to indicate a variety of emotions and reactions. You read the "face" from left to right, as if it were rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise. The most common smiley is :-), connoting happiness. You will also often see :-(, meaning disappointment, and ;-), meaning irony or sarcasm.
*** You'll see lots of emoticons on MUDS. Users can also EMOTE, which is another way of expressing an emotion.

ENFI (Electronic Networks For Interaction)

A real-time writing environment for the networked computer classroom, in which synchronous communications software allows teachers and students to explore, collaborate, and expand on ideas in class in writing. They see each other in the process of developing ideas; they write for each other and not just to "the teacher".
*** While MUDs are not officially listed as ENFI if you look in the articles, you'll find that they have the same basic pedagogical functions and use essentially the same sorts of communication tools. What they add that is generally NOT defined as part of ENFI is object-oriented tools. MUDS add the ability for users to own objects and to use programmed verbs.

Frequently Asked Question file (FAQ)

A document containing information about some service, application or function. FAQs contain answers to the most common questions and generally are updated as users gain experience with the service, application or function.
The MOO-Cows FAQ, which gives information about programming MOOs is available at http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/fox/moo.

Lag

In synchronous text-based communication environments, a delay of a few seconds to several minutes during which the text participants send in is not reflected in the on-screen transcript. Usually caused by heavy traffic on the network or an overload of simultaneous tasks on the machine which hosts the virtual environment.

Local Area Network. (LAN)

A network connecting machines at one site.
*** You CAN have a MUD function on a LAN -- however most MUDS are internet sites which allow users from different sites to connect (see WAN).

Log

In synchronous text-based communication environments, the transcript of a conversation that has occurred. Participants' comments are generally preceded by their character names, and logs are sometimes edited to take out superfluous conversation before being made available to others. Logs can be uploaded to WWW, gopher, and ftp servers, Emailed, or printed out.

Lurking

Reading or "listening" to a mailing list discussion or USENET newsgroup without actively participating (i.e., without contributing to the discussion). Lurking is encouraged for beginners who wish to learn the history and habits of the group.
*** Folks lurk on MOOs and MUDs too. Often you'll find people who are logged in and in the location where a discussion is going on, but who are not participating actively by writing the discussion. Instead, they read what's going by, observing the discussion.

MOO - MUD (see below), Object Oriented

A Multiple User Dimension which allows users to construct and manipulate objects and move from textually described room to room.
*** We tend to use the word MOO all the time; and most of our experience is with MOOs. Some of us have visited MUSHs (Multiple User Shared Hallucinations) and MUDs, but mainly we'll concentrate on MOOs. Cool people who are hip to computer terms can impress network types by knowing that MOO is a kind of MUD.

MUD - Multiple User Dimension

A synchronous (real-time) text based virtual reality in which "players" interact.

Netiquette

A contraction of "network" and "etiquette" referring to proper behavior on a computer network.
*** Manners are very important on MOOs, especially on educational MOOs. You'll find that most MOOs tell you to "read 'HELP MANNERS'" after you log on. It's very important for folks visiting a MOO to read the policies and abide by them.

Spam

In text-based computer mediated communication, any long, annoying, or superfluous text inserted into a message or conversation.

Synchronous

Data communications in which transmissions are sent at a fixed rate, with the sending and receiving devices synchronized. Synchronous communication occur in real-time, e.g., with two or more users communicating online at the same time to one another.
*** MOOs and MUDs are synchronous environments; things happen in real-time. Saying that MOO is an synchronous communication tool shows you know the jargon. By comparison, e-mail or Newsgroups are asychronous; they don't occur in real-time.

Telnet

Remote login, or remote terminal connection service. Telnet, a basic service on the internet, allows a user to interact with another computer as if she or he were directly connected to the remote computer.
*** The most basic way to MOO is to use telnet -- it's the tool folks usually end up using the first time they MOO (but it is a little cranky and difficult at times). Most people eventually acquire and use a client (see above).

Virtual Reality

Systems which transform the computing environment by immersing the user in a simulated world, which also can include movement and tactile control. Virtual reality systems permit users to interact with computer systems in a manner that more closely mimics how humans naturally operate in the real world.
*** MOOs and MUDs are considered TEXTUAL virtual realities since they create simulated worlds which you can visit and explore.

Wide-Area Network (WAN)

A distributed network spanning hundreds or thousands of miles, connecting a number of Local Area Networks.
*** See LAN above.

World-Wide Web (WWW or W3)

A hypertext-based, distributed information system created by researchers at CERN in Switzerland. It allows users to create, edit or browse hypertext documents. The clients and servers are freely available.
*** A number of MOOs now have a WWW access page which allows users to explore the MOO space. Usually someone looking at a MOO with a WWW interface would be running both a web browser and telnet. Some people call these MOOs with WWW access WOOs (world wide web, MOO).

Ask ERIC InfoGuide. (1993). K-12 Educators and the Internet. Available via anonymous FTP at ericir.syr.edu.

Jacobsen, O. and D. Lynch. (1991). A Glossary of Networking Terms. RFC 1208.

Kehoe, Brendan P. (1992) Zen and the Art of the Internet. 1st ed.. Available for anonymous FTP on host FTP.CS.WIDENER.EDU, directory PUB/ZEN,filename ZEN-1.0.PS (Postscript file) and other formats.

Longley, Dennis. (1986). Dictionary of Information Technology. 2nd Edition. NY: Oxford University Press.

Malkin, G. and T. LaQuey Parker. (1993). Internet Users' Glossary. RFC 1392.

Mitchell, Maurice and Saudners, Laverna, (1992). Glossary. Sent via private correspondence.

Mulliner, Kent. (1993). Internet Glossary. Prepared for a workshop in Columbus, Ohio. Sent via private correspondence.

Other miscellaneous glossaries from unidentified sources were sent to us as private correspondence.