About Talkomatic - The First Multi-User Chat Room
Talkomatic is an online platform for real-time text communication, essentially a chat room. Unlike conventional chat services, Talkomatic allows you to see messages being typed in real-time, letter by letter, providing an immediate and engaging experience.
What makes Talkomatic truly unique is its historical significance: Talkomatic is the world's first multi-user chat room, created in 1973 on the PLATO system, predating IRC (1988) and CompuServe's "CB Simulator" (1980).
The Evolution of Talkomatic
1973
Original Creation
Created by Doug Brown and David Woolley, two college students and PLATO system programmers at the University of Illinois. Doug built the initial prototype, while David expanded it to include multiple rooms and privacy features.
1970s
PLATO Era
PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations) was a computer-based education system that hosted the first online community. Besides Talkomatic, it featured email, forums, instant messaging, and multiplayer games.
2013-2014
Web Revival
Development of a web-based Talkomatic began in September 2013, with the first chat occurring on March 11, 2014. The WebSocket standard made it possible to recreate Talkomatic without special software.
May 2014
Version 2.0
Version 2.0 introduced private rooms, enhancing user privacy and expanding functionality.
July 2015
Version 3.0
Version 3.0 launched with Facebook login integration, making it easier for users to access the platform.
January 2018
Version 3.2
Steve Zoppi re-hosted and updated Talkomatic to version 3.2, enhancing its technology. With Ray Ozzie's support, Talkomatic was available on multiple domains.
March 2024
Original Shutdown
The original Talkomatic service was shut down after years of providing real-time chat experiences.
June 2024
Talkomatic Classic Reborn
Mohd Mahmodi revived Talkomatic as an open-source project at Talkomatic.co, preserving this important piece of internet history and bringing the unique real-time chat experience to a new generation of users.
What Makes Talkomatic Special
Real-time Typing
See messages as they're being typed, character by character, creating a more immediate and engaging experience.
Personal Chat Spaces
Each participant has their own designated area on screen, making it easy to follow who is saying what.
Historical Significance
Use the world's first multi-user chat room, a significant piece of computing history from 1973.
Voice-to-Text
Use voice input on compatible devices for an alternative way to communicate.
Private Rooms
Create private chat rooms for more personal or focused conversations.
Cross-Device Compatible
Works on desktop and mobile devices with modern browsers.
The Technology Behind Talkomatic
Node.js
JavaScript
HTML5
CSS3
Socket.IO
jQuery
Frequently Asked Questions
Which web browsers are compatible with Talkomatic?
Talkomatic works with recent versions of popular web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Safari. If you encounter issues, updating your browser to the latest version should resolve them. Additionally, make sure cookies and JavaScript are enabled.
Does Talkomatic work on smartphones and tablets?
Yes, Talkomatic is compatible with mobile devices. While on-screen virtual keyboards might obstruct the display, using a physical keyboard or voice input, if available, can improve the experience.
Can I use voice input instead of typing?
Absolutely. If your device has voice recognition capabilities, you can use it to convert speech to text. Most smartphones and tablets come with this feature. For desktop users, software like Dragon NaturallySpeaking can be used.
Does Talkomatic record chat sessions?
No, Talkomatic does not retain any chat history. Once a message disappears from your screen, it is gone permanently and cannot be retrieved.
Can I integrate a Talkomatic chat room into my website?
Yes, embedding a Talkomatic chat room is straightforward using an HTML iframe. To embed the Talkomatic lobby, use: <iframe src="http://talkomatic.co"></iframe>. To link directly to a specific room, copy the URL provided in the "Invite friends to your room with this link" section and use it as the iframe's "src" attribute.
How is Talkomatic built?
Talkomatic is a client-server application entirely written in JavaScript. The server runs on Node.js and Socket.IO, while the client software uses the jQuery library and operates within a web browser. The original server was hosted on a Virtual Private Server managed by Steve Zoppi. The current open-source version is maintained by Mohd Mahmodi.
Do you intend to profit from Talkomatic?
No, making money from Talkomatic is not our goal. Talkomatic Classic is an open-source project with no ads, maintained through community support and sponsorships.
Help Keep Talkomatic Alive
Talkomatic Classic is an open-source project with no ads or tracking. We rely on community support to keep the servers running and continue development.