Help

Chat

• What is Chat?

  Lithium Chat allows users to directly interact in real-time with site staff or with each other. Read below for answers to some common issues related to Lithium Chat.

• How do I find and join a Chat?

  While browsing community pages, such as the front page, you will sometimes see a "Chat" link. Click the link to enter the Chat. If the link is not clickable, then the room is closed. In most cases you will need to sign in before being allowed into the Chat. Once you've signed in using the e-mail address or login and password associated with your community account (the details of how to log in depend on the site), agreed to the Terms of Service and the User Guidelines, you may enter the Chat. Lithium Chat Service uses Java applets technology, which runs in a secure environment within your web browser. Answer "Yes" if your browser prompts you for authorization to install the Java applet.

  Now you are ready to type questions or comments to other people in the same Chat.

  Your presence in a Chat will be indicated in the control window on the right-hand side. Of course, you do not have to chat yourself and may choose just to watch the conversations as they happen.

• What are the System Requirements for using the Chat? (Java)

  Lithium Chat Service is a Java-enabled application that is designed to work across many browsers and operating systems. When you first try to enter a Chat, your browser may ask you if you want to install the Java applet. This is a security measure created by the developers of java and your browser to ensure that you know a new program is being installed. The download is completely free and should take only a few seconds depending on your connection speed. If prompted, you must answer "Yes" to use the applet and begin chatting.

  Java 1.4 (and up) and JavaScript 2.0 (and up) work satisfactorily for Internet Explorer 5.0 (and up) and Netscape 4.7 (and up). Most computers manufactured in the last few years will be able to run this configuration. The Java applet will work on the latest Safari browser and Java version on the Mac as well, which you can get on OSX through "Software Update".

  Java will not automatically install on Windows XP. If you have Windows XP, or are having trouble with the automatic install on any Windows platform, you can download the latest version of Java at www.java.com. This is a free download.

  

  Java is a trademark or registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

• What about security in Chat?

  We take your security seriously and strive to provide the most secure possible environment. The only piece of Lithium-specific information that is ever seen by other users is your personally selected community login/nickname, which is also viewable in your user profile. Items that you have chosen to make public in your profile may also be seen by other users. On some forums, anonymous watching or chatting is permitted, in this case if you are not logged in you will be assigned a name automatically such as "Anonymous-42" for the duration of your chatting session.

  At the same time, there is no expectation of privacy for any form of communication that is provided to you on the Chat, and you should assume that the content of your conversations within the Chat is not private. In particular, never disclose your personal contact information, credit card numbers, or other personal information via the Chat Service.

• Who am I interacting with in Chats?

  You are chatting with site staff (such as moderators or support engineers) and your fellow community members. Everyone has the same user name and icon in Chats as they do on the rest of the community site.

• When are Chats available?

  Hours of operation vary depending on the particular community site. From time to time, we take down the service in order to perform regular maintenance or to upgrade features. In addition, certain popular rooms may be unavailable if they are already full.

• What are the Terms and Conditions of Use for Chats?

  All customers using Lithium Chat must first read, understand, and agree to abide by the site's Terms of Service and the User Guidelines. Violations of these terms may be reported to the site administrators. Please include the login of the participant you're reporting, the name of the Chat you were in when the incident occurred, the date and time of the incident, and any other details you feel may be relevant. We will take appropriate action; however, for reasons of account privacy, we cannot notify you of the outcome.

• I'm having trouble using Chat, what do I do now?

  Please check the System Requirements for using Chat.

  Blank frames, no applet appears, a large grey box (the applet background) remains but no chat window appears: You may not have the right version of Internet Explorer or Netscape, Java or JavaScript, or you may have disabled Java or JavaScript. Try enabling these features and/or upgrading your browser and/or Java versions.

  "Connection refused" messages: Your company or ISP may have a firewall that limits the kinds of connections your computer can make to the outside world. Try accessing the Chat Service from somewhere outside the firewall.