With full awareness that I may look stupid :-* in the eyes of some members, I write to tell you that you do not need a microphone hooked up to your computer to CHAT.

It is a 'white Board' on which anyone in the room can enter typed messages.
The first time you go in you enter your name and password to register. Your password gets you in thereafter. There is a slight delay as the chatroom opens for you.

Each message you type is shown after your 'name' as soon as you press return.

Those in the chat room are shown at the top of the Forum home page.

So, it is like IM's coming up, one after another, for all those in the chat room to see.
There is a control panel for you to choose an avatar, Buddies, text colour, background colour etc. There is a help '?' button which shows what each on-screen button function does, and there is a help line lower down which shows the function as you place the mouse over the button.
I find it useful and good fun, being able to ask a question and get an immediate response, and then following on the CHAT.
There are even sounds so you know when someone else enters the room or posts a message. This is useful when, like, me you can't type without looking at the keyboard. It can be turned off, too.

You don't end up with messages in any of your own boxes when you have finished. When all have left the room I think the messages are 'lost'.

It is worth a try. I keep going in to see if anyone will follow and even just say hello!
All the best Bill.