Section 12

Letting Users Connect to Your System

In general, users will connect to your system by using the Web interface, which only requires a Java-Enabled Web Browser. Minimum levels supported are Netscape 3.0 and Internet Explorer 3.0. A standard IRC client may also be used.

Membership

ChatSpace 2.0 provides a new membership feature, which allows members to register in order to access your chatroom. To enable this feature you must check the boxes "Allow members to register their own nicknames" and "Must have a registered nickname to sign on" in the Members Tab of the Control Program. To access the Control Program, right click on the ChatSpace tray icon and select Control. The Members Tab is in the Configure section.

When new members access the login page, they will see a "Sign-up" link (or button).  When that is clicked on, a customizable web form appears in which member information can be collected. Once the form is submitted, it is sent directly to the administrator for approval.  If signed on, the administrator will receive notification that a membership(s) is awaiting approval.  The administrator can then view the list of unapproved members, clicking specified icons to approve or disapprove membership.  If the members entered an email address, they are notified regarding the status of membership.

If the administrator does not want to approve all membership entries the"admin must approve new members" box can be unchecked.  This allows the administrator to force all members to register and provide a valid password thus collecting registrations with valid email addresses.

If the "Generate password to verify email address" box is checked, the sign-up form will not contain a field for the password to be entered. Instead, the server will generate a password, and send it to the member via email.

The basic membership system also provides a "Forget your password?" link on the sign-up form.  Should members forget their password, the system will send it to them via email. 

One final membership option available is “Alternate Sign-up”.  This is a generic facility providing a question to members. If members provides the proper answer they will be allowed to proceed to the alternate sign-up form.  The default alternate sign-up in is compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.

This alternate sign-up page asks if they are 13 or younger.  If clicked "Yes", then by default they are requested to enter the parent or legal guardian's email address. An email will then be sent explaining the purpose of the site and recommendation that the parent examine the site to determine whether it is suitable for his/her child prior to giving the password (generated, and contained in the email) to the child.

This alternate sign-up facility could also be used to validate that a person is 18 or older, as is required with some sites.  The alternate path in this case (if the member chooses the "I am under 18" button) would be to simply display a web page stating that only those 18 or older are allowed to enter the site.