One of the cool things you can do with ASP.Net is a method called a callback. Basically it will allow you to retrieve data from the server without refreshing the page in a similar fashion to AJAX which I wrote about in a
blog in 2005.
ASP.Net now provides AJAX kits but these were in Beta when we wanted to undertake an R&D project to look into using this technology for a live chat application. Many chat applictions in the past required the user to either have a plugin or have a page constantly refreshing in background, but with DHTML and AJAX it became possible without these restrictions. We made a proof of concept over 18 months ago and put it to use on a music group site to allow live chatting during internet streaming.
It works pretty well for a very early beta (probably an Alpha in real terms) but still would require a lot of work to make into a commercial product. It uses only XML files so there is no need for a database and as you'll see in the demo works something like IRC or an IM program. It needs an admin interface and some documentation and it needs to make a ding sound or flash when new text is posted...
You can try out the test demo
at this link, it pretty much works like a message board if you're the only person in there, and please remember to log off and not just close your window otherwise you're name will stay in the room until next time it gets cleaned out.
