Talking In Circles is an audioconferencing chat environment. Unlike traditional text-based chat environments, Talking In Circles allows participants simply to speak to each other. Participants are represented as colored circles which accompany their speech with real-time graphical feedback. In order to allow for 'mingling' and subgroup conversations, audio volume is regulated according to the the circles' location within the system, so that faraway speech is softer. Participants can also draw in their circles, permitting pictorial and gestural communication in addition to speech. The system also contains "audio booths" which play music and news to supplement conversation.