Video Phoning Via the Internet
Remember those “World of Tomorrow” exhibits at World Fairs and similar expos of the 50’ and 60’s? They often had a display of the future of communications that tied together a telephone and TV, so that you could see anyone you phoned and they could see you.
Thanks to high-speed internet, free downloadable programs, and webcams, live video phoning has quietly become a reality, and it is easier and less expensive than you might imagine. With a high-speed internet connection, you can easily talk with someone else anywhere in the world in real time, and you’ll be able to see each other too, at no cost to you other than the initial expense of the peripheral hardware.
In addition to a high speed internet connection, you’ll first need the audio and video hardware. Speakers and a microphone will work, but a simple headset (headphones with an integrated microphone) will provide for more seamless sound. To add video, pick up a USB-connected webcam. You don’t need to spend much for a headset and webcam to get decent sound and video quality ($20 to $30 each), and they are both readily available anywhere computer and electronic equipment are sold.
Next, you’ll need a software program that handles voice and video over the internet. There are several instant messaging programs in common use that can also handle voice and video. One internet phone program that was developed in Europe and is quickly growing in popularity world wide is called Skype. You can download it for free from their website: http://www.skype.com. It is free to use if you are connecting from any Skype-equipped computer to another (it is even possible to include up to nine contacts in a Skype conference call), but you can also buy Skype credit for making inexpensive log-distance calls from your PC to any landline or cell phone in the world.
Once you have your sound and video hardware plugged in, and the Skype program installed, you just need to pick a Skype name and password. As with email addresses and other online ID’s, make your Skype name rather cryptic so that strangers can’t use it to figure out your real identity. If you want someone you know who also has Skype to be able to find you when they are searching by real name, you can include that in the account information, but it is not necessary.
Before you begin “Skyping”, you should first check your sound and video setup with the built-in testing tools. In “Options”, under the “Tools” menu, you can quickly see if the webcam is working by clicking on “Video Settings” and seeing if an image (hopefully yours if you have it pointed in the right direction) pops up in the little screen next to the webcam settings button. To see if you have your sound configured correctly, click on the “Skype Test Call” under your contacts (it should be the only one in there until you add others), and clicking on the little round green button with an icon that looks like a phone handset, that initiates the call. The recording with the vaguely Australian accent on the other end will walk you through the process and you’ll know you are done if you hear your own voice played back to you. Click on the little round red button to end the call. If you don’t hear your own voice, you may need to go into the audio settings of options to change what it is using as a microphone.
Now you are ready to Skype. If you know the other person has Skype, click “Add” on the Contacts tab and enter their Skype name or email address. Contacts you have added will display a green icon on the left indicating they have their Skype open as well. Click on the contact you want to call and click the green button. Skype will start “ringing” on their end to let them know they need to answer, which they do by also clicking on the green button. Once you have both connected, just start talking. You can then click “Start Video” to turn your webcam on. If they do the same, you both will be able to see each other as you talk. To end the call, simply click on the red button.