Video chat: Communicate without borders

Use Windows Live Messenger to stay in touch like never before

By Marc Saltzman

Ingrid Anderson, a Barrie, Ont., insurance broker, was upset to learn her son and grandchildren were moving eight hours away to Kapuskasing. But thanks to an inexpensive webcam and free software, she now sees her grandsons, Derik and Steven, more than when they lived 10 minutes down the road.

“Although they now live far away, I can talk with them every day and see how they’re growing. I don’t miss out on their lives,” says Anderson. “My grandkids also like to show me their toys such as Thomas the Tank Engine. I think this technology [the video chat] is awesome.”

Like many people, Anderson has found the Internet can bring people closer together despite geographical constraints.

“Video chat enhances our ability to communicate. It’s a much more personalized form of communication,” says Michelle Warren, senior research analyst of Info-Tech Research Group. “You can now have a long-distance relationship that goes beyond the text message, e-mail or phone calls.”

Warren says the time is ripe to get on board: “Software is advancing. We have access to more bandwidth. And hardware, such as webcams, is readily available and relatively inexpensive.”

What you need

To engage in a video chat, all you need is free software such as Windows Live Messenger, a webcam and an Internet connection. A high-speed solution, such as cable or DSL, is recommended for smoother video conversations.

Most webcams include built-in microphones. If your webcam doesn’t have one, you must use a separate mike so the person you’re chatting with can hear you. Some laptops have integrated microphones, but you should pick up an external mike that has, for example, a headset that clips over the ear.

How to get going

1. First, purchase a decent webcam. Microsoft has a few high-quality products such as the LifeCam VX-7000, which is ideal for a desktop PC, and the top-of-the-line LifeCam NX-6000, which is designed for laptop use.
2. When you connect any hardware to your computer, install the accompanying CD-ROM first because it contains the drivers required for the new device to be recognized by the operating system. You will then be prompted to connect the webcam to the computer through a USB port.
3. Position the webcam on top of your monitor. Use the small clamp to secure the webcam and face it toward you.
4. Next, download the latest version of Windows Live Messenger which lets you send text, talk, video chat and share files with other users of Windows Live Messenger or Yahoo! Messenger. You can download the free software here.

Start chatting

Starting a video chat is easy. While you’re engaged in a conversation with another user, simply choose to initiate a video call. Click Actions > Voice/Video > Start a Video Conversation. Then the person on the other end must accept the video call.

Or you can double click a person in your buddy list and click the video icon. You might need to focus the camera or tweak the audio and video settings to optimize the quality.

Both users don’t need to have a webcam, but it’s nice when both parties can see and be seen. With the picture-in-picture option, you can see what you look like on camera too.

The Microsoft LifeCam, aside from offering high-definition quality video for online chats (and still photos), also features a convenient one-touch Call button on top of the webcam. When pressed, the button opens up your buddy list of friends or family members.

“My advice to others is to definitely give video chats a try,” says Anderson. “Because you can be missing out on a wonderful opportunity to stay in touch with those who matter to you the most. I wish I had had this [opportunity] a few years ago.”