How to Use a Webcam for Video Conference
Video conferencing no longer requires high-end technological gadgets that cost a fortune. Today, all you need to hold a video conference with colleagues and clients are a webcam and a good Internet connection. Thankfully, most laptops now come with built-in cameras, which eliminate the need to buy additional hardware and makes video conferencing as easy as clicking a mouse. The instructions below are intended for Mac users.
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Things You'll Need
- MacBook, MacBook Pro or iMac
- AIM or .Mac account
- DSL or cable Internet connection (dial-up cannot support video conferencing)
Instructions
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Turn on your computer and open up iChat. If you are on a laptop, make sure your computer is connected to a power source.
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If you haven't set up an account yet, a dialog box will pop up to walk you through the process of configuring your .Mac or AIM accounts to iChat. All you have to do is type in your .Mac or AIM username and password, and the setup wizard will do the rest for you.
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Once iChat is open, it will display your "Buddy List." When any of your contacts are on line, iChat will display an icon next to their screen name to indicate if you can video conference with them. This icon is a green camera. If there is no green camera next to your contact's screen name, this means that he or she is not using a computer with a webcam.
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To initiate a video conference with one of your contacts, double-click on the green camera icon next to their screen name. This should start the video conference.
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To have a video conference with more than one person on iChat, you have to hold down the command key and click to select the screen names of everyone you want to add to the video conference. Once all the parties have been selected, click on the camera button on the bottom of your Buddy List window. Remember that the maximum number of people that can join an iChat video conference is four.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure that all the parties you want to invite to the video conference have webcams and a high-speed Internet connection.
