How to Use an iSight Camera for Web Conferences

Use your Apple computer's iSight camera to host web conferences.

Most recent models of the iMac, MacBook and Macbook Pro come equipped with a built-in iSight camera. This makes web conferencing for business or for pleasure a practical and effective method of communication. Although iChat software also comes pre-loaded in these Apple computers, some people prefer to download and use applications such as Skype for their conferencing. Here are some ways to use your iSight camera with both iChat and Skype.

Things You'll Need

• Mac computer
• Broadband Internet connection

Instructions

iChat: Web conferencing with one person

1. Open the iChat application.

2. Click on "Video" in iChat's main menu and make sure that "Camera connected" is enabled.

3. Click the camera icon next to a person in your buddy list to send a web conference invitation. This buddy must be online. When the connection is made, the green LED light next to your iSight with light up. This indicates that video is being captured.

4. Wait for your buddy to accept the invitation. While this is happening, you will be able to see video of yourself on the screen. When your buddy accepts the invitation, you will see him/her on your screen and they will see you on theirs.

iChat: Web conferencing with more than one person (up to three people)

1. Open the iChat application.

2. Click on "video" in iChat's main menu and make sure that "Camera connected" is enabled.

3. Hold down the Command key and select the people you want to send a web conference invitation to.

4. Click on the Camera icon on the bottom of the buddy list window. This is typically between the audio chat and screen-sharing icons.

5. Wait for your buddies to accept the invitation. While this is happening, you will be able to see video of yourself on the screen. When your buddies accept the invitation, you will see them on your screen and they will see you on theirs.

Skype

1. Sign up for a Skype account and download the software from www.skype.com on to your Apple computer.

2. Click on "Skype ->preferences -> video" in Skype's main menu and make sure that the box to the left of "enable Skype video" is checked.

3. Select the contact that you would like to web conference with from your contact list and click the green "Video call" button

4. Start talking once the connection is established.

Tips & Warnings

• You can only video conference with someone who is using the same software (i.e. iChat, Skype) and whose computer has web video conferencing capability

• A headset provides better audio quality than speakers and a microphone

• Skype currently only supports one on one web conferencing

• iSight web conferencing does not work on dial-up internet connections

References

• Apple: Using your built-in iSight camera
• Skype: How to call someone on video with Skype