DIY Video Conferencing

With just a simple webcam, you can video conference with people all around the world.

For many years, video conferencing was an option only available to businesses with special connections and high-end computer equipment. It was seen as a sort of future technology that was simply out of reach for the average person. As the Internet has grown more sophisticated and computers have increasingly included webcams as a part of their basic components, video conferencing has become available to people all around the world. With some simple, free software, anyone with an active Internet connection and a webcam can video conference with people all around the world for free.

Instructions

1. Navigate to Skype,com and click on "Join Us Now" at the bottom of the page to begin the download.

2. Run the completed installer file and install Skype onto your local hard drive.

3. Open Skype and create a username by following the on-screen instructions.

4. Verify that anyone you wish to video conference with also has a Skype username.

5. Connect your webcam to your computer's USB port if you will be using an external webcam. If your computer or laptop already has a webcam installed, make sure it is tilted correctly to give a clear image of your face. Check the lighting in your room to make sure it isn't too dark or too bright for a good picture. Adjust the lighting as necessary.

6. Add any friends or loved ones to your Skype contact list. You will be notified when anyone on your contact list has signed on. To initiate a video call with someone on your contact list, simply highlight their name then press the "Call" button. This will initiate a call request on their end, much like receiving a phone call. Once they have accepted the call, click "Start Video" to display your webcam feed. The person on the other end of the call will need to click on "Start Video" as well in order for both sides to see each other. Once you are connected and your video feeds are properly displaying, you'll be able to make calls to other third parties or continue your conversation. There is no charge for using the Skype service, and your calls are not limited by time or monitored. When you are done, you can end the call or close the program.

References

• Skype: Support

Resources

• Skype: Download Page