Connecting with
Friends & Family

The Internet provides many ways to keep in touch with family and friends. It also works well for keeping in contact with military personnel even when they are deployed overseas.

Some Options
Two way - Both parties can communicate, like a phone call.	One way - Only one party can communicate, like mail.
Software based - You must download software and install it on your computer. Available only on (or between) computers with that software. Must need hardware requirements and maybe bandwidth requirements.	Web based - Uses a web site to provide the service. Available on any Internet connected PC. Must meet bandwidth requirements and maybe hardware requirements.
One to one - Involves one party of each end, like most phone calls.	One to many or many to many - One message reaches a large group. For example, an email can be sent to a group and social sites can be visited by many people

Digital Photos and Videos

• Even inexpensive digital cameras produce good quality photos and most will generate low definition (YouTube style) video.
• Since many photos and videos that are emailed are viewed on a computer screen, high definition is less important. A 2 MP photograph more than fills a computer screen.
• Frame rate (frames per second) does matter in video, since videos with low frame rates look choppy.
• Needed - Almost any digital camera and some way to send the photos/videos.
• For more on digital cameras and video, see our program on them.

Email

• Email is basically free and available to everyone.
•  Email is delivered quickly, but may not be read or answered until much later (if ever).
• You can spend time choosing the right words and even compose drafts. Most people don't and emails are usually very informal.
• Email is often impersonal, since it is brief and lacks the cues of speaking.
• Needed - If from home, a PC, Internet account and email account. If you don't have a computer or the Internet, you can use an Internet computer at your local library. If you don't have an email account, you can obtain one free at Hotmail, Yahoo or Google. These services are web based.
• Learn more about basic email.

Attaching Photos and Video to Email

• It is a simple process to attach a photo or video to an email. Just click on the attach button (usually looks like a paperclip) and then browse to where you have the item on your computer. You can attach items that are on removable storage such as floppies or flash drives.
• Most email providers will let you attach up to 10MB of files, which is sufficient for short video or several photos.
• Hotmail lets you automatically shrink photos down to screen size, which is fast and easy to view.
• Recipients can keep the items online with their email, download it to a PC, flash drive or a portable video player, such as an IPod.
• Needed - An email account. If you are using a library computer, you need to have the photos/videos available on the library's computer. A flash drive is a simple and inexpensive way to transport these files.
• Learn more about attachments.

Photos and Videos on CD or DVD

• CDs (700 MB) and DVDs (4 GB) can hold hundreds of photos and  plenty of video.
• Both are simple to mail and can be included in larger shipments.
• Most PCs will create data CDs and newer ones will create DVDs.
• Some software will create slideshows or compose movies.
• Needed - The files and a PC with the hardware and software to create CDs/DVDs. Many libraries have CD burners for public use, though few have DVD burners.

Instant Messaging and Chat

• Instant Messaging (IM) involves  two way real time communication.
• IM / chat uses very brief messages and sometimes uses its own abbreviated language (Nice 2 c u, lol, rotfl).
• Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL and Google all offer free IM.
• As part of their IM services, they often offer voice calls, video calls, file sharing.
• Can be software based or web based, but the web based version may be limited to messaging..
• Each IM company only works with their own service, but Meebo (web based) and Trillian Basic(software based) both will combine IMs from more than one company. You must still have an account for each service you use, but you can check them in one place.
• Needed - PC, Internet and an IM account. Most libraries allow (or can't stop) IM, but usually support only Meebo or other web based options.
• Learn more about instant messaging.

Skype 

• Both parties must be on-line and available.
• Hardware based free voice and video calls between Skype members.
• Includes fee based phone service.
• Often not as clear as regular phone service.
• Needed - PC, Internet and Skype software. For voice calls, a headset (headphones and microphone) is useful and helps limit feedback and echo. For video calls, a webcam is needed, though not necessarily on both ends. Most libraries do not have Skype software on their PCs, nor do they provide microphones/headsets or webcams.
• Learn more about Skype.

Tokbox

• Web based  video calls and video email.
• Video calls are two way, but video email is one way.
• Works with many IM services.
• Capable of video conferencing (many to many) but most often used one to one..
• May not be as reliable as Skype.
• Needed - PC, Internet and webcam. Most libraries do not provide microphones / headsets / webcams.

Webcams

• Even really good webcams are under $100.
• Few libraries have public webcams.
• Webcams can be used to create video email or files to burn to CDs/DVDs.
• Needed - Webcam, recent PC, high speed Internet.
• Quality of video depends on:
  • The camera - Some take higher resolution images, autofocus and track faces. The quality of the microphones also varies.
  • Camera software - Some correct lighting and capture color better.
  • The computers on both ends - The computers must be able to process many images per second coming and going, not to mention the audio. Older PCs do not handle the load well.
  • The software used - Some software does not make full use of camera features. It may be important to have current version of Flash and other helper programs loaded.
  • The Internet connection - If the connection is too slow or congested, video will become choppy.

Social Sites

 While webcams are mainly one to one, social sites can be one to many or many to many. This makes them useful to stay in contact with a dispersed family or social group. Many have privacy features that can restrict access to family and friends. Most are created/updated by an individual, but they can have collaborative creators. They are all web based, so they can be accessed and updated from most Internet computers.

• Needed - PC and Internet. All require (free) registration for those creating the content and some require it for those viewing content. Some libraries block some of these sites.
• Blogs - Blogs are a good one-to-many tool. They are easy to create, free and can include photos and video. There are a lot of military blogs.
• Flickr - photo sharing website. Upload photos and decide how private you want them to be.
• YouTube - Video sharing site. Upload videos and decide how private you want them to be.
• TroopTube - Video sharing site sponsored by military. Lots of official videos.
• MySpace and Facebook - Include blogs, photos, video and almost whatever you want to upload. Can be a gateway for chat or video calls.
• Learn more about social sites.

This page is located at www.mcmillanlibrary.org/programs/camera.html