Module 3
A rhyme of history that current technology brings back to life is face to face conversations via Skype and web cameras. This technology takes place via Voice over IP (VoIP) (Voice, 2010) or peer-to-peer (P2P) (Peer, 2010). Obviously Alexander Gram Bell’s invention of the telephone allowed people to have conversations over long distance but without the personal touch of actually interacting and seeing the person’s facial expressions. Many conversations can be misinterpreted without seeing someone’s facial expressions considering the humor of some conversations via audio or word like in texting or emails. With conversations where there are auditory as well as visual cues the persons in communication will not have an issue with any misinterpretations.
Many people were excited about this type of technology because it would decrease one bill each month – the home phone. Since this technology takes places via the web or internet an internet connection, computer, microphone (maybe internal in the computer), and web camera. There is no ‘central infrastructure’ needed for the computer to connect with one another compared to the telephone system (Escarlate, 2004). Also this type of communication is very cost efficient – free! Compared to prices for long distant calling or international calls Skype is a great alternative and offers pretty clear voice and audio (Humeid, 2005). Skype also brings to the table a new aspect of sharing information – collaboration. LotusLive integrates Skype into this new program that allows many people to collaborate over distance. This collaboration integrates the video and voice calling aspects of Skype which allows business to take place anywhere and at anytime (Skype, 2009).
One last aspect that I wanted to mention – did you know Skype was owned by EBay? I don’t know why I found this interesting, but thought I would share :)
Interesting websites:
1. http://www.tuaw.com/2004/09/09/my-gripe-with-the-hype-around-skype-and-five-good-reasons-why/
2. http://www.360east.com/?p=111
3. http://about.skype.com/2009/01/skype_and_ibm_collaborate_on_l.html
References:
Escarlate, A. (2004, September 9). My gripe with the hype around Skype and five good reasons why you shouldn’t cancel your other phone services just yet. Retrieved July 11, 2010, from http://www.tuaw.com/2004/09/09/my-gripe-with-the-hype-around-skype-and-five-good-reasons-why/.
Humeid, Ahmad. (2005, January 28). Skype: the good, the bad and the ugly. Retrieved July 11, 2010, from http://www.360east.com/?p=111.
Peer-to-peer. (2010, July 5). Retrieved July 11, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer-to-peer.
Skype and IBM collaborate on LotusLive integration for the enterprise. (2009, January 19). Retrieved July 11, 2010, from http://about.skype.com/2009/01/skype_and_ibm_collaborate_on_l.html.
Voice over IP. (2010, July 6) Retrieved July 11, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_over_IP.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteSkype fulfills the idea of face-to-face long-distance communication and it's free! Getting and reading those visual facial clues gives conversations much more depth and meaning. The fact that ebay owns Skype is very interesting. I wonder if anyone ever collaborated on selling some item using Ebay and Skype? People are always going to have face to face conversations. They have always wanted to have face to face conversations with someone who was far away. Watching Skype evolve to the next level is going to be one interesting evolution.
Hi, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteI apologize for not posting before now. I lost my grandmother and I am just now back from dealing with everything. I appreciate your patience.
I would like to say that I found your comments very interesting. I did not know that Skype is owned by eBay! I also used to use Lotus Note quite a bit, but haven't in years. I will have to check out the Lotus Live.
I don't know what I did before Skype, Facebook, and other social networking. It is so easy to be able to chat or "catch up" with friends and classmates through these channels. I now type faster than I can write by hand and I still remember the days when I used to mail out letter to friends. Now I send e-cards and type notes to post online. Our world is rapidly changing! I just hope I can keep up!
Cynthia H.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThe use of skype really does make communication more convenient and less expensive. I have used skype many times. It seems like there is no need for the home phone. Skype can be used for business meetings, chatting with friends and some television shows skype people in.
I read that skype is now compatible to Windows and Mac OS X computers. It will let the Skype video, voice and text chat program to be built into nearly any desktop app without the need to download the separate Skype software.
http://news.yahoo.com/topics/skype;_ylt=A0LEVVUzdkBMPKkAbEEPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTExN3Y1YzI1BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA3JlNAR2dGlkAwRsA1dTMQ--