Do you use video or webcam to communicate?
@owlwings (43915)
Cambridge, England
October 14, 2008 9:04am CST
Video and webcam are excellent ways of communicating because you are able to see people's expressions and gestures as they speak to you.
At least half of all the information we get from a conversation is visual. Think of the way you communicate. Online (by email or messaging) you may ask someone if they like something. They may reply "It's OK!" but that doesn't always tell you whether they like it a lot, just a little or are really not too concerned about it. If you were having a phone conversation, the intonation they used would tell you a bit more but it's quite easy to sound convincing when speaking on the phone - much harder to BE convincing if you can actually see their expression and body language.
Video communication and conferencing are where we are likely to be very soon. More and more websites are using embedded video to get their message across and more and more marketers are using this medium to deliver a short message that many people would give up on before they had read half of it. Like it or not, this is where the Internet (and marketing) is headed!
[b]How do you feel about communicating by video link or webcam?
Would you sometimes feel uncomfortable about speaking face-to-face with someone? Would you try to look your best if you were on camera? (And might that not be a good thing? 
)
What are your experiences (if any) of using a web cam?
Have you thought about getting one and didn't?
What went through your mind at the time?
Have you thought about using video to discuss as we do here? It wouldn't necessarily involve all being online at the same time ... one can leave video messages just as easily.
Have you thought how powerful it could be to promote something in a video? If you've ever watched video promotions, what have you liked or disliked about them?[/b]
Lots of questions to discuss here! I'm sure I haven't covered everything!
)
What are your experiences (if any) of using a web cam?
Have you thought about getting one and didn't?
What went through your mind at the time?
Have you thought about using video to discuss as we do here? It wouldn't necessarily involve all being online at the same time ... one can leave video messages just as easily.
Have you thought how powerful it could be to promote something in a video? If you've ever watched video promotions, what have you liked or disliked about them?[/b]
Lots of questions to discuss here! I'm sure I haven't covered everything!8 people like this
23 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Oct 08
Stmessiah, a webcam is a small digital camera that can be connected to your PC. You can use it while chatting online to people either with instant messaging or VoIP (phone connection via a PC). It usually requires a fast connection, so is useless if you have dial-up. Since more and more people are getting connections which are fast enough to use it, it is quickly becoming a more common way of communicating. You can see the person in real time, as you are talking to them.
Another common way way of using it is to have a camera fixed to show a popular scene (a street scene, a weather view or something like that). These cameras are connected to a server that many people can access so that they can check the weather or traffic in a particular location.
1 person likes this
@icesmile (7160)
• Romania
23 Apr 09
Yes i have a webcam and i use it with family , is very easy to see my family who is abroad, and with very close friends with who i talk...
i have a webcam to laptop too, and help me when i am abroad too.
In my opinion is a great way to keep in tuch with who you want to net...but not with everybody with who you talk...sometimes is not so comfortable when somebody who don t know you very well, try to see if you are beatiful, with blue eyes, if smile or not...but for family is great to use a webcam
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
23 Apr 09
I'm sure you are beautiful, with blue eyes and smile a lot ... so I don't need to see you on cam, LOL 
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Oct 08
So what was the point of responding? You add nothing to the discussion.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
10 Apr 09
I have a webcam but I haven't hooked it up yet. I don't think I would be all worried about looking my best but I wouldn't be getting on in my pajamas with my hair unbrushed either.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Apr 09
lol I should do that. But I would hate it...
@bhushanbodkhe (819)
• India
14 Oct 08
it believe its not safe to use webcam....but yeah i sometimes use my webcam to talk to my family and frds....before showing webcam one must rem tht he knws the person very well...now a days its happening in internet tht we can capture any one's cam video thts the biggest drawback for me!!so to be safe i just show it to my frds n family..thts it
happy mylotting!!
happy mylotting!!@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Oct 08
What do you feel is unsafe about it? I agree that most people use it only for talking to family and friends so how would you feel about talking to people on MyLot, for example?
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Oct 08
You probably need a faster Internet connection. The camera itself can deliver the signal but your connection needs to be fast enough to send it instantly. Most cameras send about 15 pictures a second.
@grecychunny26 (9483)
• Philippines
27 Jan 09
Yes, I used webcam in communicating with my friends from different country. I also email them and tell them the time what will be our online chatting. I like webcam because I am updated of what my friend looks like. I so missed them so I like to see what they looked like.
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
25 Sep 12
I use webcam to communicate with my family members rather than strangers. It is safe to do so when you chat with your family or friends. Who knows what a stranger will do when a photo of yours is taken on the web? So it is better to be careful than not while you choose to have a webcam chat with someone you don't know. Take care.
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
31 Oct 08
My mother is 1300 miles away. Yes, I use a webcam. It helps foster a good relationship between her and my daughter. They have made some truly nice memories. And actually have a good relationship.
@sblossom (2168)
•
22 Apr 09
Very interesting topic.
I used the webcam a lot to connect with my parents abroad. One month ago their internet was down and still is, so I could not talk with them on webcam now.
I don't know how to do a video even my laptop has the function. I wish I would learn it sometim.
Blossom
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
9 Feb 13
Thanks for this discussion.I use webcam to talk to my friends around the globe, and also with my son, daughter, grand kids in my counter, i use yahoo messenger and Skype.
@surekharathi (14146)
• India
19 Nov 12
I use webcam only once but I feel it is really danger if not talk with family members. Unknown person means only a chatter is take benefit and talk wrong words. I have a Webcam if I will get a chance I will talk with my mylot friends.
@heaytheblogger (2876)
• Philippines
29 Nov 12
When doing internet chat, I usually use a webcam since it’s not that bulky and less the hassle when installing it on your computer. It’s just typically plug and play and you are ready to go.
Before when High Definition video was not that famous over webcameras I usually use my video cam as my camera for video chatting because it has more quality over the first manufactured web cameras. But as web cameras are more advanced nowadays, they have better HD quality and have the same features as that of a video cam. So, on the current I am using my HD Webcam over my video cam while chatting.
@meowchie (992)
• Philippines
17 Oct 12
I chat much too and yes with a webcam :-) n0w with my droid phone,dual cam so i'm able to use skype mobile. I use it anywhere as long as i'm connected to wifi (mall and even here at the office) on my first 5mins, I usually feel shy but later on I talk a lol. I love seeing friends on cam especially foreign ones. I am amazed how people look differently according to nationality :-D
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
15 Oct 08
I very, very rarely use webcams owlwings and tend to stick with the standard messaging formats like MSN and Skype to communicate. I do agree that it allows us to engage other people far more effectively but I am not a fan of them at all. It is a very effective tool and can bring people from around the world much closer than ver before but there is still nothing that beats true face to face dealings wherever possible; especially when it comes to doing business.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
14 Oct 08
[i]Hi owlwings,
I will try to answer your questions one by one! LOL!
1.I love talking to my Family and friends using video, it makes me feel that we are very close(as far as distance is concern), to each other.
2. So far since I am only talking with people close to me, I haven't tried feeling uneasiness using webcam
3. I am always like myself, no extra effort to exert in projecting good smile since I am very comfortable with people I am talking with..LOL!
4. USing webam is very convenient for me but there are instances where I ill received some unknown users who will try to view my cam but i will ignore right away!
5. I guess it is very essential to any industry to have video promoting their products because people or buyers are very smart and they always love to see and know more about the stuff they want to buy![/i]
@kissie34 (2294)
• Philippines
15 Oct 08
Sometimes.. But I usually do chatting only since not all the time there's an available webcam.. Well, I don't have computer at home and I'll do chatting in the office so webcam isn't available and not also allowed.. But when I can go to the internet cafe then I will be able to used webcam for communication.. But still I prefer chatting than talking with the used of headset since I'm in the public places.. I don't used to it talking then many people will going to listen.. i want to talk in private places so that I can really talk freely..
@mayrah (1144)
• United States
15 Oct 08
Hello owlwings! Yes sometimes I used webcam to communicate. Two days ago I have met my old friends in chatroom who is lived in america for almost five years. We missed each other so much that's why we both open our webcam while we chat. Because doing that make me feel she's just here beside me. Thanks to High Technology we can now experience great way of communication with our friends and love ones....
@sh_mike (3)
• China
15 Oct 08
it is a very good way to communicate with guys by webcam or videw,because first you can get relaxing way to talk with him instean of face to face ,and second it is a qute effient way to have a conference in this way ,you know ,always, we can't have the people in different places to get together to have meetings
