Helen's pages

 Social Networking-Skype

In today's society people want to connect instantly with friends and family both close to home and around the world . In 2003 Skype Limited, was released offering a VoIP service providing  free  Skype to Skype communication with other users world wide. Since it's inception Skype has grown in popularity extending it's services to over 124 million monthly registered users in 2010  ( Skype Limited. 2011 ).  Skype offers many services including  messaging, video calls, conference calls, cheap rates to mobile and landlines and more recently Skype is available through your mobile phone or television. Skype offers all of  these features as well as the ability to chat to other Skype users for free ( Skype Limited. 2011 ).

In October 2010 my Dad who lives in England became very ill and was admitted to hospital. After many long and frustrating telephone calls to my family and to the hospital where my  dad was a patient, we finally had news he was going to make a full, albeit  slow recovery.  In the aftermath of the crisis the cost of the oversea's  telephone bills my dad and I received were outrageous! As a result my aim is  to introduce my parents to the benefits of using Skype. As a member of Skype we will be able to enjoy free  Skype to Skype call's, group calls, which will allow my brother and sister to join in the conversation and if we can introduce the benefits of a webcam to my dad, video calling.  It can be very frustrating living so far away from my parents, especially when they become ill but with the introduction of Skype to my parents then we will be able to chat longer and for free. 

Below is a link to a powerpoint presentation explaining how to join Skype.

http://www.skype.com/intl/en/support/user-guides/ 

If you have any trouble accessing any of the above links or would like to know more about using Skype you can click on the support guide above.

Below is a link to a letter I wrote to my parents explaining the benefits of joining Skype. 

Skype free video calls

Another great Skype feature is free video calls. Once you are a Skype subscriber you can make video calls to other Skype users around the world all you need is a computer, a web cam and a microphone. As most of my family live in England we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like, the video calls would enable my parents to see and chat to their grandchildren who they haven't seen in many years. Likewise,to be able to see my nieces and nephews with their children whom we haven't met yet would be amazing! 

Below is a short video explaining in very simple terms how to make free video calls.

YouTube hisagilt

 Skype screen share

A large component of this unit EDN 113 Living and learning with technology  requires interaction with other students to discuss and review our learning. This discussion takes place on the Murdoch unit discussion board where we can add messges and post comments of encouragement or offer advice. While researching a social resource for this unit I have looked extensively at Skype and came across a feature that I was really interested in for a number of reasons. Firstly, it could be used to show pictures to my family overseas and could also be used in my University studies. Skype offers a screen share function which I believe could be used in conjunction with the Murdoch discussion board, it could be used to guide a person through a particular process they might be having difficulties with.  Screen share  enables you to chat and view documents and photo's in 'real time' from another Skype user. This tool could be of benefit to those students who are external and unable to attend workshops. To have a procedure modelled to you and then to practise the procedure while a tutor observers, I believe could be helpful.

Below is a short video of how to use screen share.

YouTube/  TimeonTaskVA