aelfwyne
join:2004-01-28
Beaumont, TX
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Easiest Video-Conferencing for 85 year old?
My 85 year old grandmother has decided she wants to do video conferencing with the only remaining relative from her generation, who lives about 300 miles away. It seems that it would be simple to do this, but most software requires extra steps to start a video chat... Skype for example is great for just voice, but add vskype for video and making a call gets much more involved. Yahoo is the same way - turning on and viewing webcams is hardly "automatic"... Plus Yahoo doesn't do echo cancellation as well, and having to hit the "talk" button every time she wants to speak isn't a good idea either.
I want something that my grandmother can sit down, and a maximum of two clicks, (with the program already on the screen and open), she can be chatting. This means no having to go into a menu and "enable" video every time, no having to right click and select users to be included in a conference, etc... I mean, she still has difficulties understanding that she has to use the "call" and "hangup" buttons on the cell phone, instead of just dialing the number.
Is there any software like this? |
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TearAbite
join:2001-07-25
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
 ·surpasshosting
·Charter Pipeline
| EyballChat might be good..
Once they're added into each other's 'friend' lists, video/audio chat is just a double-click away..
In my experience the video quality is better than Yahoo.
Of course, she'll have to watch out for the pervs.. but if she stays out of the public rooms she should be OK..
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Click HERE to see my FAKEz |
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aelfwyne
join:2004-01-28
Beaumont, TX | Is there an option to completely block ANYONE not on your list? If so, I might consider it.... if it's like ICQ though and you get random "add me" requests.... |
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aelfwyne
join:2004-01-28
Beaumont, TX | reply to TearAbite
Hmm... looking at their webpage, and it looks like they recommend a headset. Doesn't it have feedback cancellation? Or is Skype the only one that does that?  |
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wcda
join:2001-12-06
Macon, GA
·Cox HSI
| reply to aelfwyne
I use MSN messenger. Its easy to setup and use. It requires a hotmail email address and a MS passport both are easy to setup. I am in GA and my son is in Reno Nv and we use it all the time. It also has a privacy setting so the only people that know I am on line are ones that I have added to my contact list. |
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Lex Luthor
Premium,Mod
join:2000-09-17
Hicksville, NY | Another vote for MSN Messenger. You load it up (can set it to auto login), click the person you want to conference with and click start conference, that's about it.
And yes, you can restrict contact to only people in your contacts. |
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harryhoudini
join:2003-02-05
Los Angeles, CA | reply to aelfwyne
Yeah, I vote MSN Messenger. You only set-up the camera using the Wizard once and you are set to go. When grandma wants to talk, she clicks on the little camera icon. |
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TearAbite
join:2001-07-25
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
·surpasshosting
·Charter Pipeline
| reply to aelfwyne
With Eyeball chat nobody can contact you unless they know your ID.. so as long as she stays out of the chatrooms so nobody see's her ID, nobody would know she exists.
IF she wanders into a chatroom and "Bananaboy69" keeps bothering her, it's a simple one-button push to block him..
I've also used MSN, but i find Eyeball to have better quality video..
EITHER one is going to work WAY better with a headset..
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Click HERE to see my FAKEz |
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harryhoudini
join:2003-02-05
Los Angeles, CA | reply to aelfwyne
yeah, but keep in mind his question is ease not what is better for you or the best in your opinion. |
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haertig
join:2000-12-31
Broomfield, CO | reply to aelfwyne
I don't know squat about video conferencing with Windows, but I have to give a big Thumbs Up! to an 85 year old grandmother who has the inclination to try it. Wow. She must be quite a lady! |
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