Video Chat and Instant Messaging

By Katie O’Brien and Sarah Talbott

Why We Use Instant Messenger Keep in touch with friends

See who is online

Talk while doing other things

Transfer files

Share ideas

Get quick responses

Advantages of Instant Messenger Social networking

Confidence for insecure people

Time to reflect on response

Business tool

Instant response

Multitasking

Convenience

Tool to stay in touch

You can control who talks to you

Disadvantages of Instant Messenger No face to face communication

Lack of proper writing skills

Security issues

Distraction

Usage

74% of online teens use instant messaging. In comparison, 44% of online adults have used IM.

69% of online teens use IM at least several times a week.

19% of online teens say they use IM most often to contact their friends when they are not with them; and 8% use email.

37% have used IM to write something that they would not have said in person.

Pew Internet & American Life

Negative Effects 37% of online teens have used IM to write something that they would not have said in person.

17% of instant messengers have used IM to ask someone out; 13% have used instant messaging to break up with someone.

57% have blocked messages from someone they did not want to hear from and 64% have refused to respond to instant messages from someone they were mad at.

22% of online teens who use instant messaging and email have shared their password with a friend.

14% of kids and teens who use IM say someone has threatened them while they were instant messaging; boys are more likely to say this has happened to them

Pew Internet & American Life, Media Awareness Network

WEBCAMS Video recording devices connected to

computers

Invented 1994, used world wide by 2000

Personal, Business, Private Webcams

Makes it easy to monitor something for a short while

Convenient to see other people anywhere in the world

WHO uses Webcams? Currently, 18-18.5 million people world wide use a webcam while on the

internet Use it while using instant messenger

Not just for “techno-geeks” anymore Students, parents, grandparents, business executives, teachers, doctors,

government

Companies that Support Webcams

Advantages to Using Webcams Program Options: live streaming video, upload still picture, only need a web

browser, live audio, incorporations with other software, add caption/timestamp/logo,

Creates a direct link between the camera and the live site

Does not require advanced skills

Can be inexpensive

Advantages to Using Webcams Face to face, real time interaction

Usually superb quality

Help anyone stay connected (personal, business)

Together While Apart

Disadvantages to Using Webcams

Security, “Big Brother” Affect?

Might be expensive

Webcams Useful for so many people

Easy to use

Relative inexpensive for easy cameras

Disadvantage: security

Future: Computer manufacturers will continue to increase production of webcams built into computers