Webcam and Skype in Your Living Room

A great way to stay in touch with your friends and family is to get a proper webcam and place it next to your tv. Many people are chatting using their desktop computer located in their bedroom or study room while they could chat comfortably from their sofa.

Webcam
I have been using Logitech Quickcam Sphere for couple of years and it has worked well in both Windows and Mac environments. In Mac OS, with default drivers you are not able to use face recognition and other additional functionalities. For standard video conferencing it is sufficient though. In Windows environment the face recognition works well and you can even setup our camera to follow your face while you are moving on the screen.

Mic
I have been using a mobile bluetooth headset as a mic for the Skype. The bluetooth mic is very handy as it allows you the freedom to walk around. I use loudspeakers instead of headset for the voice output so others can hear the conversation. You can easily change the output from the Skype options whether you want to have a private or public discussion. The downside of the bluetooth mic is that you need to pair the device before you can answer to the incoming call. This can take about 10 seconds which might be irritating sometimes. Another point is that you need to remember to charge the headset battery occasionally. Alternatively method is to use webcam’s own mic. E.g. my Logitech Sphere’s mic is able to pick the sound well couple meters away from the sofa.

Skype
Skype’s video capabilities have improved a lot in the past years, so first thing is to make sure you have the latest version installed on your computer. There are a couple of key points to keep in mind for using video. First, you need a powerful enough computer to be able to process video smoothly. 800 MHz or higher processor should be sufficient, but particularly with older laptops the performance may become an issue. Second, you can have only one video application open at a time. For example if you have camera’s own video preview software open, Skype will give you a “No camera connected” message. Third, you should upgrade your internet subscription to a slightly faster plan. This can save a lot of frustration with choppy video and sound. Fourth, I recommend using the test call service before making the call just to make sure your mic and speakers are working properly. This can save a lot of time at the beginning of the conversation trying to get mic working.

In short, setting up video conference tools into your living room is simple. Get a good camera like Logitech Sphere that is easy to locate next to the TV, get a wireless bluetooth headset mic for your convenience and install the latest Skype. Staying touch with your friends and family is simpler and easier than ever.