Posted on October 5, 2011 by Amy Chatfield | No Comments
Contributed by Robert Johnson, Clinical Services Librarian, Norris Medical Library, University of Southern California
Video chat is not only a fun way to keep up with distant friends, it can be a good way to connect with colleagues. Telemedicine, mobile American Sign Language, and guest lecturing from a distant location are all important uses of video conferencing. In the not too distant past, this was limited to those with the resources for closed-loop systems and expensive equipment, but now many of us carry the technology in our pockets. As we continue to watch budgets shrink, it seems reasonable to turn to video chat as a way to bridge those times when travel is impractical or inconvenient. Here are a few low-to-no budget options for video conferencing.
You will need:
1) A device with audio and video capabilities (laptop with built-in camera, computer with external camera and microphone, mobile device with front-facing camera)
2) An internet connection (wired, Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G)
3) A friend/colleague with both of the above
Tango: Tango is a device-agnostic video chat service that works over 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi, which is an inherent advantage over FaceTime which only allows access over Wi-Fi (unless you want to jailbreak your device or use two Apple devices, one as a mobile hotspot). Because you’re allowed to use 3G or 4G, Tango lets you video chat from anywhere you have a connection so the convenience factor is huge.
Also, Tango is available on any device (including Windows-based desktop/laptop computers, iPhone, iPad, Android, and Windows Mobile) which is an advantage over both FaceTime (Apple only) and Skype (which is slightly more restrictive in terms of which devices it supports). However if you use anything other than Wi-Fi, the quality of the call does suffer, so this option is good for less formal meetings (you might not want to give a lecture while walking through your neighborhood). The primary drawback is that Tango is a one on one connection and doesn’t allow group chat.
Google+ Hangouts: I will admit from the start that I’m a huge fan of G+, so you can take my wholehearted support of G+ Hangouts with a grain of salt. But this product is incredible. G+ Hangouts includes group video conferencing and screen sharing from desktop/laptop computers. Up to 10 connections are possible, which means a group could meet from up to 10 remote sites. If you’ve previously used Google Chat video chat from Gmail, you’ll be used to the functionality of G+ Hangouts. Beyond the ability to connect 10 different sites are things like screen sharing, and integration of Google Docs. Here’s a good
description of G+ Hangouts from Lifehacker. G+ Hangouts appears to be a great middle ground for groups that might not need (or can’t afford) MegaMeeting, but wants a more interactive experience than a conference call. The drawback of G+ Hangouts is that the primary functionality exists for desktops/laptops, not mobile devices. There is limited video chat functionality on some devices (Android devices using Gingerbread or higher, iPhone 4/iPad), but the strength here is on the desktop. You will need a Google Account in order to use G+ Hangouts.
You may have noticed that I didn’t mention
Skype or
FaceTime, both of which are fine products. I excluded Skype because in order to get functionality that rivals G+ Hangouts (group video chat, screen/document sharing, etc.), a subscription is required. I excluded FaceTime because it only functions on Apple devices and therefore can’t be used as widely.
Like any other tool, it is best to try these out before you need them, so log in and start practicing!
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