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Years ago this Gadget Gal taught an online course for a college in Virginia. It was one of the first courses using the online connections, and interaction was limited to text that could be posted on the university's server, a couple of chat sessions, and notes sent through email. During that course my students and I discussed the future of this type of learning, noting that in the near future students would have access to real-time audio and video discussion. In other words–videoconferencing or video telephoning. I remember one student writing in an email, "I am not eager for us to include video in our online classes because I like coming to class in my pajamas. If I were going to be 'seen', I'd have to put on my eye makeup."

Even though I've never learned to put on eye makeup, I felt just like that student when I first began to fool with Apple's neat little iSight camera. I wasn't sure I really wanted to have people see me live on video while I was seated at my computer. Surely I'd have to dress up, comb my hair, and clean my office? I decided to worry about that later, thinking it would take me some time to get the gadget going anyway.

I was wrong about the timing, for the iSight worked instantly as soon as I connected the cable to a FireWire port and downloaded and installed the free iChat video software from the Apple site. (So far folks, it only works with Apple computers.) There I was, big as life right on my computer screen. The image was quite sharp–clear enough to show every blemish and wrinkle. Not that I have any, of course.

The iSight package comes with the camera, a Firewire cable, and several stands/attachments for holding the camera. Like most Apple products, the directions were minimal, mostly showing how to clip the camera into the selected stand. There were stands for sitting the camera on the desktop, for hanging on top of a flat panel monitor, and for attaching to a regular monitor. I selected the stand for the flat panel because I decided that I looked better when videoed from above than when the camera captured me chin up. The gadget does, to be sure, bring out the vanity in one, but it also promotes neatness and good housekeeping (the room around you is also in view).

The next step (because I didn't have an IM — Instant Message account) was to get either a .Mac message account or an AOL Instant Message Account. On the Apple site, I selected 30 day free .Mac account to try that service. If you are an AOL member (which I am), you can download the free Instant Messenger software. Once you have the software, you'll need to enter the IM addresses of your family and friends in your address book and then you are ready to begin.

Connecting to others was so easy that while setting up the gadget in my east coast home, I was surprised to find myself transported into in the home of a friend in Vancouver. I had put his IM address in what is called my Buddy List, but before I even knew what I was doing, my computer rang like a tiny telephone and my friend's picture popped on my computer along with a note asking if I wanted to accept a video conference call. I pressed "Accept" and there he was in my office with his wife behind him waving and saying "Hello." I pressed another button, and the two filled my seventeen-inch screen. The video quality wasn't as good as the video when I saw myself on my computer and the sound wasn't exactly instantaneous, but it worked nicely and it was great fun. I soon forgot about my fears of being 'seen' online.

Indeed there are all sorts of wonderful possibilities connected with this device. First, think of the telephone charges you'll save. Even if your friends at the other end don't have a camera, if they have a Mac with iChat software, the sound of your voice will come onto their computer. Grandparents will love interacting with grandchildren using it, as will families and friends who are separated by distance. Kids, of course, will take to it as they have to Instant Messaging, and will want to use it for calling their friends. There are tons of ways these devices can be used in schools or for school assignments. Think of seeing and hearing penpals or email pals, interacting with those of other nations and cultures or with experts online, or having groups of students work together on projects.

Here are a few guidelines to think about when using web cameras:

• Keep in mind that when you don't want your computer to ring, set your iChat software to Unavailable. Otherwise, people will think you are ready to receive calls.
• Keep your camera lens off when not in use. If you don't and you accept a video conference call, you'll be seen.
• When you are in a video session, remember to look at the camera, not at the screen. It's very tempting to look at the person talking with you and not at the camera. Positioning the camera just above or below the center of your screen may help.
• Set expectations for your children's use of this technology. These expectations should include when they can use it, with whom they can interact, and manners that you expect them to follow.
• If you are planning to use the camera at school, check with school personnel first. Some schools do not allow Instant Messaging or Chats and arrangements will need to made for curricular-related conferencing. Setting up for a video session may take some time, for schools may have Firewall protection that will need to be adjusted before conferencing will work.
• Those with whom you want to interact must have Macintosh OS X computers and .Mac or AOL IM accounts. If you and the other person want to see each other, you'll both need web cameras.

iSight
http://www.apple.com
30 frames per second
24 bit color

$149.00