My Journey Through Video Chatting
Loading ...I began my voyage as a means to look deeper into video chatting and how it ultimately can influence or have an emotional impact on our relationships. Through the past couple weeks I have explored different portals and outlets for people to stay ‘connected’ and talk amongst family and friends all around the world. As we plow forward into the closing decade of the new millenum the name of the game has not changed- communication is what drives this global market. More and more we are becoming a globalized, miniature world and why not reap its benifts! In order to determine how video chatting really can be emotionally charged I went ahead and asked my cousin a few questions about its appeal and advantages. When I asked my cousin shai what he thought about video chatting and its advantages- he said this: “I think it is great it keeps us in touch like we never have before, for example you and I. I think it is at a middle place where it can pick up and be big or just follow along all the other technologies in the industry.” (Although I put him in quotes I tried my best to get it word for word, + he is not American.)
I then asked my parents who are not the most computer savvy folks what they thought of video chat as a means to keep in touch. Basically, the whole idea freaked them out - they did not like the idea of people in their ‘bedrooms.’ Which is a point worth mentioning, when we video chat it is usually in a personal space of some sort, such as a bedroom or house- it can often feel intrusive when people just pop up on your screen. I read an article about a company based here in America called OoVoo that is built on the idea of video chatting as a means to increase relationships and keep in touch.
I am constantly video chatting with friends and family and I find it very appeasing. To play the devils advocate a bit, one can argue that video chat can lead to less physical interaction- or that it devalues face-to face interactions and could, potentially, threaten that how we see one another in the flesh. Although this is a bit far fetched I have heard the claim. There are hundreds of sights and services aimed at encouraging video chatting- but for now it seems instant messaging is the preferred method.
Jobx, is a new company offering clips of candidates for possible employers. just another example of how this technology is being used abroad.
Comments
I agree. One of the significant advantages of video chatting is that it shortens the distance of communication between communicators from different part of the world. So we don’t need to fly to the other side of the world to conduct conversations with those people there.
With regard to email, I am not sure if it would fall under this category. But their distinction is that video chatting allows the older generation who don’t know how to type keyboard a chance to use new technology to talk. For those people who don’t know how to type, email could definitely be frustrating.
I’m curious to see whether or not video chatting would fall under the emailing, texting and instant messaging category of de-personalizing (is this a word?) relationships. With all these convenient ways to quickly get in contact w/ one another, we are losing the physical aspect of a relationship and most of us find this okay.
I video chat with my relatives in Taiwan but for me, it’s not a substitute for me going back once in a while to visit. But I also e-mail my parents and take that as the ‘weekly update’ when in their perspective, a weekly update is only done over the phone…