Family
Be Together -- Just Not in the Same Room Organize a Virtual Family Gathering
By
Mar 20, 2006, 23:00

(ARA) - Gas prices are the highest they’ve been in years and with traveling costs soaring, many families are rethinking traditional family gatherings.

But just because your entire family may not be in the same place, doesn’t mean you can’t share news, warmth and love. Why not plan a virtual family get-together?

The Interactive Media Design (IMD) faculty at The Art Institutes says you don’t need a degree in Web design or a lot of fancy technical equipment to bring far-flung family members closer together for the holidays or any day.

According to Chris McGhee, academic director of interactive media design at The Art Institute of Phoenix, many families already stay in touch by instant messaging or family Web sites. “Another great way to collect family information into one source is with a site like Familyconnect.com that offers an online program called IMVITE. Families can store scrapbooks, home videos, photos, children’s artwork, audio and more,” says McGhee.

Web chats, which are basically chats that are either text based or use video over the Web, are another great way to bring friends and family together. To host a live Web chat, McGhee likes one of Apple’s technologies. “It’s easy to use and also offers a camera option called iSight, which allows people to talk and see each other at the same time,” he says.

McGhee says that “many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have templates that will help you build your own Web site.” For example, AOL has templates that assist the novice in building pages complete with text and visuals. “When my daughter was born, I came home from the hospital, downloaded some digital pictures, and had a page up in five minutes for my family back home in Iowa,” he says.

For those not technically inclined, orchestrating a virtual get together is not as intimidating as it might sound. IMD academic director Chris Stagl at The Art Institute of California - Orange County explains that “For less than $100, you can buy two Web cameras from a store selling technology equipment online and have one sent to your favorite relative so that your family from both sides of the country or globe can share news, open gifts and even say a prayer,” he says.

Basic Web-cam models include manufacturers such as Logitech, Dynex and Creative Labs. Stagl says an innovative approach to a Web cast is bundling two cameras together for use between you and a family member. For example, one company offers their BuddyCam 2-Pack Web Cameras at a $79.99 value. “Cell phone companies use a similar approach when selling friends and family packages,” says Stagl.

If you’re considering purchasing a Web-cam, don’t be “mystified by all the big numbers or fancy pictures on the boxes,” says Stagl. Remember a Web camera’s real value is going to be based on the speed of your Internet connection, the resolution of your monitor and your computer’s processor. The good news is most cameras on the market today are plug and play, and don’t need drivers or software. According to Stagl, connections are typically USB 1.1 or 2.0 cables that will work easily with most desktops or laptop computers.

There are also a lot of free services out on the Web that will allow you to post your images online and send your family and friends to them. Places like photobucket.com or myphotoalbum.com are great for quickly putting images online if you don’t have a Web site of your own. These sites are really easy to use and there are plenty out there to choose from. Often, your ISP will provide you with some space and may even have some templates for you to use to upload some images.

Most retailers selling Web-cam systems can answer your questions regarding installation if you run into any glitches. In addition, manufacturers often offer technical assistance online or by calling a customer service center.

Even though these camera systems are designed to be user-friendly, like any new technology, they’ll take some practice. Chris McGhee suggests “doing your research and learning how to use any necessary technology well in advance so your virtual family reunion goes smoothly and everyone involved participates and enjoys the outcome.”
Courtesy of ARA Content

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