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Week 2: Skype & Facebook intro

// January 26th, 2009 // computer group

This week for our Computers & You class at the Tabernacle, we wrapped up our introduction to Skype.  We talked last week about where to buy a webcam to take advantage of some cheap video-calling you can do when you skype-to-skype call someone.  Amazon has the Microsoft Lifecam VX-3000 on sale with free shipping right now for just over $25 : Check it out here>> . (by comparison, Wal-Mart sells the same item online for $35)

There are more expensive webcams out there of course – like the Logitech QuickCam Orbit AF – an auto-focus Carl Zeiss lens and automatic rotor that follows you around the room makes this $100 cam a geeks dream : (See it at amazon). Alas, for the casual user just starting with skype, a $25 cam is a nice start.

Skype Security

There were  a few real-life examples of why it’s probably not smart to answer Skype calls form strangers. As with any online service, you are connected to the world, and should take appropriate cautions.  One such example Ed gave was when he changed his Skype status to “skype me” he got lots of weird calls.  ”Skype Me” is a feature they’ve had for a while in skype where if you were bored and felt like talking to anyone, you can just leave your status at “skype me” and it places your name in a directory that makes your record look like this:

Displaying your status when you’re online. (btw, if you have skype installed, you can use the above button to call me… cool huh?)

This is good for attracting weirdos, lonely people or scammers – not so good for your friends, so leaving your staus at “online” is good enough.

Speaking of status, we discussed “going invisible” for those times you want to make calls but not necessarily take them.  ”Do Not Disturb” is also a good way to keep people from bugging you when you’re busy.

Facebook

We only briefly discussed Facebook near the end of class – the focus of next weeks group will be completely on the “phenomenon” they call Facebook. If you haven’t done it yet, head over to http://www.facebook.com/ and set yourself up a new account – we’ll be discussing at depth next week.  Facebook is sort of the new e-mail – with groups, public walls, photo and video galleries, it’s a great way to connect with old friends, new friends, families, co-workers… or pretty much anyone else who’s “online”.  Chances are, if you went to a particular school, some of your old classmates are already online.

Tagged Photos

Our first topic to kill on the facebook warpath is Photo tagging.  Once you upload a photo or view a few albums others have created, you’ll start to encounter this feature called “Tagging”. Tagging was created as a way to notify others that you have a photo of them online.  They get a message stating they were tagged in a photo, and a link to view the photo directly for their convenience.  Tagging has also been used to identify people within a photograph.  This purpose works, but is not the initial reason for the feature.  In fact, because of the way tagging works, it makes sense to only tag people in exceptional photos, or if there is an entire album that person is in, just a few good shots from that album is sufficient.  Otherwise, they get a notification for every single time you tag them, and their inbox can get pretty gummed up this way.

If you want to tag a photo for Identification purposes only, use a nickname or something other than their Facebook profile name – this workaround is common and acceptable on FB – and you won’t drive your friends crazy!

It’s also worth mentioning that every photo you are tagged in gets placed in a special album in your profile – if your friends want to view your photos from your profile page, they will see every photo you have been tagged in.

This is great – except when your aunt Gerty posts that picture of you with your mouth full of cake!  Thankfully, there is a cure for this – just go to the photo and “un-tag” yourself in the caption at the bottom.

If anyone has any specific questions about Facebook they want addressed during our group this saturday, feel free to send me a message, post a comment on this blog, or give me a ring on skype.