The World Just Got Easier to Understand

Science Fiction literature has often turned out to be much more than fiction.  After all, it was Arthur C. Clarke who predicted the deployment of communication satellites long before some scientists worked out the physics and others said it could not be done.  More recently we are still waiting for the food replicator from the Starship Enterprise but anyone who has experienced virtual reality goggles might be thinking the first commercially available “holodeck” can’t be far off.

When I recently discovered a new service provided by Skype my thoughts returned to the Star Trek stories that featured a computer that could universally communicate with any alien form regardless of language.  It was a universal translator.

Skype’s Translator is not universal nor perfect but it sure is a great start.  Translator is available free for those using Skype on computers and devices using Windows 8 versions or above and some Apple products.  The latter do not fully support this Microsoft product.  My tests indicate that those using Apple devices might want to wait a while before trying Translate.

To use Translate, the user signs on to Skype and places a video call.  Before connecting you must select what language you will speak and what language the party you are calling speaks.  When connected, you speak your language (in my case English) and the party you called speaks theirs. During the call you will hear a computer generated voice and see captions in English on your side of the conversation and your friend will hear and see the conversation in their language.   As of this writing, Translate works with English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and two dialects of Chinese.

I tried the English / French version and was impressed.   For sure it is not suitable for very important discussions or any legal proceedings, but is does a good job of translating simple conversations.  It helps to refrain from using jargon and/or idioms in your conversations and you should speak clearly.  Keep the background noise to a minimum. Some reviewers gave it low marks when using the Chinese option.

For those who want to use the Skype Text Chat service the number of supported languages increases to about 50.  Some Microsoft engineer with a good sense of humor even included Klingon as one of the languages.  Again, you type in English and your correspondent sees the message in one of fifty languages currently supported.

I am sure that in a few years this service will look primitive but right now I find it exciting and potentially very useful.

Google Can Connect No Matter the Device

Many of us think of Google as a quick and easy way to find information about anything.  Since it was first launched in spring of 1996, since that time the iconic on line search company has expanded into most every facet of our daily lives.  There are now Google controlled cars, Google Glass, Google foreign language translation, Google email, even a Google image library.  Seems like every day Google is announcing some new service or product.  One of the most recent is called Google Hangouts.

Hangouts is a free service that joins the ranks of other video calling applications like Skype, FaceTime and ooVoo.  While it offers more that just video calling and can allow you to create a virtual TV station, I will concentrate on the former in this column.

To get started you must have a Google account.  This is free and many already may have a gMail account or use Google Calendar or another Google app.  If you don’t have an account, just point your browser to www.google.com and click on “Sign In” in the top right of the screen; it will guide you through the process.  You will also want to download the Google Chrome browser if you don’t already have it on your computer. 

Of course, you need a device connected to the internet either using home wifi or mobile 4G.  As discussed above, most any computer, tablet or phone with a camera will work. There is no cost for the service other than the cost of your internet connection. 

Once you load Hangouts you can communicate via audio and video with anyone else using the Hangouts app.  It is great for families since it allows up to ten devices to simultaneously join in the call.  Once connected, the person speaking is seen by all.  Embedded in the software is the ability to share pictures, documents, even YouTube videos in real time with everyone on the call.

One of the great features of Hangouts is that it is “device neutral.”  This means that, unlike many similar services that run only on one specific device or operating system, Hangouts is at home on a PC or Mac, on an iPhone or Android, on an iPad or Windows tablet. This makes it ideal for families and companies that want/need to communicate with people who do not all have the same device or operating platform.

There are several other features that space does not allow me to cover here.  It is a powerful easy-to-use service that is worth a look.  While ease of use and the quality of the video is not as good as Apple’s FaceTime, the fact that you can communicate with most anyone without requiring them to have an iPhone, Mac or iPad more than compensates.

 

Many OIptions for Video Calling

In 1964 AT&T tested Picturephone.  The public was invited to place calls between special exhibits at Disneyland and the New York World's Fair. It is interesting to note that for the most part AT&T and the phone companies really have not exploited this technology but with the explosion of Internet connectivity many other companies have.

Most of us have heard of Skype as it has become a generic term for all video calling.  The company, now owned by Microsoft, was one of the first to offer an easy, free or inexpensive service to the masses.  With a computer, webcam and internet connection, even the most digitally challenged computer user could chat with and see friends and family across town or accoss the oceans.  Once the only game in town, there are now several options available that take video calling to new levels.

For those who want not only to communicate but to collaborate, a company called OOVOO.com provides a service that not only allows you to see and hear the person you are calling but to share documents, pictures, maps and anything you can display on your computer screen.  So a custom home builder might be able to show his client the blue prints of the new house and, using his computer cursor, highlight various features he is discussing with them.  The builder’s computer screen is displayed on the remote computer.  A lawyer could highlight parts of contracts or other legal documents for his client.

OOVOO also provides the capacity to conference with 12 locations simultaneously.  So if you have a big family, you can have an online reunion.   All OOVOO sessions can be recorded.  OOVOO has a free service that limits some of these features and has display advertisements on the screen.  It also has a mobile app.

Google provides a similar service with many of the OOVOO features.  The number of simultaneous participants is set at 10. The Google service has a “broadcast” feature that allows you to share the video session with an unlimited number of people although they can only watch and listen but not join in the conversation.

For those who use an iPhone or an iPad, the Apple “Facetime” app provides easy audio and video communication between any two Apple devices.  Once “Facetime” required a wifi connection but now works over the cell network as well.

It has never been easier to keep track of friends and relatives living far away.  The features today go well beyond the Picturephone of the 1964 World’s Fair.  How long will it be before we can transport ourselves electronically?  “Beam me up Scotty!”

Keep In Touch With ooVoo

Recently I have been searching for a computer application that will allow several people I work with who are located in different offices and cities to collaborate without traveling to one location. Many large companies have internal video conferencing systems but most require the participants to be in a special room. There are several expensive computer-based software applications that are available as well. My search uncovered an inexpensive solution that might have some non-business applications especially for families who are spread across wide geographic distances.

The software is called “ooVoo” (don’t ask me how to pronounce it) and it allows up to 12 people to see and hear each other using a computer equipped with a camera, microphone and Internet connection. Think of it as Skype on steroids.

What makes ooVoo different than most other videoconferencing services on the Internet is that only the person setting up the call needs to have the ooVoo software installed on a computer. The other 11 participants need only enter an internet address into their browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari). Each machine must also have Java installed but that is most likely already on most machines and, if it isn’t, it is a free download.

One of the features that makes ooVoo a great way to converse with your family members is that you can share pictures and other materials stored on your computer with the entire group. So if I set up the call I can pull up pictures from my computer and show them full screen on all the other computers connected to the call. While the pictures are on everyone’s screens, the audio continues so I can describe what everyone is seeing and all the participants can freely share in the conversation.

I have checked out ooVoo and it really is painless to use. While the company claims it works seamlessly on both PCs and Macs, I had a much harder time getting the Mac version to run without actually installing special software on all the machines connected to the call. This is a real negative since with the PC version there is no preparation needed on the part of anyone on the call except the one originating it.

ooVoo comes in several flavors. The free version allows up to 12 simultaneous participants but does have advertising banners on the screen. The entire call can be recorded and saved or posted to YouTube. If you purchase the upgraded version, the advertisements disappear and you can add an unlimited number of participants via phone only. They can hear everything but of course can’t see the video.

ooVoo is worth a look if you have a big family and want to have a group call rather than a traditional Skype call.

Click to video call me

ooVoo

Skype Worth a Second Look

There have been so many revolutionary changes in technology that it is difficult to keep up. How we watch TV, plan a trip, conduct our banking or shop for everything from books to broccoli … all have changed. Many of our most mundane daily tasks are now heavily dependent on technology. Even making a phone call has changed. I’m sure many can remember when making a long distance call, especially to a foreign country, was an expensive proposition. No longer is this the case.

Recently, my globe trotting wife had some teaching gigs in Australia requiring her to be “down under” for several weeks. This is the second time that she has been there, traveling around the country teaching various fiber techniques. The last time she was gone for almost two months. I remember that we talked on the phone every few days but always tried to keep the calls short because they were expensive. This time not only do we talk sometimes twice a day, but the calls are video calls and they are free.

We are using Skype. I have discussed this service in this column before and many of you may already use Skype to keep track of your kids or grandkids. So if you already know about it you can quit reading.

Skype is an Internet based communications program that allows you to use your computer and the Internet to communicate with others on the Skype network or to make calls to regular land lines or mobile phones anywhere in the world. If you are contacting someone who has a Skype account there is no charge for the call. If you are using Skype to call a regular telephone number there is a charge albeit much less than traditional international long distance rates.

Judy and I are using the free service which allows us to make video calls. Judy has a
small netbook computer with a camera built in and my computers at home and at work also are outfitted with small web cams. All of these computers have the free Skype program loaded.

Making a call is as easy as clicking on the person’s name in your Skype directory. For Judy and me we just needed to get used to the time difference. When I was just beginning my day in Cincinnati, Judy was going to sleep in Tasmania and it was the next day.

Signing up for Skype is easy. Just go to www.skype.com and follow the directions. You will need a high speed Internet connection, a PC or Mac of most any flavor, a web cam if you want to make video calls. If you wish to make only voice calls all you need is a microphone either connected to your computer or built in to your lap top.

Skype has been around for many years and millions of people worldwide use it daily to
stay in touch. It is worth a look.