Gmail video chat: maybe I don’t want to see your ugly mug
November 25, 2008
Has anyone used the new Gmail video chat? I have not yet tried it and don't have any extreme urge to do so. I can see how it would be helpful for people who have built-in webcams, don't mind people seeing them in their jammies typing late at night, or seeing others in goodness knows what. I like Skype video chat and use that quite often…but it's often scheduled, pre-timed and arranged. Off the cuff video chat for some reason strikes me as invasive, but I can't quite figure out why. Any thoughts out there in libraryland?
November 25th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
You don’t have to accept the call, so I don’t see why it’s any more invasive than Skype. If someone sends you a video chat call (I say “call” because it makes a sound like a phone ringing while I wait for the person to accept it), and you don’t want to, you can just chat with them using regular gchat, and explain that you haven’t put your face on yet.
November 25th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I get the same weird feeling about spur of the moment video chat, but I really can’t pin down the reasons why. I’m curious to explore that knee jerk reaction, aren’t you?
Somehow I suspect that it’s going to become fairly common and generally accepted in the next decade.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:50 am
I haven’t tried it, but assumed it could be used like Skype where you would set up appointments to meet and video chat with whomever on-demand.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:07 am
As long as we still have the choice between regular chat and video I don’t see the problem. However, judging by the advances in technology and what is popular, it would not surprise me if one day it was the only way to chat. In that case it does become a bit Orwellian.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Well, my newish notebook (that is, now my only PC) came with a builtin videocam…and it took me about a day to figure out how to stop the camera software from loading on startup. (I looked at the results of using the videocam first.)
Let’s just say that, although Gmail is my primary mail system and the chat is enabled, I have no desire to turn the camera back on. I don’t work in my PJs, but neither do I see the need to inflict my badly-lit, aging face (at an oblique angle because of the way I work) on anybody else.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I haven’t used it, though I kind of want to–in part to see if it does anything really awful, like starting video before permission is given.
One note on usage: one could choose only to use it the same way Skype video chat is used; I know people associate Skype with professional pre-planned stuff and Gchat with informal off-the-cuff stuff, but I’ve also heard of people doing pre-planned video Google chats, Skype-style. (I don’t know, but I assume there are folks who do off-the-cuff Skyping, too.)
I’m pretty psyched about it, because I kind of skipped the whole Skype thing.
November 26th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
We know that no one is born knowing how to use any tools, nevermind computers 2.0. The myth of the digital native is busted. Whose job is it to teach them these tools? Ours, in part. Which part? I dunno.
So I think video conferencing could be a great way to work with kids who need those skills. Kids with computers but who don’t type. Ages 4-7? Still dunno.
November 26th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I used it today for the first time. I usually use iChat, and yes, my laptop (MacBook Pro) has a built-in video camera, so it is pretty painless. I still prefer iChat, since you can setup a group chat and video chat with folks who aren’t on Google (like AOL). In reality, though, video chats are few and far between, partly because not many are as set up as Mac users are, and also I think people are still leery about initiating a video chat. But I would welcome a video chat in most cases, and besides, you can always refuse a video connection. If you’re having a bad hair day, stick with text.
November 27th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I’ve downloaded the plugin but haven’t used it yet; few of my gmail friends have it and you can only do video chat (even one way) if both have the plugin.
I don’t expect to use it a lot (just like I don’t use Skype a lot) but it’s there should I want it. A lot more people I know have gmail accounts but not Skype so I could see this being useful.
Then again I’m one of those who has “built-in webcams, don’t mind people seeing them in their jammies typing late at night, or seeing others in goodness knows what.”
November 28th, 2008 at 5:50 am
The only time I really use video chat is when I’m giving an online lecture or chatting with Deaf friends or friends who know ASL. Otherwise, I don’t think that facial expressions add much to the conversation that can’t be understood by word choice in text or voice inflection.
November 28th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Love it – I use it personally for keeping in touch with my daughters far away. I haven’t used it for work, but certainly will if colleagues are enabled. I prefer the visual as well as the audio features. It sure beats typing!
November 29th, 2008 at 1:30 am
i think this is just another step in the expansion of Google’s offerings – mind you i do agree with your statements about this being invasive — just waiting for those spammers to work their stuff and expolit this new feature
i use skype and probably will continue using it
as an aside – at work we have rolled out 52 WAPS around the building and even though the service is free and unfiltered there has been a request to introduce a splash page
this introduces a problem if all you want to do is start a skype session — as the skype session will not give you the option to click through the splash page you will not be able to connect to the internet — if you access the google video mail chat via the web page then at least you would have previously clicked through the splash page
December 5th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I don’t mind the Video chat every once in a while.
But usually if i want to see someone i got out and have coffee with them. Granted for those who dont’ see a particular person very often, i understand. i usually ask before pushing the button and i use it on rare occasions with my friend who goes overseas or family far from home.
But, even face to face, i do Find video chat a little less personal. just like IM and txt.
But does that make me an old foggie at 22?
December 5th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I have never used Skype or Gmail video chat, but I can completely understand the thought of an unplanned video chat feeling invasive. Like with cell phones when they were brand new (and even still–and with every other new online/virtual social space for that matter) there is not yet a well established culture supporting these interactions. (I mean ‘culture’–’Culture’?–in a deeper sense than as a set of conventions less than a decade old – think centuries old, or at least multiple generations).
There is a little bit of a parallel between the choices faced when answering the video chat line in your pajamas and answering your cell phone in a public place. It may or may not be appropriate by personal and by public standards. We’re all still figuring out what the standards are, or should be, with these new applications/technologies. I’m essentially in my PJs now, and glad you can’t tell!
I’m reminded of 19th century novels where people have servants and a visitor sends in his card only to have the servant return saying “The master is indisposed to receive visitors at this time,” or something. Of course it is your choice whether to accept a video chat ‘call’ or not, but it is very interesting that the very idea seems invasive (to me as well). What if there were a space in every home for 3D holographic projections of every caller? Sounds creepy if you ask me. I’d definitely want to know about that beforehand…
December 6th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
As several pointed out in their comments, we can always shut off the video portion of the chat if we want. (But will we be considered rude?). I loved the reminder of how valuable this will be for those using ASL. Personally…I’m so backward that I still don’t like basic chat. I’ve always had difficulty with real-time conversation, even in the dark ages before computers. I’m much happier when I can post to a blog or send an e-mail so that I have time to think through, review and edit my thoughts before others see them.
December 8th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I use Gmail Chat a lot. Both my daughter and I have the option for video chat but it is not the default. Regular chat still works as usual even when we have the video icons, to use video chat you do need to take an extra step. Thus it is a bit like using Skype, just one less software to open. Don’t know how good the connection is though as we haven’t really used it, beyond a 30 second call from the same room to see if it worked on our MacBooks. It’s really the old Gmail Talk that now runs in the browser as opposed to being a separate software. Also it now works with Mac OS which was not the case before.
I was highly impressed with Skype, while she was in Norway. The video didn’t seem to effect the quality of the connection at all, no lag in the connection, clear audio and only slightly fuzzy video. The Gmail video looked better but we were on opposite sides the table not halfway around the world and were not trying for full screen either.