Connecting via video from afar

Sarah's been away for a deserved vacation with a couple girlfriends in Cabo since last Thursday and I miss her. Over the weekend, however, I discovered something new and unusual. There are some websites that don't just use Flash technology to serve up video but to serve it up streaming from your computer live. Some are using it to broadcast their everyday lives but today Sarah and I used it to keep in touch.

Ustream.tv chat with Sarah in Cabo Using my Mac at work and our laptop down in Cabo (both with built-in webcams) we emailed one another a photo this morning. I then thought about a site called Ustream.tv that I found this weekend. The idea is that you sign up and can then start broadcasting live video instantly through a connected web or video camera and you can any viewer can chat along side your show all for free. My thought this morning was to have Sarah and I both utilize these built-in cameras to each start our own show and interact with one another teleconference style. With me at my office desk and Sarah in the hotel lobby at the tip of the Baja California peninsula we connected like magic and got to see each other a bit while separated by a couple thousand miles. And it was ridiculously easy and just plain worked.

I'm sure this sort of thing will become more common especially if it's as simple as this was. We even chatted a bit more tonight! Just goes to show you how incredible the 'net can be and why I choose to work in this exciting and fulfilling industry. I miss you plenty, sweetie, but I'm glad this sort of thing can help make the distance just that much less.

Comments (5) | To Top

8/7/2007 @ 12:33am

"Using my Mac at work and our laptop down in Cabo (both with built-in webcams) we emailed one another a photo this morning. I then thought about a site called Ustream.tv that I found this weekend. "

Hmmm. She's partying in Cabo.

Perhaps this is a chance to have a beer or two with your college buddies.

by Erik B.

8/7/2007 @ 6:23am

She is one of my college buddies. ;)

I've been bachin' it (that "bach" as in bachelor not Johann Sebastian) since last Thursday and have stayed quite sober and productive, thank you very much. Maybe next time... ;)

by KevinFreitas

8/8/2007 @ 8:55am

I can vouch for young Mr. Freitas Erik. He's spent a couple of evenings in the company of Frinklin and myself behaving relatively sober. ;)

by ensie

8/8/2007 @ 10:53am

Thanks for covering for me, ensie. (when do you want your $20?)

8/8/2007 @ 5:46pm

Dude, are you kidding? Do you know how long it's been since Frinklin and I have been in the company of people other than ourselves? We should be paying you.

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