Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Under the Hood with Facebook Video Calling, Powered by Skype

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community
In what is obviously a response to Google+'s 'hangouts', Facebook has launched (announcements by Zuckerberg and Bates; see also this, this, this and this) live video calling with Skype. Just like MySpace did, back in 2007 (albeit without video). It allows users to converse with each other right inside Facebook. But not in groups. This post is a bit of a description of the tech behind the service. It could be more clearly written (if you say "This has two parts" and then say "One is the such and such" then you are committed to at some point say "The other is..." or "The second is..." and to not leave the reader hanging without a second part).

Early adopters, meanwhile, are exploring the limits of the Google Plus system, which has received positive reviews from all sides. The ability to have multi-party conversations is a big deal. As Ray Wang says, "MyPOV: The thing that #googleplus #google+ has right is the Unified Communications. The communities will come as a result. #socbiz #e20." As Lost Remote says, it redefines TV interviews, creates a new class of call-in shows, and is a "no-brainer" for TV coverage.

Angela Maiers links to both a Facebook chat tutorial and a Google Hangouts tutorial. Here's how to record a video call, using Camtasia.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Apr 26, 2024 9:54 p.m.

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