With family all over the country (or globe) it can be tough to make every birthday party, family gathering and Sunday night dinner. Fortunately, technology is making connecting with family and friends easier than ever. Video chat has become a popular form of communication for many families, whether it’s used to wish grandkids a happy birthday or to simply say hello to a sister across the country. Although it’s a great resource, sometimes the technology piece can get a bit confusing and hold up the process.
Here are some tips for avoiding tech headaches and using video chat to keep in touch:
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Use Wi-Fi for the best internet connection. Whether you are using Skype, FaceTime or another video chat program, a high-speed Wi-Fi internet connection will give you good video quality and connectivity. If you are using your phone or iPad, make sure to go into your settings and choose the Wi-Fi option rather than your phone’s cellular data service.
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Make sure your webcam has access. Many computers will ask you if your video chat program has permission to access your webcam. This is a security feature, which ultimately is a good thing, but can cause confusion when setting up your chat. When the pop-up box appears asking for access, be sure to click ‘yes’ or ‘ok’ in order for your webcam to capture video. If there is no pop-up box, try going into your settings and navigating to the camera icon.
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Use headphones for quality sound. This is not always necessary, but it may help with hearing to use headphones while video chatting. This will drown out any outside noise and help you focus on the person you’re chatting with. Many headphones have microphones connected to them as well, which might allow for better audio pickup than your computer’s microphone.
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Set up in a quiet area. Similar to using headphones, being in a quiet area with little distraction will give you a better experience when video chatting. The best option is using a room where you know no one else will be, and where limited outside noise will penetrate the walls and you’ll be able to enjoy your conversation.
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Set up a specific time to video chat. It’s easiest to connect over video chat when a specific time is set. Otherwise you may catch family or friends at a bad time or while they are in a noisy location. When you plan a specific time to connect, you are sure to get the best video chatting experience.
Now it’s time to set up your video chat date! With these tips in your mind you’re ready to connect with family and friends across the globe.