Beyond Business: Impacts of VoIP and Live Streaming on the family dynamic
VoIP and Live Streaming, in my opinion, have revolutionized the communication industry. Anyone with computer and internet connection can connect with anyone else on the planet, for real time voice and video communications. The clincher? Such tools require a few dollars and commodity internet access –nearly everyone can get in on the conversation.
Skype connects a family
Recently, an Uncle and Auntie of mine recently moved to the Middle East for a off country teaching assignment, in a city known for violence, assassinations and unrest. Yesterday, during a local family get together we were able to arrange a time to call them, and we piped over a video stream to them. We could hear their audio only. I was able to briefly jump into this real world communications with them, as they were half way around the world, and wouldn’t be returning to us anytime soon.
My cousin showed him around the house with the video camera, although the wireless network connection would sometimes drop, they got to experience a virtual tour of what we were doing. Although not perfectly setup, we continue to lower the barriers to communication in real time, and the medium gets richer with each passing year.
Live streaming the human life cycle
I recently spoke with Chris Yeh, the CEO of Ustream (live interactive video), he tells me that in addition to people broadcasting live births on the web, that families are live-broadcasting funerals. Morbid? Not really, some family members who couldn’t be at the service get to participate in the grieving process, in this virtual way to be with their family.
What’s next?
It’s just a matter of time before our traditional home entertainment systems become IP enabled, allowing for PC to TV real-time video and audio to be transmitted. It would be interesting to see the adoption of these tools each holiday season, year after year.
Has VoIP or Live Streaming impacted your family?
There’s so many examples of how these tools impact business, but have you had an experience where these tools impacted your personal or family life? VoIP, live video streaming, what? Share with me in the comments.
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I moved to the Middle East last month and have been using Skype to keep in touch with my family and friends almost daily. I was here for a year 5 years ago, and I remember limiting the amount of time I spent on a call and who I would call because I was only able to make calls from my cell phone and despite a decent rate it was still expensive. VoIP’s ability to provide cheap rates and deals on the Internet has definitely made a significant difference with my staying in touch this time around. Also, I think that VoIP pioneer, Jeff Pulver has been pushing the adoption of PC to TV real-time video and audio, so it will be interesting to see how his involvement impacts the rate of adoption that you mention.
Lisa, great example thanks.
Ever since I moved to the U.S. two years ago, I became a heavy user of Skype and MSN to keep in touch with my family in China. My grandpa and ma were amazed when they first seeing me on the PC screen while talking with them. What’s even more interesting is that they immediately said: “It must be really expensive. We’re all Ok and you could hang up.” I laughed out and responded:”It’s all free and we could talk all day long without any extra penny.” They looked at each other and said simultaneously:”Are you serious? Hmmn, it should be impossible.”
These are also examples of why it will be difficult for companies to completely block access to online networking sites — people get so used to open communications they want the same capabilities even when they are “behind the firewall.”
We’re going to use Skype and Ustream to try to bring back something a little broader than family, but just as important — community.
Local radio is dead. Big companies shut down the last real-time local medium by buying them up and using them to rebroadcast big-sister-station music and national talk shows. I live and my web new business lives in just such a community, a small city without a daily newspaper or local radio station.
I love IM chats and Skype and now, Ustream because they can help people reconnect. We’re going to use it to bring back big chunks of local radio, such as local high school sports, local meetings and events, and talk and interview forums. Adding Skype and IM to the mix allows us to create a community around those web broadcasts, so people can take part directly and easily.
It’s not quite what you asked for, but I thought you might be interested.
Thanks Dave, this is very insightful. I hope that you can use these tools to their full ability.
Here is something new in VOIP. Check it out.
http://www.clearspring.com/widgets/487ece74b5bd05a1.