(no subject)

[lethargic_man]

I've just seen my first videophone conversation, between my parents in the UK and my brother in Vancouver. Call me a technological retrograde, but I was astonished. Not by the technology, but by the use of it. For years it was axiomatic that videophone technology hadn't taken off since the first attempt to launch it back IIRC in the 1980s, not because the technology did not exist, but because people didn't want it: did not want to be seen on camera during a conversation, when they might not be looking their best, or whatever. And here were my parents clamouring for Darren to turn on the camera when he accidentally hit the wrong button and killed the video.

Well, it just goes to show. What it just goes to show I'm not sure. But I'm sure it goes to show something.

In other news, לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה to blue_pork, livredor, rav_hadassah, wein_glass, hatam_soferet, curious_reader, wub, snjstar, dhole, awful_dynne, troo, darcydodo and pseudomonas; also to spin0za1, justinep, yobadazizi and calliope_epic if they're still reading this; also to zsero, jonahrank, yoelishkeit even though I wouldn't know you from Adam. :o)

Comments

[awful-dynne.livejournal.com]

was the video conference skype?

L'Shana tova!!

:)

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

It was.

[awful-dynne.livejournal.com]

Then you have skype? Can I find you under this pseudonym?
Shana Tova! :)

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

No I do not. It's my parents that do.

[awful-dynne.livejournal.com]

How did you talk to them if they have skype and you don't?

[(Anonymous)]

They were talking to my brother in British Columbia. I was in their house and spectating over their shoulders.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

I do now (audio only) after my brother talked me into it, as michael_dot_grant. But you'd have to IM me and ask me to boot up my laptop, as my desktop doesn't have a microphone.

[awful-dynne.livejournal.com]

Nice! Mine is tamaraliron. The next time you sign into skype you should see a request.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

I didn't.

[snjstar.livejournal.com]

Shana Tova Umetuka to you also.

I was also wondering if you were using Skype.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

Yes we were.

[rav-hadassah.livejournal.com]

L'Shana Tova to you too!

May the New Year bring you blessings of love, friendship, intellectual stimulation and creativity!

Love,
Esther

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

It seems that the people were happy to use it, they just didn't want to pay nay extra for it. For anyone with children or grandchildren overseas or even just in another city, it can be a great way to keep to touch.

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

I haven't looked at LJ for ages.
Shanah tova and get well through the fast. I know you will at the same place to fast and daven.

I do not like to be seen either. I prefer to choose if I want or not and by whom. Maybe it was not an accident what your brother did.

Skype and the like

[bluepork.livejournal.com]

Its good for overseas or distant (physically) relations. The advantage of a traditional phone conversation is that it allows you to simultaneously do something else. Videophone kills that straight away. Also, back in the 1980s, video apparantly killed the radio star.