The Google Gamut — Everything You Need to Get Started caught my attention because just yesterday I received an email from my college freshman daughter stating “Do It!!! — http://mail.google.com/videochat” and, of course, I did. And we had so much fun visiting by video. Somehow, although I had downloaded Skype long ago, she was just never interested. It was like Skype was so “last year.” And I thought about what a tremendous impact Google has had on all of our lives, including the addition to our vocabulary of the verb “google.”
So, I thought that the content of the video was pretty good. It flowed well, the instructions were clear and it held my attention thoughout the 20 minutes. Unfortunately, the picture quality was really poor and I found the words on the screen to be distracting for me, although I am sure some people would probably like these. All of the screen shots were fuzzy and just no fun to look at. I knew some of the content already (my Techno-Babe daughter insisted last year that I simply had to set up iGoogle), but there were lots of new materials, too, like Google Gears.
I think it was worthwhile, and good information.
4 responses so far ↓
1
emilyaiken
// Nov 14, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Wow! I’m going to go back and check out this Google gamut business. Do you have to have a camera for video chat? I have visions of being an online teacher one day for the flexibility it would afford me. I need to get up on all of these video conferencing capabilities.
Thanks for letting me know
2
sandiadams
// Nov 15, 2008 at 8:16 pm
You need to take my Google Class!! We will go down the google road together!! (I LOVE GOOGLE)
And yes you have to have a webcam for the video chat. BUT it is BLOCKED in our county as is SKYPE
3
dfincher
// Nov 16, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Susan
It certainly helps to have college age children around because they will encourage us to do things we didn’t think about. I am definitely going to check out the Google chat and maybe i will even sign up for Sandi’s google class.
4
fredawilliams
// Nov 28, 2008 at 11:01 am
I always use Skype, but you have got me interested in checking out Google… just so I could be cool like a college kid! I Love Google too. We need to get into the video conferencing world in our schools, unblock it I say!
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