Way off topic - it's just me having fun Meet the Members.

[JeffZ]

Ok.. I was wondering if there would be interest in meeting the members online via video? So here's my plan.. I got some software that allows for Live Internet Broadcasting and was thinking of doing a monthly segment of "meet the members" (or something like that).. I would broadcast on Justin.tv or livestream.net at a specific time.. other members could watch and submit question via a chat environment. The segment would be around 5-10 minutes and we would record it so others who couldn't catch it live could watch it later..

It's pretty simple to participate..to be interviewed you would need to have a webcam & Skype (free to download & use .. I use it on the road all the time to keep in touch with my Mom in FL via webcam ..)

To watch a segment live or recorded you just need the URL/web address.. I think I got everything kind-of figured out so looking for volunteers..

Let me know if you're interested.. ;D

 

[Bruce Wray]

Sounds like fun -- and I have the webcam/Skype combo. I'm game.

Bruce

 

[JeffZ]

Great!! I'm on the road..until next week.. We did a Yellowstone/Mt Rushmore/Colorado trip and coming back sometime next week..

Of course we'll just wing it and see what happens! I'll contact you after I get settled in and we can figure out whats a good time for you.. I was thinking something like a weekend deal..but whatever works..

thanks!

 

[Jim Bennett]

I have a webcam on my laptop, and have heard of Skype. I don't know at all about how this would be pulled off, but would be game to try sometime.

 

[JeffZ]

Excellent.. you're on!!

Basically you call me via Skype and turn on your video.. the call is free and as long as you have a good internet connection it's pretty much real time.. I then take that video of you & my video and put them together and stream that video feed to justin.tv or livestream.net .. The end result is a broadcast to whoever wants to watch.. The only thing is there's around a 5-7 second delay (from real time).. kind-of similar to satellite TV vs over the air broadcast...

 

[Jim Bennett]

I will need to do a search on Skype to figure out how to use it. I had the camera going once before on my laptop so I am sure I can get that going.

 

[Sandra L]

Hi all,
Sounds like fun! And no doubt can be very helpful. I have a Mac with iChat. Will that work? I have heard of Skype..have not tried it, but am willing to give it a go.

 

[Bruce Wray]

I'm no techno-whiz, and I found, downloaded and made Skype operational pretty quickly, with only one or two minor issues -- got to get the program and camera to recognize each other. The latest version of Skype seems to make that process easier, if not automatic.

Bruce

 

[JeffZ]

Jim..
Bruce is right.. the installation of Skype will automatically find your webcam & microphone.. it actually does a test call to their automated system and checks everything.. Pretty easy..


Sandra..

You'll need to download the MAC version of Skype.. http://www.skype.com/download/skype/macosx/


We can test it (Skype) whenever you like.. my Skype handle is "zimode" - just search for it and if the little skype icon is "green" that means I'm online and accepting calls...

 

[Sandra L]

I just downloaded it and am trying it out. My Skype name is Sacsun. So far the test call to my home phone has not worked, but I was able to leave Jeff a voicemail message. ;D

 

[Jim Bennett]

I signed up with Skype as 'bearleealive', my username on most forums. All tests seem fine.

 

[JeffZ]

Ok -- we're going to have the 1st Meet the member August 25th @ 7:00PM PST (pacific time).. Bruce & I had a trial run and we a couple of connection problems with Skype, but we're chalking it up to line issues and will still go for it!!

I will put out a general message to the group as well..

I'll post the link Monday night on how to connect to the show..

 

[escape artist]

Hi: And thanks for the heads up. We will be away camping in the near north woods of Ontario...incommunicado!!!
Grillin', chillin', dippin',& canoein' and not much else. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[Hokie Escape]

Jeff, that sounds like a lot of fun. Guess that's 10PM EST, so I might be able to make it :- )

 

[JeffZ]

Well.. looks like we'll have to delay the first Meet the Members show.. After contemplating how everything went on the test went, I thought it best to get the kinks worked out a tad more..

And after all the "hoopla" from a previous thread.. I think we should change the show name from "meet the members" to "meet the Escapee's" ..

If anyone out there would like to be a tester.. let me know.. I'm shooting to have the wrinkles out by the end of next week..

Sorry for the delay..

 

[majaross]

A separate little mystery -- I tried to get into this discussion this evening, not knowing that there'd been a postponement -- and when I clicked the link in the email and logged in, a window came up saying I couldn't log in because my last previous post had been less than 120 seconds previous. Very odd, because I hadn't posted anything for weeks . . . Can anyone hack in and get our IP addresses & use them illegitimately?

Anyway, I finally gave up after numerous attempts, logged onto the forum itself, and found out about the postponement. Since we don't have a Webcam or Skype (have had trouble with Skype generating the mother of all feedback howls when we tried to use it a couple of years ago), would there have been something like instant messaging via typing?

Really interested; any comments would be welcome.

 

[JeffZ]

Sorry that the postponement didn't get to you in time..

The other thing is a tad strange.. Your IP address doesn't really have to do with the logging on to the system.. with a couple caveats (spam messaging ..) My best guess is some sort of "cookie" or "history cache" on the browser side....with a posting of some sort..shouldn't have affected the login process unless somehow the system thought you were already logged on and when you hit return or enter it was still in the post mode.... who the heck knows..

As for the meeting.. I did some more testing and things are way more solid.. just waiting for one more piece of software to arrive and we should be good to go..

The "show" will have hopefully 2 elements to it a "Live feed" that everyone will see and a "chat room" to ask questions.. So to answer your question.. Yes there will be instant messaging via typing...

If I can get my act together I might be able to pull off additional video question via skype as well.. I'm keeping my fingers crossed..almost have it figured out..

 

[JeffZ]

A quick update.. just waiting on some software to show up (no pun intended) and we'll be set to go!!

 

[Sandra L]

Super! ;D

 

[JeffZ]

Ok.. I think I'm there.. or at least as close as I'm going to get.. Just need to make a modification to the Forum and we should be good to go..

Quick question is the weekend better than weekday? Since will be doing it on Pacific Time what time would kind-of work for everybody..