Skype in the US

If you're in the market looking for a new job, knowing how to use Skype can give you an edge.

More and more companies are using Skype to interview prospective candidates to save on travel costs and time.

Check out this great article from TIME Magazine and accompany video on Time.com providing tips for making your job interview via Skype picture perfect.

Frank Titus, a Los Angeles based exercise therapist is an expert in kinesiology, or the science of movement, and founder of Titus Motion Therapy.

Over many years he has provided his therapy through an exchange of videos with his patients, who typically suffer from chronic pain.

Patients would record themselves standing in four positions and walking in front of the camera and mail the videos to Frank. Then, he would evaluate their posture and movement patterns and send videos back showing them ways to correct posture to
relieve chronic back pain, rotator cuff injuries, herniated discs, arthritis and a host of other painful conditions.

But because the therapy relied on the mail and people making recordings, eight sessions could easily stretch out over six months.

But now Frank has taken the pain out of the technology.

He is using Skype video calling, which enables his clients to be
evaluated and to receive instructions in real time.

"For the first time, they can ask me questions in real time," he said.

Frank said this has sped up the process, enabling clients to finish the regimen in a matter of eight weeks.

Skype also has made it possible for Frank to expand his horizons. He¹s taking care of patients as far away as New Zealand and Australia.

Silvia Tolisano, the tech "langwitches" teacher from Jacksonville, Fla.,
took her classes around the globe this school year in a project known as
"Around the World with 80 Schools."

They didn't make it to 80 schools but they did visit 17 schools on six
continents. Every continent was represented except Antarctica.

But Silvia said the kids learned a lot as they spoke to their
counterparts around the world.

And some fourth graders had adopted Skype to speak with their classmates
on their own time.

In fact, minutes before I spoke with Silvia on Skype video calling, she
had been Skype chatting with a student back home.

As it happens, Silvia is in Argentina visiting her mom. As Evita said in
the musical, "Hello Buenos Aires."

She told me Skype is in effect her traveling companion. She has used
Skype to stay in touch wherever she goes. She has been keeping up with
her own children who are back in the USA while she's in Buenos Aires.

Silvia is changing schools in the fall, from San Jose Episcopal Day
School to Martin J. Gottlieb Day School in Jacksonville.

But she plans to continue the Skype journey, starting her count with 18
countries with a goal of 80 schools.

While in Argentina, she hopes to make a connection for her students by
Skyping with scientists in Antarctica during the coming school year.
Buena suerte, mi amiga.

NYC Fashion Week: the glitz, the glamour, the Skype video calls?! That's right; this Fashion Week, Skype will be in the mix.

Fashion designer Norma Kamali, a big Skype fan, has teamed up with us to offer one lucky fan the opportunity to view her OMO (On My Own) collection Fashion Week presentation on September 17 via Skype video call. The contest winner will also be able to ask Norma a question about the collection and win one of her coveted "all-in-one" garments.

Feeling lucky? Get into the front row by entering the contest. Rules and entry instructions can be found here.

This contest is just the latest move by Norma to give access to the often exclusive world of fashion via technology.

She told us, "I believe in the democratization of fashion and technology is accelerating this process. I am grateful that I can utilize Skype, the Internet communications software that connects millions of people around the world, to bring one fan into my show and let them experience the excitement that is Fashion Week in NYC."

We're excited, too, that we can partner with Norma to allow a Skype user an insider's view into a world that most fashion lovers don't get to experience.

For those fans who don't win the contest, but still want to view Norma's Fashion Week presentation and will be in NYC on September 17, they can stop by the Apple store in Soho (located at 103 Prince Street) and see the show live. A podcast of the presentation will also be available for download via the iTunes store in the weeks following the show.

While harpist, Christine Grace Magnussen, of Bellingham, Wash. was presenting to a large group at a motorcoach conference in Oregon, she announced her wish to continue their connection via video. She was thrilled to come home and discover it could be possible via Skype.

This opened up global possibilities for people to connect with her and this heart-opening instrument. Currently, Christine is connected with harp students in much of the US as well as the UK and Portugal.

"Playing the harp helps inspire peace and well-being in my students. Skype makes it possible to reach people who cannot access local harp teachers, or who have challenges that make it difficult to travel outside their homes," said Christine. "With Skype video calls, I can help anyone worldwide not only learn how to play the harp, but also suggest harps that suit them -- all from the comfort of their own home."

For this interview, she squeezed me in between lessons with students in England and Pennsylvania.

How's the sound quality? Christine said: "The sound quality is very good! I can hear the resonance of the harp and the student's expression. With my headset mic, students can hear up close the strings plucked from my harp. We can both adjust sound to hear well and zoom in for close-ups on finger position. I just finished a Skype lesson with a woman who lugged her desktop computer into an RV park laundry room for her Skype harp lesson. We had a great lesson while interested onlookers folded their laundry."

Christine explains that the sound of the harp helps soothe and relax patients undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments. "I will begin supporting one of my students with Skype harp as she recovers from hip surgery, and another who is a cancer patient. This would not be possible without the Skype technology! My previous work was as a therapeutic harpist in cancer centers, hospitals and hospice, and the music I recorded was in tribute to these patients," she said.

She added that harp playing is therapeutic for the harper as well: "The instrument brings a gentle distraction from the stresses of life, and creates an immediate satisfying sound that is physical and emotionally calming. Harp therapy also extends to those who hear the harper play. I guide those who wish to learn more about the field of harp therapy in specific types of music, mentor them on how to interact with patients, and customize each lesson to each person based on their goals, strengths, challenges, musical background and favorite genres."

Christine noted: "Learning the harp is not about perfecting an instrument, but rather accessing those parts of ourselves that elicit joy, express feeling and release tension. I can see the joy people have on their faces when they hear and touch the harp. It's a very satisfying experience and I enjoy making the personal connection virtually through Skype video calls."

Check out Christine online at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtzkfaeGilY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFcB2On5NLM

You can listen to her music and read more at: www.HarpSpirit.com or www.peacecalm.com

Jonathon Wilson, who works with a team of software developers, tells
LifeHacker how he maintains virtual presence in his office with Skype so
he can work at home.

He told Gina Trapani: "I still have my computer at work, in my office
cube (right in the middle of things). I set up a webcam there along with
speakers. I have second cam at home, and I simply Skype in to my own
cube at work. Skype can be configured to auto-answer, if desired, so my
'cube' Skype simply picks up when I dial in...for hours at a time."

Jonathon says that people walk into his office cube and talk with him.
Since he puts his home monitor onto his office monitor, developers can
see what he's doing and work out issues.

He said: "I can 'overhear' the dev conversations in the cubes around me
(just like when I'm in the office), and even pipe in. My coworkers and
managers are quite used to it and it's become completely natural."

So Skype is virtually the next-best-thing to being there.

At Skype, we think we do a pretty good job of helping connect people all over the world. It's one thing to give ourselves a pat on the back - it's another when someone else does it. That's why we're thrilled that Skype was included in the TIME.com's list of the 50 Best Websites of 2009.

Described as a list of the 50 top websites that are 'indispensable', the write-up states that 'VoIP has the power to turn an Internet connection into a videophone. For the average user, Skype is the best VoIP.'

And we're inclined to agree

Frank Titus, a Los Angeles based exercise therapist is an expert in
kinesiology, or the science of movement, and founder of Titus Motion
Therapy.

Over many years he has provided his therapy through an exchange of
videos with his patients, who typically suffer from chronic pain.

Patients would record themselves standing in four positions and
walking in front of the camera and mail the videos to Frank. Then, he
would evaluate their posture and movement
patterns and send videos back showing them ways to correct posture to
relieve chronic back pain, rotator cuff injuries, herniated discs,
arthritis
and a host of other painful conditions.

But because the therapy relied on the mail and people making
recordings, eight sessions could easily stretch out over six months.

But now Frank has taken the pain out of the technology.

He is using Skype video calling, which enables his clients to be
evaluated and to receive instructions in real time.

"For the first time, they can ask me questions in real time," he said.

Frank said this has sped up the process, enabling clients to finish
the regimen in a matter of eight weeks.

Skype also has made it possible for Frank to expand his horizons. He¹s
taking care of patients as far away as New Zealand and Australia.

When Avoca School District 37 in Wilmette, Ill., on Chicago's North Shore, has a job opening, hundreds of teachers apply. It's a highly ranked school whose students feed into the prestigious New Trier Township High School.

Chris Brown, chair of professional development and district technology coordinator at Avoca, said applicants come not only from around the Chicago area, but from around the country and world.

To even the playing field for out-of-town applicants, the hiring committee, including Dr. Deanna Reed, interview them via Skype video calling, he said. Applicants can see the committee and the committee sees a projection of the applicant.

Chris jokingly referred to the "Skype test" these teachers must pass--they need to set up and use Skype and then show up for the interview. He said most teachers can jump over that hurdle because Skype is so easy to set up.

A recent interview round included Skype interviews with teachers from Japan and the Virgin Islands. Neither got the job.

But Chris said it's only a matter of time for Avoca's first "Skype hire."

Our friends at personal finance blog, WalletPop, did a Skype video interview to demonstrate what not to do in a job interview with Skype users 360JobInterview. They have some great tips on what you should do in an interview as part of the full story (with video captured via a Skype video call).

Are you interviewing for jobs through Skype? We want to hear about it. Send an e-mail to skypestories@KaplowPR.com or post a comment about it below.

Also, when interviewing via Skype, here are a few simple tips to look your best and feel confident when you make a video call.

1. Smile and Focus
One of the easiest rules to remember when interacting with anyone face to face is simply to smile. Also the person with whom you are speaking deserves your full attention so make sure to stay focused and make direct eye contact showing that you are engaged in the conversation.

2. Choose your Colors Wisely
Certain colors like many shades of blue--royal, navy, sky--look great on video while others like reds and hot colors like magenta can be too bright. Patterns with small dots or stripes can be less attractive and more distracting than solids so think about wearing a color that is easy on the eye.

3. Lighting and Background Check
While you are the focus of the video call, remember to think about how your webcam is set up and consider what can be viewed in the background behind you. Are you sitting so that a blank kitchen wall is behind you or is there a cluttered book shelf or large paining behind you? Also, check to be sure you have proper lighting to eliminate shadows as well as avoid harsh lighting conditions that may not look good on screen.