A couple years ago I wrote an article for the Chicago Sun-Times about a couple with a long-distance relationship that they kept going with Skype-to-Skype calls, coast-to-coast. He was in Seattle (Pacific coast); she in Chicago ("the third coast").

They would put on their wireless headsets and stay connected via Skype throughout the evening. They talked while preparing dinner. They watched the same TV shows and rented the same DVDs, commenting back and forth. They shared the silent moments. Together.

Can’t say what happened after the lights went out. This is a family blog.

The couple met online as avatars at some virtual reality gaming site. Skype helped keep them connected outside the game.

Still, I think they eventually broke up.

Come on. Skype is great. But the heart does what the heart has to do.

I didn’t realize I was on to a trend. It’s called “Ambient Skype.” People have Skype video or audio calls going on whenever they can. It's like the Truman Show without Jim Carrey mugging for the cameras. It's you mugging for the camera or ignoring it and going about your routine.

Mark O’Neill describes the Ambient Skype phenom at Geeks are Sexy
He notes: “Skype just stays running and if the webcam is on, you can drop off to sleep together, listening to one another breathing, snoring, talking in their sleep, farting… just like a real ‘together’ couple!”

Is this too much togetherness? Or is it just right? Ambient Skypers and critics sound off please.