August 2009

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.

Valerie Becker, tech teacher at West Tisbury School on Martha's
Vineyard, remembers a youngster whose parents had gone "off island"
and the child not having any idea what that meant.

Valerie, an Apple Distinguished Educator, over the past two years has
taken her students off island: No ferry or boat needed for the journey,
just Skype software, an internet connection and a webcam and microphone.

Her students, aged 6 through 8, recently finished the "Islands Around
the World" project in which they studied other islands, including, Hong
Kong, Japan, the Orkneys off Scotland and New Zealand, and then Skype
video called children in these faraway places.

There were some sacrifices. The Kiwi kids had to come into school an
hour early-the next day-and the West Tisbury kids had to stay after
school an hour.

Valerie said Skype video calling brings the contact with students in
other countries alive.

She said her students found they had much in common with the other
students, including enjoying "rabbit ears." (Watch for Valerie doing
rabbit ears on the video.)

Her 7th grade students worked on their school paper with mentor/editors
from the University of Regina in Saskatchewan via Skype video.

Last year, the Martha's Vineyard students met via Skype video calling
with students whose schools were in other states or countries. This
project included Skype calls to Alaska and Hawaii as well as Argentina,
Iceland, Japan and New Zealand.

What's up for next year? Valerie and her students will be visiting farm
communities around the world.

Last year, Mona Kerby, author of "Owney, the Mail-Pouch Pooch," spoke to second-graders in Sarah Chauncey's library at Grand Elementary School in Rockland County outside New York City.

It was a big hit. But the school didn't have the funds this year to sponsor a return engagement.

So Sarah proposed that Mona visit via Skype video calling. Sarah said it was a hit. She said there is a certain mystery surrounding a visitor from outside the school appearing on the whiteboard in the library.
Students cheered when Mona appeared on the board. They interviewed Mona about the process of writing and publishing a book.
Thus was born an idea: Skype An Author, a Wiki to connect authors with schools and libraries.

In a matter of months, 30 authors have signed up.
"Our goal is to set up a network of authors who would be willing to participate in short Skype conversations with students in classrooms and libraries. This Wiki provides a page for each author who joins the network," said Sarah. "A template has been designed to ensure consistency of content among authors and to keep things simple for authors, teachers, and librarians. The author pages provide procedural and contact information."
Here's an example.

Author visits are arranged via email and/or phone between the author and the teacher and/or librarian. Authors appear free in 10- to 15-minute "meet" sessions. Authors set the rate for 30- to 60-minute visits.

Mona is spreading the word among other authors. And Sarah, who helps authors prepare for Skype, plans to make publishers aware.