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Video chat gets grandmother-friendly with a new how-to user guide

Relaxnews

Monday 05 July 2010 00:00 BST

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Do you wish you could quickly and easily show your grandparents how to use a web cam to make video calls to their friends and family? Google has made it easy to show them how with Google's Grandmother's Guide to Video Chat.

"[W]hen I saw that my grandma-who loves keeping in touch with family more than anyone-wasn't set up to use video chat, I decided to help her get started. While doing so, it occurred to me how many people there must be out there in similar situations. If only there were a simple way that any grandmother could use to get started on her own..." said Google's Associate Product Marketing Manager, Jason Toff, in a July 1 blog post.

Google's guide shows your grandparents how to set up video chat using a free Google account and a web cam.

The Grandmother's Guide to Video Chat comes in the form of a simple video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDvgjV54wIg&feature=player_embedded) and/or a downloadable PDF that can be printed out and kept for further reference.

If you would prefer your grandparents set up Skype to conduct their video calls, Nanascorner has made a how-to guide (link below) that will show them how to get set up.

Skype also provide video-based instructions on their home page (http://www.skype.com).

For more information about getting your grandparents connected to the internet, using Facebook or how to keep them safe online, have a look at the links below.

Google's Grandmother's Guide to Video Chat: http://www.google.com/chat/grandma/

Google's Printable instructions for Video Chat: https://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/untrusted_dlcp/www.google.com/en//chat/grandma/google-video-chat-guide.pdf

Skype Video Calls with Grandparents and Grandchildren: http://www.nanascorner.com/2008/12/02/video-calls-with-grandparents-and-grandchildren/

How to Get Started on Facebook for Grandparents:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4694696_facebook-grandparents-adding-profile-information.html

How To Keep Your Grandparents Safe Online
http://www.uproxx.com/feature/2010/02/how-to-keep-your-grandparents-safe-online/