Mike and I just tested out the iSight and I’m absolutely floored at how incredible the quality is. There was MAYBE a micro-second lag time, but it wasn’t even perceptible. Now remember, he’s in Japan and I’m in Colorado and his movements were still very fluid. The distance latency is pretty huge so there are 2 factors here - Comcast rules and the broadcast rate of the iSight is very high. We saw each other at 20 frames per second - not too shabby at all. Here’s the intangible I wasn’t expecting.

We’ve talked with each other fairly regularly and probably chat via IM once a week. But we haven’t seen each other since - hmmm, damn - 2001. There’s something to be said about speaking to and seeing someone at the same time. It makes the conversation much more meaningful, much more enjoyable. It’s great that the technology makes the distance seem shorter. The written letter may be an elegant method of communication that is falling by the wayside, but give me videoconferencing any day. Getting to talk with him and having him show me the new double bars is better than reading about it - at least in my book.

Good to see ya’, Captain.

Share This