Tutorial Blog 3: VoIP - Skype

     Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a new, much cheaper technique to place and receive phone calls by using a broadband internet connection in place of a regular phone line.  Some VoIP services limit you to call only others with VoIP services, but many others, like Skype for example, allow you to be able to call computers as well as phone lines for little to no charge at all.

     In my blog today, I hope to teach you how to install Skype and be able to get started using it right away. I know for me, Skype is something I use on a weekly basis to keep in touch with family and friends who are abroad.  Not only does it allow me to speak to them, we can open our webcams and start a video chat for free!

     The first thing to do to get started is that you will need to install Skype.  You can do this by visiting www.Skype.com and clicking on ‘Get Skype’ which can be found on the top bar of their homepage.  Another way to join is to click ‘Join Now’ which is found on the top right hand corner.  Once you do this, you can select for which device you would like to install Skype for, either your PC, Mac, Mobile Device, and even your TV!  

Depending on your needs you can either download Skype Free which includes:

• Skype-to-Skype calls
• One-to-one video calls
• Instant messaging
• File-sharing

Or you can purchase Skype Premium for $8.99/month.  This package gives you all the free features plus:

• Group video calls with up to 10 people
• Live chat customer support,
• 25% off an HD webcam

     For the purpose of this blog, we will be installing Skype Free for a Windows PC.  Once you click to download Skype Free, you will be prompted to save the file.  The webpage also helps you on the following screens that will come up in the process of installing Skype until the download process is complete and you are ready to use Skype.

     

     Once you are signed on, for newbies, a Welcome Screen comes on which will teach you how to get started to make and receive calls if you have any trouble understanding on how to use Skype.  If not, you can close out of the screen and proceed to add contacts that are already on Skype.

     Now that your Skype account is set up and you have at least one contact who is online, you just click on their name and select if you either want to ‘’Call” or “Video Call” your contact.

     Unfortunately for me, none of my contacts are online at the current time, but I hope that I have helped you get started installing Skype so you can start making cheap or free calls.  Skype or any other VoIP is a very cost saving method to keep in touch with family and friends, but I should warn that people should not use this service as their only method in case of emergencies.  In the case of a surprising emergency, who knows if you will have time to turn on your computer and start up Skype or any other VoIP program to place an emergency call?

     In my use, Skype is a very cheap method to keep in touch with my loved ones and I use it frequently.  This saves me minutes and allows me to see, rather than just hear, who I am speaking with.  Skype really is one of the best technologies that I have used and over time, it just continues to improve more and more.

Sources:

http://www.fcc.gov/voip/

www.Skype.com

**Images captured are copyrighted by Skype

Database Project

Doing this project, I've learned so much about all the functions of Microsoft Access and how quickly and simply it can so effectively organize large amounts of data.  The query function helps filter select data to better view the data that is needed.  Creating a report also helps a user print out what they need from the large database so they can view it without excess, unnecessary data populating it.  There are various ways one can use Access and through the project, I was able to just learn the basic functions which are not difficult at all!  I was at first worried about how time consuming this project may take me, but I soon realized that everything is really straightforward in Access.  Microsoft Access is very user-friendly and the wizards to run functions really help for those who do even have a little trouble.  The biggest thing that I have learned through this project is how to run a query will help me remove the data that I do not need to look out so I can focus more on the data that I do need.  Within the query, you can also sort data in ascending or descending order and in which field you would like to be sorted first.  This function allows users to save a lot of time because the program does almost everything you command it to.

One way that I would enhance the functionality of this database is that I would try to make the appearance of the database more appealing.  Depending on their business, users can add clip art or other images onto, for example, the forms layout design so it looks more appealing.  The similar formats that can be found across all Microsoft Office programs allows users to easily be able to adjust the designs that they desire into Microsoft Access with no hassle.  The program also comes with many other pre-installed color themes that one can choose form.  The similarities that are found within Microsoft Office really helped me easily navigate through Access.

To conclude, Microsoft Access is a really great program to use if you have large amounts of data that you would like to organize.  Excel does provide similar functions, however, Access is more geared towards large databases, where you are able to create queries to search through them using certain criteria and print out reports to distribute to managers.