Skype – Safe, Secure and Legal

1. Skype – Safe, Secure and Legal Tony Brett Deputy Head of Information and Support Group Head of IT Support Staff Services Oxford University Computing Services

2. We’ll talk about these things • Why use Skype? • Installing and Configuring • Doing it on a mobile device • Getting the environment right • Prepare, Test and Practise • Doing a presentation with slides • Working with a partner organisation • Backup plans • Working with the PSTN • Demo • Final tips

3. People use Skype because... • Skype to Skype calls are free • Skype is cheaper than airline tickets • Some friends/family are a long way away • It’s good to see someone as well as hear them • Video gives a much better sense of communication • Sound quality can be better than a regular phone • It’s pretty easy to install and set up • It can be used for interviews

4. People dislike Skype because... • Voice delay can be difficult • It can invade privacy • It can be a barrier to doing work • Not a whole lot else!

5. IT Staff are your friends... • If you expect support for using Skype... • Or if the machine is college/dept owned... • Then as your IT Support Staff first. • It makes their life easier and yours!

6. Don’t start it unless you need it • At login, need to untick “Start Skype when the computer starts”

7. Doing it on a mobile device • Now available for Android, iOS tablets and phones • Can use front facing camera • Use WiFi rather than 3G if possible • Can be extremely useful • Make sure battery is well-charged

8. Equipment • Camera should be reasonable quality • but you don’t need to spend a fortune • Echo-cancelling Microphones are useful for group situations • Headset good for echo-cancelling for just one user • Consider a data projector for a bigger interview panel • Don’t rely on computer speaker and microphone • Don’t run laptops on batteries!

9. Your computer needs to have the resources free to do it • Use wired rather than WiFi network connection if you can • 100kbits/s each way • Not much these days • Shut down other applications • Other apps can have a huge impact on quality • Avoid Relays, Supernodes, TCP • You can see this stuff in technical call info • Make sure you are using a current or at least recent version of Skype • Encoding is better and requires less bandwidth

10. Environment is important • Avoid distractions in the background • If you are wondering what is going on out of frame then ask! • Use appropriate lighting and do it yourself too • Be careful with bright sun as cameras are not as contrast-sensitive as human eyes • Back-lighting creates silhouettes, too much light gives washed-out appearance • Make sure cameras are at correct height so you can both look directly into them

11. Not at 3am in Pyjamas • Think about times of calls, sensitive to their timezone and yours • Best if both parties are alone • Shared spaces are bad for this • Dress appropriately for anything even semi-formal • Don’t do anything on a skype call you wouldn’t do in person • They may have another screen or be recording!

12. Beware of being recorded... • Can use two channels • One for interviewer, one for interviewee • Pamela is a Skype add-on that you can use • You should get permission to record (as part of the recording) • It’s OK to ask if you are being recorded

13. Nobody likes 3am... • Do you work better in the morning or evening? • When do they work better? • Can you agree a time that works for both of you? • Don’t be afraid to ask

14. Test & Practice • Do a test call with someone you know who is nearby so you can meet them face to face afterwards and compare notes • Do test calls the day before the main call to test quality and agree time • Important to do at same time of day as the real call to check bandwidth etc. • Do another test 10 mins before if you wish • This depends on how important the call is

15. Doing a presentation with slides • You could have colleague send you a presentation for you to advance when they say • Can put it on a projector and colleague on computer screen • Make sure you are both on same slide • Use numbers! • More recent versions of Skype enable screen sharing • But this consumes more bandwidth so use with care

16. Partner organisations can help • You may have a good relationship with your old school or University • They may be willing to set up a Skype Room • Have better AV equipment • Maybe a graphics tablet for showing working of problems • Technical support to hand

17. Have a backup plan • Things can go wrong! • Get a phone number you can call the other person on, in advance • Be sure to ring other party if Skype fails and you can’t reconnect • They will need reassuring! • You may be able to email

18. You can have a phone number and call phones • This costs money • Can be much cheaper than using normal phones • Quality not as good as skype-skype calls • SMS also possible • Can be useful for a function-specific phone number requirement

19. Demo

20. Remember... • It’s OK to give this a go • Don’t let the odd problem put you off • If it goes wrong you can try again • Digital natives are more comfortable with this stuff than you might think • This isn’t the best way to speak and I would always prefer face-to-face • But it is better than none at all and better even than just phone

21. Questions? • Thank you for attending today