Skype for Members of the Riderwood Community Arseni Verner December 10, 2012 1 В В Table of Contents 1. Preface вЂ“ page 5 2. Introduction вЂ“ page 6 3. Download вЂ“ page 7 4. Install вЂ“ page 11 5. Create an account вЂ“ page 14 6. Login вЂ“ page 17 7. Calibrate вЂ“ page 18 8. Find contacts вЂ“ page 22 9. Make a call вЂ“ page 26 10. Send a text message вЂ“ page 31 11. Transfer a file вЂ“ page 34 12. References вЂ“ page 36 13. Glossary вЂ“ page 37 2 В В 14. Preface Not all elderly people are familiar with and know how to use Skype. They have difficulties and psychological barriers. However, they can benefit from using Skype. They can communicate with more ease, depth, and economy than with otherwise. This topic is fairly new, and people will be happy if I help them. My surveys received responses from 35 people. 34 have relatives or friends they wish to communicate with, and 31 wish to use Skype to do so, but only 15 already use it at all, while just 2 people use it as their main method of communication. This illustrates the gap between desire and ability to use Skype. However, the research also showed that people mostly needed help with Skype itself (23), or the microphone (10) or web camera (12), while nobody needed help with a mouse or keyboard. This greatly simplifies the task of educating people on how to use Skype. I have a solid knowledge of computers, which I can pass on to others. But I also have relatives overseas who have trouble using computers, as well as the experience teaching them to overcome their difficulties, so I can empathize. This puts me in a good position to write a manual like this. My research shows that over 88% of the audience is interested in using Skype to communication, so they manual will be extremely relevant. Also, 17 people wanted the manual as an email attachment, 13 people wanted the manual as a hardcopy, and only 6 people wanted to download the manual from the website. Thus, we should worry about both physical and electronic readability. 3 В В Introduction This is a manual to help you use Skype, a free program that lets you communicate with friends and relatives in various ways. Similar to a phone, it can transmit audio; in addition, it has the option of displaying video images captured by your computer's web camera. It makes numerous other things easy, including talking to the younger generation, avoiding huge phone bills for international communication, sending files, text messages, or voice mails, and holding group calls with multiple people at the same time. The manual will first describe how to get Skype working on your computer, including the steps of downloading, account setup, installation, calibration, and contact management. Then, the manual will instruct on various uses of Skype, including calls, text messages, and file transfers. If you already have Skype, feel free to jump to whichever part of Skype you need help with. Otherwise, this manual will describe every step you need in order to succeed. 4 В В Step 1: Download First, you have to go to the Skype website. Open your browser and go to www.skype.com. If you have an electronic version of the manual, you may simply be able to click on the hyperlink to go there. You should see something similar to this: Click on вЂњdownloadsвЂќ near the top of the webpage. 5 В В Step 1: Download Your browser should direct you to a page that looks like this: Select the device you are using - for example, вЂњComputerвЂќ for a desktop or laptop, вЂњMobileвЂќ for a phone, and вЂњTabletвЂќ for iPad-like devices. Then, scroll down on the next page. 6 В В Step 1: Download Here, select the operating system you have. This will usually be вЂњWindowsвЂќ or вЂњMacintoshвЂќ for a computer, and вЂњiOSвЂќ or вЂњAndroidвЂќ for a mobile phone. Most of the time, the big green button will automatically let you pick the version that is right for you. 7 В В Step 1: Download Now, you will see another screen with the actual download, which will depend on your browser or operating system. For the Firefox browser in Windows, you will see the image shown here. You can then click вЂњSave FileвЂќ, and save the file where you like. You can access it from the browser, or from your operating system. This is an вЂњinstallerвЂќ file, which will install Skype when you run it. A program named SkypeSetupFull.exe will show up on your screen. You must run it. 8 В В Step 2: Install Next, we can move on to the step of installing Skype. You can choose a language from the drop-down list if you want, but if English is your language, you can just click the вЂњI agree вЂ“ nextвЂќ button on the bottom right to go on to the next step. 9 В В Step 2: Install Skype may offer you some things before it installs itself. You may want to decline some of them. To do so, click the box with a check on the left side, so that there is no check in the box, and the box is empty. For example, the above screen offers to change your web browserвЂ™s home page, which you do not want. It may also offer a вЂњClick on CallвЂќ option, which will allow you to make Skype calls directly from your web browser. Finally, Skype will install itself. It may take a few minutes, so please wait until it finishes. 10 В В Step 3: Create an Account Once youвЂ™ve installed Skype, it immediately comes up with this screen, which asks you to either provide your username and password, or create an account. If you are a first time user, you must create an account. To do so, click on вЂњCreate an account.вЂќ 11 В В Step 3: Create an Account To create an account, you have to visit https://login.skype.com/account/signup-form. If you previously clicked вЂњCreate an account,вЂќ then you are already here. Then, you have to provide following information: 1) name and email 2) country and language 3) Skype name and password 4) the verification code This on the left picture shows the form that you see on the web. Do not worry that you do not see the details. All important fields are marked by red and numbered and then presented in the next page in a large format. You see enlarged fields numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 that you must fill. The other fields can be left blank, if you value your own privacy. After you are done, simply click the big green button on the bottom left of the webpage to continue. 12 В В Step 3: Create an Account 1. First, type in your first and last name, then type in your email address twice. From the surveys, it is assumed that you already have an email address. 2. Now you have to select your country and language. 13 В В Step 3: Create an Account 3. Choose a Skype Name to uniquely identify you. A last name followed by a birth year is a common choice, for example, thompson1934. Then, type in a password twice. It has to be at least 6 characters, and has to have a letter and a number. Try to think of something that is easy to remember but hard to guess. 4. Most of web sites require security check or code entering to make sure this is a person and not a robot uses resources. Here you see an example of this code written as letters or numbers. Check the вЂњby emailвЂќ box and type in the code. If you have trouble reading it, you can click the listen button to have it spoken to you. 14 В В Step 4: Login Once youвЂ™ve created an account, you must log in. Type in your username and password and click sign in. 15 В В Step 5: Calibration When signing in for the first time, after pressing continue, you will see a screen where you can calibrate your microphone and webcam. Calibration will allow you to calibrate your uncalibrated microphone, speaker, and webcamera. First off is the actual calibration. Here we make sure our microphone, webcamera, and speakers are working. If you have a laptop, your microphone, camera, and speakers are possibly built in. If you donвЂ™t have headphones, choose speakers from the list under вЂњSpeakersвЂќ, instead 16 В В of the default вЂњHeadphonesвЂќ. If the вЂњTest SoundвЂќ button is playing some sounds, then it is working. If you donвЂ™t have an external microphone, try selecting вЂњinternalвЂќ from the list. The bar under the list should flash green when you speak or make some sounds. And if you donвЂ™t have an external camera, try choosing вЂњinternal webcameraвЂќ if it is not already selected. You should see an image of your surroundings if it is working. If you yourself are not in the image, then try moving yourself or your camera. For your convenience, a stuffed toy was placed in front of the camera as an example. 17 В В Step 5: Calibration During calibration, you also have the option of taking a picture of yourself to use it for your profile, by clicking Continue. We will cover how to do this, but you can skip it by clicking Add Later. Be aware that the profile picture you use will be visible to everyone. If you chose to continue, you will see this screen. You can use the bar under the picture to adjust its zoom level. The results of this can be seen to the right. 18 В В Step 5: Calibration Now we are done, and can go to the main screen. This screen will show you how your profile appears to everyone on the internet. 19 В В Step 6: Find Contacts Now you are ready to find your best friend, relative, or your grandchild assuming they have skype account already. Picture below shows the main screen. You click on вЂњContactsвЂќ and now it has only вЂњTest ServiceвЂќ, no real people there yet. For demonstration purposes we will be using two different accounts to show how you can communicate between people. One account has name вЂњJonathan SmithвЂќ and another name is вЂњHenry JacksonвЂќ. We call ourselves вЂњ Henry JacksonвЂќ and our contact name that we will be searching for is вЂњ Jonathan SmithвЂќ. 20 В В Step 6: Find Contacts Click вЂњContactsвЂќ at the top of the Skype main screen, then вЂњAdd a Contact.вЂќ The following window should pop up: This is the contact adding screen. Enter the name in the field called вЂњFull name.вЂќ We use вЂњJonathan SmithвЂќ as an example, which gives us over 200 matches! Using someoneвЂ™s real name (Full name) can be tricky, because there may be multiple people with the same name, and you are probably trying to add only one of them. So what do we do? It is easiest to add someone if you already know their Skype account (Skype name). Skype accounts are unique (there can be no two accounts with the same name), and usually belong to a specific person. If you donвЂ™t know their account, an email address or phone number is usually a better fallback than someoneвЂ™s real name. For the same reason, try to use a cell phone number rather than a home or work phone number. 21 В В Enter the Skype Name, instead of their name, which in our case is jonathan_smith35. This is a unique Skype name and can be found immediately. Then, just click on вЂњAddвЂќ. You can also write a message when inviting someone. After you add a new contact, close the contact window. Back to the main window we go! The person who you sent an invitation will receive a notice that shows вЂњcontact requestвЂќ. In our case, вЂњJohnвЂќ sees the invite message that was sent by вЂњHenry.вЂќ вЂњIgnoreвЂќ will delete the invite without doing anything, and вЂњBlockвЂќ do the same while preventing further invites. вЂњProfileвЂќ will bring up this window, with HenryвЂ™s information. вЂњAdd to contactsвЂќ will approve the HenryвЂ™s invitation, adding you to each otherвЂ™s contact lists. Now you are ready to contact Jonathan Smith. 22 В В Step 6: Find contacts Now that youвЂ™ve added Jonathan Smith, you can see his profile picture. Jonathan Smith is another account IвЂ™ve used for this manual. For his picture, I decided to use a portrait by Joseph Ducreux, an 18th century French painter. 23 В В Step 7: Calls After all your efforts, you can finally make a call. To make a call, start by selecting the person you want to call on the left. Then, click the Call button. This screen shows that you are connecting to the person, in this case Jonathan Smith. Jonathan Smith has to pick up the call in order for you to connect. The crossed-out camcorder shows that your webcam is not used for this call. However, you can click on it on any time to enable the camera; then, this will be symbolized by the camcorder not being crossed out. 24 В В Step 7: Calls This is what Jonathan sees. He has to click answer to pick up the call, or he can click decline to not pick up the call. 25 В В Step 7: Calls This is what it looks like once you are connected. The video shows either a static image of the other personвЂ™s profile picture, or a video stream from their webcamera. Plus, it shows the time. Jonathan Smith will see your stuff-toyed profile picture. You also can bring up the menu from the previous image by mousing over the bottom of the image. 26 В В Step 7: Calls After you finish your first call, you get a survey. You can answer if you want, or click Cancel at the bottom right if you donвЂ™t feel like answering. 27 В В Step 7: Calls Your conversation history now shows that you made the call. The same goes for the person you just called. 28 В В Step 8: Text Messages You can send text messages in Skype. You can send someone a text message by typing in the box. 29 В В Step 8: Text Messages Then, press enter to send the message. The sent message will appear in your history of communications with the person. You can always see it later. 30 В В Step 8: Text Messages The message you sent will also appear in their communication history with you. It's that easy! 31 В В Step 9: File Transfers You can also use Skype to easily send computer files to your friends or relatives. Click the (+) to bring up the menu shown, then click Send File. 32 В В Step 9: File Transfers The file dialog will come up, allowing you to select a file. Select the file you want, and press open. Now, you have to wait for the other person to accept transfer. This current status of the file will show up in your history. The other person gets a dialog that shows that they are receiving the file. They have to click OK to accept the file, at which point they also get a dialog to choose where to save. Skype warns them just in case, because certain types of files can be dangerous. Now, Windows brings up a dialog to save the file. Once they choose where to save the file, the transfer begins. This may take a while, depending on the connection speed and the file size. After the transfer is successful, Skype shows this in the history. Also, the receiver can click вЂњShow in folderвЂќ in the history in order to view the file. 33 В В Bibliography Skype.com. Microsoft, 2012. December 10, 2012. <http://www.skype.com> Joseph Ducreux (Getty Museum). The J. Paul Getty Museum. December 10, 2012. How Browsers Work. Garsiel, Tali. December 10, 2012. <http://taligarsiel.com/Projects/howbrowserswork1.htm> Technical Manuals for the Elderly вЂ“ Can Controlled Language Principles Help? Christoffersen , Ellen and Margrethe H. MГёller. <http://www.asb.dk/fileadmin/www.asb.dk/isek/christoffersen_moller.pdf> MANUALS FOR THE ELDERLY: WHICH INFORMATION CANNOT BE MISSED. Van Horen, F. M. <http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/about-tilburguniversity/schools/humanities/people/maes/VanHoren_Jansen_Maes_Noordman_2001 _JWTC.pdf> Tips for Writing User Manuals. Phil Hodgson, 2007. December 10, 2012. <www.userfocus.co.uk/articles/usermanuals.html> Write it Right. FDA, 1993. <http://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/ucm070771.pdf> Downs, Trudy. Personal interview. November 2012. Verner, Arseni. вЂњSkype Survey вЂ“ University of Maryland.вЂќ Survey. November 2012. Kogan, Serge. Connecting Generations through Video Calls. July 2010. <http://www.g2gconnect.com/uploads/Connecting_Generations_Through_Video_Calls_ -_White_Paper_-_July_2010.pdf> Trapasso, Clare. вЂњSenior centers turn to Skype to connect the elderly with their families.вЂќ November 27, 2011. <http://www.g2gconnect.com/uploads/Connecting_Generations_Through_Video_Calls_ -_White_Paper_-_July_2010.pdf> 34 В В Glossary Address вЂ“ the location of a webpage on the internet Application вЂ“ a type of executable file that is meant to carry out a particular function Browser вЂ“ an application used to view webpages Download вЂ“ to obtain a file from the internet Executable File вЂ“ a file that contains instructions for the computer to do something File вЂ“ a collection of data on the computer that has a name Installer вЂ“ an executable file that is used to place an application on the computer iPhone and Android вЂ“ types of phones that can run Skype iPad вЂ“ a type of tablet computer Link вЂ“ a part of a webpage that makes your web browser go to a different address, after you click on it Run вЂ“ a verb meaning to activate the instructions contained in an executable file Scroll Down вЂ“ to move the bar on the right side of a window, in order to view a different part of a document or webpage Skype вЂ“ an application that allows you to communicate with people in various ways Text Message вЂ“ a message that contains written words Voice Mail вЂ“ a message that contains a sound file Web camera вЂ“ a special kind of camera that is part of, or attached to, a computer Webcam вЂ“ a shorter way of saying web camera Webpage вЂ“ a type of document on the internet that is viewed with a web browser 35 В В