New Asynchronous Video Conferencing (Mail vs. Threads)

There are many people enamored with Skype or Yahoo IM for video conference calls, but with some new web 2.0 apps we may see some users moving towards browser based services instead. I've already mentioned the usefulness of Stickam.com when it comes to video conferencing, broadcasting that event, and even recording it. For a better form of asynchronous video messaging check out Tokbox and Seesmic.


Tokbox

This is as easy as it gets. Login, touch a button and your sending video messages all from your browser. You're notified by email if your recipient watches your message or sends one back. You can even make public video messages - tokbox's way of adding a twitteresque feature that can compete with up and coming sites like 12seconds.tv. The video quality at talkbox looks great and if you're really not into the browser-ball-and-chain then you can download the desktop client which runs on Adobe Air.



Best features:

• URL as contact info (like an email or phone number - anyone with the URL can call you)
• Embedable widget (for places like MySpace, Facebook, Blogger, and more) allows one click calling for other users to call or message you.
  
• Unlimited number of conference callers (according to the FAQ - untested by me)
• 15 minutes of video message time
• API for devs
  

Seesmic

Seesmic seems to be drawing an international crowd to publicly discuss virtually anything in a threaded video conversation. Essentially, you can make a public video post recorded using your webcam and mic (flash) - a question perhaps - then, users who speak your language can respond with their own videos - hopefully answers to your question.

Here's an example... This user says 'show us your favorite iPhone app'.

Best Features:

• Your having a conversation with the world!
  
• Send video messages - converse privately
• Embed videos (not threads) easily

I'm not sure there's much for me on Seesmic, but there are a lot of people spending a lot of time there. I expect Seesmic to gain popularity for the webcamming crowd. Although it's been a while since YouTube installed a 'Reply to this Video' button, it still doesn't feel like many folks are using youtube for threaded video conversation like you see here.

I could see this site used in a communications class: Ask a question on Seesmic. How did users respond? Perhaps this could even help in the creation of an ePortfolio by posting a thread of former employers and colleagues who have great things to say about you. The video document resume of the future! Feel like adding your two cents? Respond to this video below here:

In either case, it seems the idea of video calling and public broadcasting is finding a crowd. How far it bleeds into popular culture and what effect it has on education as younger students familiar with the technology enter higher ed remain to be seen.