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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Online oddities: the strangest cases of Skype

By Emily Collins


For those having relationship problems, online counselling via Skype is a seemingly-odd service gathering popularity. This works in two ways. Firstly, counsellors who are just starting out, or have offices based far away from patients, can work remotely through the VoIP system. Secondly, for couples who really can't stand being in the same room together, it provides a perfect solution! It's not just marriage counselling either - online therapy is being used to treat everything from depression to anxiety, which could seem strange, but is actually a very novel way to deliver it (especially for those who have problems leaving the house).

VoIP is best memorialised in the film American Pie, when a teenage boy accidentally broadcasts a comprising situation across the internet. The technology is often used for spying and surveillance and this isn't just localised to teenage boys. Middle class adults wanting to check up on their nannies, cleaners or pet-sitters are increasingly using the service in their own homes.

For those that want to be sure that the children are in bed at the right time or that the babysitter isn't drinking on the job, Skype is completely perfect. Skype has also been used as a security device, although we don't condone using it as a full time system.

It wasn't long before online dating caught up with the real thing, which depending on your outlook can be a good or a bad thing. Finding love online has become one of the internet's most prolific pastimes whether due to shyness or time constraints and people are even using Skype to conduct their dates.

Perhaps the biggest leap towards VoIP has been in the workplace. With the fact it lowers costs and can improve network management, many businesses are turning to VoIP for their network solutions. It used to be the case that attending business meetings was hard work, with many involving time-consuming travel. Nowadays many meetings can be done via just one click of the mouse. VoIP is saving money, time and resources without compromising on productivity.




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