There you have it. Sounded to me like just do it, and start the conversation. No magical how-to. How have you talked about this subject with your peers? Your children?

In this video, we find out how Michael became the infamous @churchbartender and why he didn’t quite make it to The Idea Camp DC Edition in person, though he did participate with The Idea Camp via the internet. We really need to find better language than “in real life”, because people did participate online in real life, even though they weren’t physically in the same room.

To make good on the title of this blog post, I used the brand-new private-beta web app called wetoku at wetoku.com and conducted this video chat there. The web app automatically records the chat, and provides the embed code that you can copy & paste into your blog or website. Very very handy! No need to download and install extra software. No need for post-production.

This kind of web app is something I’ve been searching for for months. So glad someone was able to put it all together! Thank you wetoku!

part 1 above, part 2 below — talking about moving from blogger to self-hosted wordpress and a mention about #thenines free online conference for church leaders on 09/09/09 http://thenines.leadnet.org

The wetoku web app is in private beta, and I wish I could give out invite codes here. For now, you can get invite codes over at makeuseof.com.

1. When people post a tweet in the Chat Live window and click “Say”, my twitcam URL will be added to the end of their tweet. That’s a very infectious viral way to get the livestream URL out to the masses. But, to the unsuspecting viewer, it’s an unexpected surprise. And, it cuts down your character count from 140 to 95. Tip: abbrv8.
2. When or if I reload the web browser window, then I can’t go back to broadcasting on a previously-activated twitcam URL, because twitcam instantly stops recording and starts archiving the video. You cannot pick up and continue livestreaming. So if you tweeted a URL, and people were still jumping in, you’ll have to send out a new URL. In other words, these twitcam URLs are one-time livestream use.
3. Every viewer that wants to chat has to have a twitter account. It’s one more step that occasionally I don’t want to hinder the viewer with. I think it’s Ustream that has a config option to allow or disallow viewers to type the chat room without having to register. Viewers can watch without chatting, though that’s much less interesting.

And a side note. By having the chat room melded with a twitter account, it can quickly clutter up the twitter stream. Just what we need *sarcasm* : more side chatter to welcome the fail whale because we miss it.

After months of searching, I have not yet found a working solution that fits the bill. I know bloggingheads.tv can produce it. I just can’t find a web app accessible to the masses, yet. The closest web app I’ve found is woome.com, but that’s for video dating, and I’m wanting a web app for general usage, be it personal or professional, free or paid. Here’s what I’m looking for:

• easy to use – so a non-techie can use it
• no software download or install (cross-platform, browser independent)
• supports video chat for 2 users (from multiple locations)
• records the video chat to be played on-demand and/or embed-able
• bonus: live-streams the video chat + records it + supports a chat room for 100+ viewers
• bonus: supports 4 simultaneous webcams for panel-discussion video chat + records it + audience

Now, there are some creative solutions that people have pieced together with a mix of hardware and/or software. TWiT Live uses something called the “Skypesaurus” to live-stream the host Leo Laporte with (up to) 4 simultaneous video chatters:

… Colleen has combined four independent Windows PCs to run four instances of Skype into one monster beast: The Skypesaurus. Rawr! We had to do this because Skype only allows one video-caller at a time and some of our shows have as many as four online panelists. We tried software solutions like Oovoo and iChat but they didn’t give us good enough audio and video – Skype really is the king for that.

There are some web apps that are almost there:

• Tokbox is my favorite multi-user video chat. Currently doesn’t record, and currently no moderation so everyone in the audience can participate in video chat.
• TinyChat is a very good multi-user video chat, but its paid version currently records each webcam video to separate .FLV files.
• Stickam Debate Room can show 2 main webcam speakers, and 4 other video spectators, and an audience, but currently doesn’t record.

I have heard these softwares mentioned for use with recording a video chat (some can even live-stream, too):

Windows only

VidBlaster – state-of-the-art video production tool
Pamela for Skype – call management tool; can record video chats & more [ed.note: allegedly can record video, I can only get it to record audio or only record my portion of video -- I'd prefer it record both sides' videos + audios]
WebcamMax – video effects for webcam
ManyCam – video effects for webcam for use with multiple apps (free)
Split Camera – virtual video clone and split video capture driver (free)
CamStudio – free screen recording software

CallBurner
VodBurner
Supertintin
Evaer
Replay Telecorder

Mac & Windows
IMcapture

Mac only

BoinxTV – robust live video production app
CamTwist – video effects for webcam
CallRecorder – record your Mac Skype calls
ManyCam – video effects for webcam for use with multiple apps (free)

To say it another way, I want to record a split-screen video chat, first and foremost. If I can also live-stream it to an audience, that’d be an added bonus.

How do you stream and record video chat interviews? [reply to @djchuang on twitter]

I had signed up for a tokbox account months ago, but didn’t have people to try it out with. So my account signup sat buried in the inbox.

Now webcams are going more mainstream. I noticed (almost?) every laptop at the retail store (starting with the letter B) had a built-in webcam, even the tiny 8″ netbook. And then to hear 2 of my non-tech colleagues get webcams and using Skype for the first time in their lives. (!)

Now that webcams are mainstream (and having broadband internet becoming common helps the cause), I googled for a free web-based multi-user video chat web app. I don’t want to mess with software downloads and installation. I don’t think non-techies want to mess with software either. So, to find tokbox again was a treat. Too bad it locks up when all the CPU cycles are eaten up.

aside: yes, Tokbox handed out tacos outside of Yahoo last week to spread info about their job openings, and spread the good cheer

Ken Fong‘s speaking at a conversation about Progressive Christian Culture and Innovation at USC tomorrow 10/30 night. Just found out; can’t make it, b/c I’m en route to DFW via PHX. There’s gonna be free food from Mama’s Hot Tamales Café.

Had great phone conversation with Pete Sung, and affirming to hear of his passion for God’s Kingdom and next gen Asian Americans. Too bad he zapped his goatee.

And, if you’re curious about my excursion last week, I posted a handful of my best photos over at flickr: