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[B][FONT=Arial][SIZE=4]An example of a little bit of science fiction coming true[/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
You don't have to be that old to recall watching characters on TV or at the movies talking to video-call wrist-watches and others somehow viewing a scene hundreds or thousands of miles away, in real time. Less than ten years ago this would have been pure science fiction, but not any more.
It's one of my daughters' birthday tomorrow; she will be 15. My wife, Julia, had left it too late to get a card, so I volunteered. "You don't mind if I choose one, do you?," I asked. I could see that she would really have liked to have had some input. And then I had an idea.
In the card store I rather self-consciously switched Skype on in my smartphone. I knew Julia would be in front of her laptop - and webcam. To cut a long story short, using Skype video-calling, and with the rear camera on my phone enabled, Julia was able to view all the cards I pointed the camera at and, with me, decide on the one we thought would be best
Although it was an odd experience to start with - being in public - within seconds I was completely focused on the task of conversing with Julia and picking and showing cards to her. I've used Skype on my phone like this before when Julia has asked me to find a document or folder to bring to her at the office, but this time it was in public, for example. Apart from the phone initially not wanting to switch from the front camera at first, everything went really well. I can see using this functionality being routine in the future.
Even though our daughter is only just 15, I'm pretty sure she will be impressed and more than a little amazed when she hears how her card was chosen.
At least you put it to good use, and kept yourself out of trouble ;)
There would have been no chance of using a video option to help with the shopping, simply due to lack of a decent 3G signal.
Fortunately, my phone happens to be dual-SIM so I could switch over from the poor signal '3' network to my PAYG GiffGaff SIM at the touch of a button and was able to do the texting. This would not have been an option with any of my previous phones, given the way UK networks are in the Dark Ages compared to other countries when it comes to dual-SIM phones.
I mention this because, while your use of video was ingenious to share the shopping experience, my experience is that this country still has a long way to go before such things become ubiquitous.