Setting up AIM Accounts and using iChat for Video Conferencing using a Macintosh Computer with OS X

Creating your video chat account: (If you have a .mac account you can go to "Setting up the Computer")

1. Go to the AIM Registration Website
2. It may take several tries to get a unique screen name, you might try adding a few numbers to the end of your login or a combination of names.
3. You do not need to add anything to your profile,  just create an account.
4. Your account should now be ready to use once you get the screen that states “You have a screen name”

Setting up the computer

1. Plug your computer into an outlet.
2. Plug a wired network cable into the back of your computer, although your computer accesses wireless networks it is best to plug it directly in to do video conferencing.
3. Take the iSight Camera out of it’s case, attach the cable and stand and plug it into the back of the laptop. (If you have a newer Mac you won't need to do this, your camera is built-in!
4. Startup the laptop.

Using the iChat AV software

1. Launch iChat from the dock and log in using your AIM username and password. (It will ask you for a .mac account or an AIM account, if you have a .mac account you can use that one)
2. You need to add other accounts into your buddy lists of the users to have conversations with them.
3. To add someone to your buddy list, from the “Buddies” menu, select “add a Buddy” or from you “Buddy List” window, select the + button at the bottom left-hand corner.
4. From the window that opens, select “New Person” and another window will open that has “Account type:” and “Account name:”
5. Select “AIM” for the “Account type:” and type in the AIM account name for the person you want to connect to. Add their first and last name as well (email is optional).
6. Once the account info is entered, select the “Add” button at the bottom of the window. The person you just entered should now appear in your buddy list. If they are not on the list then select the + at the bottom of the buddy list window and then find their name in the list that appears, click once on them and then click on “Select Buddy” to add their name to your buddy list.
7. A green circle in front of a buddies name indicates that they are online. To have a video chat with them, click on the green, camera icon with the camera after their name. This will invite them to a video chat. They will have to accept your invitation by clicking on the “Accept” button in the window that opens on their computer. Once they click on accept, you are video chatting.
8. If the camera does not appear next to the persons name that means that one of you does not have your camera connected. If a phone icon appears next to their name instead you can audio chat.
9. To send text messages, select the name of the person n the Buddy list and from the Buddies menu, select “Invite to Chat” and type a welcome message and press enter. The person will need to click accept to text message back to you. The same process applies to audio chatting or doing a one-way video chat.