I absolutely have to get around...

[native00]

...the software that my school district uses to block internet use. Now, I don't care about dirty websites (my god, I am a teacher), but it blocks the use of any chat programs. I'm not too interested in chatting during worktime either.

I am having my first child in late February and was hoping to view him during the work day using iChat. This is currently not possible and I'm hoping some skillful person has some ideas...

 

[Phat_Pat]

iChat works at my school......

try aim express

 

[native00]

I will tomorrow, but does AIM Express have video like iChat? Thats the whole point for me.

 

[homerjward]

have you got a 15" powerbook? cause if that's what you're using you can get a WAN (what kind depends on your cell provider) PCMCIA card (most support macs) and bypass the network entirely. also if your phone supports being used as a modem (wireless phoen i mean) you can use that and bypass the network entirely. there's this guy at my school with a pc laptop and an EDGE card who surfs the web during the day with no school firewall--it's kickass.
edit: unless you can use EDGE or UTMS or something WAN isnt a viable option for video really...didn't notice the video part

 

[Lau]

If there's no way round it, there may be a way to stream a webcam onto the web, and you could view the site at school. You could even password protect it for privacy.

 

[skubish]

If the ports iChat uses are by your network there is not a lot you can do to get around it. Maybe you should suggest that being a Teacher you should have access. Come up with a good story like you could use it to chat with other teachers in the building or across the world. Explain how you could use ichat to have guess speakers call in, etc.

Honestly I think there are a lot of good reasons to allow the use of ichat at school.

 

[native00]

All of your replies have been very, very helpful...thanks people. I actually know the directot of IT for my whole district, so I'm going to send them him an email about somehow allowing teachers to use iChat, because yes, the ports are closed.

I also remeber seeing a few websites just for cams around the world, and if I look hard enough I should find one where I can somehow post mine from home with some kind of password.

 

[katie ta achoo]

Maybe you could open it on your Mac from home, and VNC in?

 

[iSaint]

I just got iChat to work at my college with their proxy settings. Might you ask a techie for some inside information to get you through?

 

[native00]

Yeah, we have a tech guy at our school and i'm gonna hit him up tomorrow.