The promise of the internet that many of us started looking towards a decade or two ago is starting to get realized. When we think back and look at what the potential of the internet held, one of the biggest elements that we imagined was the expansion of communication through direct video chat. Today, there are iPads with Facetime, Skype, Rounds, and other variations of video chat that take our initial dreams and perspectives and enhance them. Our horizons have expanded. This infographic takes a look at 11 of the ways that video chat is being used today to enhance and empower real-world relationships….

Assuming you’re one who enjoys nothing more than to gaze into the loins of a stranger, you’ll be delighted beyond reason to learn that Chatroulette is back, with a shiny new 2.0 and a promise of all the sweaty junk you can be hot and bothered to look upon. Okay, maybe not that last part. But that’s not going to stop daring exhibitionists around the globe from keeping their webcam at crotch-level – and, after having taken it for a short test drive, it certainly hasn’t. I guess my big question for Ternovskiy is: what’s 2.0 about this, dude? To be honest, I dig the new interface. I’m a fan of really, really minimal…

Google’s new calling feature, typically poorly named and chucked out there to exist somewhere between Google Chat and Google Voice is a hit compared to, well, Google. The service launched on the 25th of August, and in just 24 hours one million calls were placed. The new feature takes aim at Skype, already offering cheap calling over the net with their dedicated client, but another rumored target is Facebook. Google’s Buzz might be fizzling, but Facebook can’t compete with Google when it comes to communications. It remains to be seen if Google will rethink it’s product line, since they appear to…

“I believe that Chatroulette was great in the first honeymoon days after it was launched,” says Andrey Ternovskiy, the founder of Chatroulette, “before it was discovered by a strange people, who started to abuse the true freedom and democratic nature of the service.” Andrey’s been feeling a bit down lately. Wouldn’t you, after the app you so lovingly hand-crafted to create “a perfect video world” had devolved into a wretched hive of scum and villainy, with more users willing to expose their unmentionables than their face? Yeah, you would. Stop giggling. Seriously, stop it. Can’t you see he’s…

Even more exciting than American Beauty director Sam Mendes at the helm is the news that at least one of the new iPhone 4 commercials will be demonstrating a video chat component. Engadget has declared that this is not a rumor anymore. A trusted source dropped the ball and confirmed that the new front facing camera spied in those photos from Vietnam will be used in a commercial featuring a mother and daughter having a video chat conversation. Posts on Twitter are now popping up as celebrity actor/actress hopefuls prepare to go for auditions with the award-winning director. While these details of…