As a devoted gadget lover, I’m always looking for the next best thing to make my life easier! Recently, I was in hot pursuit of something to use for video chats with my long-distance grandkids. I already had a phone tripod that worked great for some of the things we did, but not others. For example, when we tried to play a board game, getting a view of the gameboard was a challenge. For my long-distance video chats to flow more naturally, I needed a flexible set up. So, it was love at first sight when I discovered my new favorite accessory for long-distance video chats, a phone holder gooseneck arm mount!
Using this Accessory for Long-distance Video Chats
The gooseneck arm can hold my phone in a variety of directions. The phone can be held directly in front, down towards the table, or pretty much anywhere I need. Now I can move more easily from one activity to the next. What a difference! Once I got the hang of it, the possibilities just grew.
When I move the flexible arm to face the table, I can play board games or do crafts with my grandkids. Facing it forward, we can sit and talk together. When I shift it higher, we can stand and move around. Now our video chats are so much more relaxing and interesting. Even better, since I’m able to set the phone to work like a tripod, it’s like two phone holders in one!
A Little Review
I’ve had my gooseneck arm mount for five months. The gooseneck’s flexible arm and clamp have worked well.
- I place the phone in the exact spot I need. It stays put and doesn’t slip.
- The clamp securely attaches the arm to the table. Even when I move the arm around, it remains tightly clamped.
- I move the gooseneck arm gently and carefully, in order to preserve its function.
The Gooseneck Arm Mount Setup
Although I hesitate to give tech advice, I’d like to go out on a limb and talk about setup. In my experience, the setup dictates what kind of activities I can video most clearly.
Sometimes, I keep it simple. My phone sits in the gooseneck arm clamp. This works great for talking, reading, cooking, games, and a little in-place dancing. For this setup I use a video chat like Facetime.
Other times, I’ve used both the mounting arm and my laptop. I choose this setup when I do things like artwork with the grandkids. Since giving them the best view can sometimes block mine, I watch what I’m doing on the laptop screen as we draw. This way, I see what the grandkids see. And because I’m using both my phone and laptop, Zoom or any other video conferencing app seems to work the best. A tip: just remember to turn off your phone’s audio, so you don’t get feedback!
Sharing ideas
From time to time, Carrie and I will be sharing different ways we use technology to connect with our long-distance grandkids. As in this post, our goal is to help you create a chat experience that’s both more natural feeling and fun, for you and your grands.
We’d love to know what kind of set up you’re using. What works best for you?