Travel and Vacations

The Art Of Being In Two Places At Once

Story Published on July 30, 2008 ⋅  Email this Story ⋅  Print this Story ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

One of the most exciting developments to take advantage of the technology of the internet has to be the introduction of web cameras, or web cams as they’re more commonly called. These small, and relatively cheap devices can deliver live, or virtually live images or video of any location in the world to the entire rest of the globe. Web cams have managed to shrink our world so that within a few mouse clicks you can not only read about other countries, you can jump quickly to a selection of web cams in that country and have a look yourself.

For those people looking at investing overseas, one of the biggest and most significant decisions that they need to make right from the start is which country to invest in. There are plenty of websites, books and leaflets offering advice and information about a variety of possible locations, and in many cases these surprise people with possibilities that might not otherwise have been considered. Some people just go for the most traditional countries, such as Spain, but many people choose to buy into countries that are just starting to creep onto the radar as far as investment is concerned. But the problem is that photographs can be doctored, or taken on a particularly extraordinary summer’s day.

The world it seems is getting smaller – with not just those looking in to the idea of investing in property abroad looking at far flung countries as though they were just a few blocks away. More and more people are looking in to holidaying in countries or locations they’ve never been to before, and even investors are starting to look into the possibilities that some countries are starting to offer, which wouldn’t otherwise have been considered. Cheap travel and the ease of booking online may have made the world seem small, but there is still always going to be the matter if mileage and distance to hamper our plans.

It is the technology of web cams which offers an incredible solution here, for both overseas property investors and those looking to take a holiday somewhere new. Although the glossy magazines and professional websites may make the location look very appealing, being able to see, at any time, live video of that location lets you make the judgement for yourself before you commit your time and money.

There’s nothing quite like being able to peer through the winter gloom and cold greyness, or stare out through the window in your office at the wider world, and then log on to a web cam somewhere and admire the summer sun and golden beaches of your favourite destination. It may even be that you own property abroad, and it could be that you’re able to admire the view from your very own balcony! For holidaymakers, you could admire the view you’ll be seeing for real very soon, or the view you had from your hotel room last time you went away.

Of course, there’s another advantage to having these web cams, whether they’re your own, or set up by businesses or private individuals in the area, and that is that they are fantastic for publicity and advertising. If you have purchased property abroad, and you intend to let this out, one of the biggest problems you face is trying to persuade people to come, that the location is fantastic, and that they’ll love it. This is especially true if you’ve chosen somewhere less well known. Having access to a web cam allows you to direct potential customers to it to allow them to see for themselves.

Yet another advantage, if you have a property abroad, is of course the aspect of security. Having a web cam that actually overlooks your property allows you to keep an eye on it at any time, and most cameras come with the option to take video only when movement is detected. Having internal web cams allows you to shows potential customers what the property is like, and allows you to keep an eye on the place when you’re away. Obviously you would have an issue with privacy, since residents would not like the idea of you spying on them – so these would have to be removed during occupation.

It still seems incredible to me now that, as I sit here with the wind buffeting my window, the rain half heartedly smearing my view of the grey skies, my monitor is happily displaying live video from Javea, with white topped waves chasing one another gaily across the golden sands that stretch for miles, watched over by the distant mountains and an endless sky which seems to challenge my idea of blue. With live video fed to me from anywhere in the world, and virtual tours of properties across the globe, what does the future of technology hold for us, to make the next continent just that little bit closer?

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