Video instant messaging, or online games, for reading groups

Has anyone tried using video instant messaging for running a reading group? If you have I would be really interested in hearing from you. I would also be like to hear from people who would like to trial this as a reading group option.

Video instant messaging is a simple technology to learn. Each person can login to their instant message program of choice and use this as an online forum for discussion. This method would allow people to talk together about what they have read without having to be mobile. It provides social interaction and intellectual stimulation without people needing to meet together in person as they can meet together online. As well as working for older people who are not mobile this may work well for parents at home looking after small children (as they could walk away from the discussion when they needed to attend to their child), and it would also work well for lots of other people as well.

Reading group discussions could also take place in multi user dimensional games, such as World of Warcraft. Participants could agree on the location and time, and use the existing chat function to have the discussion, or they could use voice discussion. People would just need to watch out for wandering hunters and rogues. Imagine having to interrupt a World of Warcraft based reading group to actually fight off imaginary wildlife trying to kill your character. Note World of Warcraft is a subscription game, but libraries could choose to engage with existing World of Warcraft subscribers without those subscribers paying extra. World of Warcraft has more than 11.5 million subscribers each month and they are spread over a range of ages around the world. Some of them may already be amongst your readers