A new, high-tech way to phone home

A few weeks ago, we tried to Skype with my brother, Brian, who lives in Manhattan. He hadn't seen my daughter, Maggie, in a while, so we figured we'd give it a try.

As anyone with a toddler knows, trying to get an 18-month-old to sit still in front of a computer for an extended period of time -- without a kid-friendly game on -- is expecting too much. Needless to say, It didn't work out so well.

So when I heard about Logitech's new TV Cam HD at a media event, I knew I had to try it. This product is the first web cam that features built-in Skype so you can connect to anyone on Skype from the comfort of your couch.

We saw it come to life at the event as we Skyped with actress Dee Wallace, whom you may remember as the mom in the movie "E.T." Talk about a new way to "phone home."

It's really very easy to use. The sleek camera sits on top of the television and the installation is simple: Connect the camera to your Wi-Fi or Ethernet, plug into your HDMI port, turn it on, sign into your user account (or create a new one) and make a video call to a loved one.

The night we received it, we tried it out with my brother again and this time, it was a much better experience. It was great to be able to see and talk to him on the television. This way, Maggie was able to run around the living room and play while we talked and my brother was able to see Maggie in action.

I think this is a great idea for parents to stay in touch with their kids who are away at college as well as a fun way to talk to grandparents, family and friends who live out of state.

You can purchase the Logitech TV Cam HD for $199.99 on logitech.com.