In order to use several features of the Ark project, you must have a webcam and microphone connected to your computer. Please check below for the browser you are using.

# Google Chrome

[Google Chrome](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Setting_Up_Media_Chrome_fd8fb5bc7a.mp4 "aaa")

# Firefox

[Setting Up Media - Firefox.mp4](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Setting_Up_Media_Firefox_75a73a3d69.mp4)

# Safari (MacOS)

[Setting Up Media - Safari.mp4](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Setting_Up_Media_Safari_6b12e270e2.mp4)

# Safari (iPad)

[Setting Up Media - iPad.mp4](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Setting_Up_Media_i_Pad_3f3d602f13.mp4)

# Still having issues?

If the videos above didn't help, here's a few more things you can try:

- When in doubt, refresh the page.
- Try using the Ark Project from a different web browser on your computer.
- Ensure there are no other applications that may be using your webcam and microphone.
- Try accessing your camera and microphone from another application. If you can't, there's probably an issue with your devices.
- Make sure your web browser and operating system is up-to-date.
- Try using a different computer or device if one is available.


large_emiliano-cicero-lq87UxGSiEQ-unsplash.jpg

medium_emiliano-cicero-lq87UxGSiEQ-unsplash.jpg

small_emiliano-cicero-lq87UxGSiEQ-unsplash.jpg

thumbnail_emiliano-cicero-lq87UxGSiEQ-unsplash.jpg

emiliano-cicero-lq87UxGSiEQ-unsplash.jpg

Setting up your Media

Taking an **interview** on the Ark Project is the first step to preserving your Legacy for generations to come.

The goal of the Interview is to talk about yourself, your memories, your experiences, wisdom, and anything else you'd like to share!

Watch the video below for more details on how to get started. Note that you'll need to set up your webcam/microphone before taking an interview - see [Setting up your media](/help/setting-up-your-media) for more information.

large_harli-marten-M9jrKDXOQoU-unsplash.jpg

medium_harli-marten-M9jrKDXOQoU-unsplash.jpg

small_harli-marten-M9jrKDXOQoU-unsplash.jpg

thumbnail_harli-marten-M9jrKDXOQoU-unsplash.jpg

harli-marten-M9jrKDXOQoU-unsplash.jpg

Taking Your Interview

Interviews are the best way to bring new life stories into the Ark Project!

Watch the video below for more information on how to invite a person to Ark and how to begin capturing their Legacy. Note that you'll need to set up your webcam/microphone before conducting interviews - see [Setting up your media](/help/setting-up-your-media) for more information.

large_cookie-the-pom-gySMaocSdqs-unsplash.jpg

medium_cookie-the-pom-gySMaocSdqs-unsplash.jpg

small_cookie-the-pom-gySMaocSdqs-unsplash.jpg

thumbnail_cookie-the-pom-gySMaocSdqs-unsplash.jpg

cookie-the-pom-gySMaocSdqs-unsplash.jpg

Conducting Interviews

There are three types of journals that may be uploaded to the Ark Project. These are *video journals*, *text journals*, and *scan journals*. All types of journals are made searchable and contribute their contents to your Legacy. All journal types should be in first-person and in the original words of the Legacy owner.

All types of journals may be reached from the "Journal" section in the header.

![Journals in header bar](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_14_20_18_b782d26a84.png)

# Video Journals

Video journals allow you to record yourself in a very free-form environment. In order to record video journals, you must have a webcam and microphone connected to your computer. Please see the [Setting up your Media](/help/setting-up-your-media) guide for more information.

![Saving a video journal](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_14_24_38_91bc930eb9.png)

When saving a video journal, you have the chance to give the journal a title and control who, out of your relations, may access it. See [Managing Relations](/help/managing-relations).

Video journals have no time limit. The only person who appears in video journals on a Legacy should be the Legacy owner, or the Legacy may pick up on memories or experiences that aren't faithful to its owner.

# Text Journals

![Sample text journal](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_14_29_34_6a7da557b0.png)

Text journals may be written with the text journal editor. Various formatting may be applied to the journals, and they may even include images!

Just like Video Journals, there is no limit to the length of a text journal. Feel free to structure your journal however is most effective for you. You may also control who can see your entries in the same was as a video journal. See [Managing Relations](/help/managing-relations).

# Scan Journals

![Uploading a scan journal](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_14_30_52_00298fe72d.png)

Scan journals allow you to upload written diaries and journals from years' past to preserve as part of your Legacy. In order to upload a scanned diary, you must already have a PDF copy of the document on your computer.

You may upload multiple PDF documents at once - in case your journal was split into multiple pages. This means you may upload as many journal entries in a row as you want. However for best results, each individual journal entry should be uploaded as a separate scanned journal.

Some PDF documents may be encrypted or locked behind a password - these documents can't be uploaded to Ark at this time.

You may control who has access to your scan journals, just like you can with text and video journals. See [Managing Relations](/help/managing-relations).

large_lilartsy-333oj7zFsdg-unsplash.jpg

medium_lilartsy-333oj7zFsdg-unsplash.jpg

small_lilartsy-333oj7zFsdg-unsplash.jpg

thumbnail_lilartsy-333oj7zFsdg-unsplash.jpg

lilartsy-333oj7zFsdg-unsplash.jpg

Creating Journals

Your Alter Ego is based on the contents you add to your Legacy. It's very difficult, if not impossible, to recreate a real human being in a believable manner. Because of this, **the more data that you add to your Legacy, the more accurate your Alter Ego becomes**.

# Q&A

![Ark QandA](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_14_05_19_5bfaae201f.png)

The best way to add data is to complete **self-guided Q&A sessions** from your main Legacy dashboard. These questions ask a lot about your life, memories, and experiences. These questions aren't required, but completing them may lead to a huge boost for your Alter Ego. More questions are coming soon, so check back often for more opportunities to expand your Legacy!

# Read-outs

![Ark Readouts](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_14_13_24_c222a4e2ba.png)

Additionally, completing the **voice read-outs**, also accessed from your Legacy dashboard, will allow the Ark to learn how you speak - so we may generate an accurate voice for your Legacy.

# Journal

![Journal dashboard](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_14_14_15_f68c5a9362.png)

Lastly, the easiest way to flesh out your Legacy (and thus, your Alter Ego) is to use the Ark Project to journal. Video journals, text journals, and scanned journals all contribute their contents to your Legacy and help preserve your memories and wisdom. The more journals you put into the system, the more robust your Legacy becomes.

large_elisa-photography-tVEMwaR9XqI-unsplash.jpg

medium_elisa-photography-tVEMwaR9XqI-unsplash.jpg

small_elisa-photography-tVEMwaR9XqI-unsplash.jpg

thumbnail_elisa-photography-tVEMwaR9XqI-unsplash.jpg

elisa-photography-tVEMwaR9XqI-unsplash.jpg

Improving your Alter Ego

**Relations** are how you can manage who has access to content on your Legacy. You can think of relations much like you would friends on a social networking site. They are your select group of people who you want to view your Legacy. Likewise, you're able to see their Legacy - it's a two-way street.

# Sending requests

In the header, select Relations. There are two tabs on this screen - one for requests and one for your current relations.

![Existing relations](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_15_12_27_62fcf98bcc.png)

From here, you may remove relations if you don't want them to have access to your Legacy anymore. At the top right of the screen, you may request another user to be relations if you have their email address.

![Sending a request](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_15_13_50_a9e8045bb6.png)

When you click send, the user with this email address will get an email letting them know you sent them a request. Once they accept, they will appear in your list of Relations as well as on your dashboard page, alongside your other relations.

![Relations on dashboard page](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_15_15_58_4bef6339c8.png)

# Incoming requests

When someone sends you a request, they will appear on your relations page.

![Incoming relation request](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_15_25_17_a3319c64ec.png)

You'll want to either pick accept or deny. If you click accept, they will be added to your list of relations.

# Controlling Access

There are two possible settings for your Legacy, regardless of your relations (or lack thereof): private and public.

![Edit legacy details modal](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_15_28_28_c047b7ce0c.png)

This setting can be changed by clicking "Edit legacy details" on your main Legacy dashboard.

- **Public** legacies may be accessed by anybody on the Ark Project. Likewise, anybody with an account may interact with the Alter Ego. This setting alone does **not** give them access to individual journal entries.
- **Private** legacies may only be accessed by the owner or by their relations. Only the owner and their relations may interact with the Alter Ego. This setting alone does **not** give relations access to individual journal entries.

If you want to modify the sharing options of a journal entry, open the appropriate journal's privacy settings - this is a small edit icon you can find when you view a video, text, or scanned journal.

![Edit privacy settings modal](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_15_32_12_d565fd6544.png)

There are three possible settings for every journal entry:

- **Anyone**: Journals marked as "anyone" will allow anybody with access to the Legacy to see the journal. This means that if the Legacy is public, anybody on Ark may read the journal. If the Legacy is private, any relations may read the journal.
- **Only me**: Only the owner of the journal may read it, regardless of if the Legacy is private or public.
- **Individual(s)**: The journal owner may select specific relations in the list to have access to a journal. Anybody who is not explicitly selected may not read the journal.

![Sharing to individual relations](https://cms.arkproject.com/uploads/Screenshot_from_2022_12_15_15_35_28_32485d260d.png)

In this list, click to select relations you want to grant access to. You may also select "Everyone" or "nobody" to quickly set or unset every person quickly. Click "done" to close the menu.



The Ark Project

Need help using The Ark Project?

Setting up your Media

Taking Your Interview

Conducting Interviews

Creating Journals

Improving your Alter Ego

Managing Relations