It seems like everyone wants to use video when chatting or meeting these days. Most people accept this new way of life, but it is challenging to always be picture perfect. The camera on my computer shows part of my 90" tall shelves with baskets as drawers, my partial wall of hats and my dorm size fridge. Thankfully, the new computer allows me to have a backdrop on Zoom which hides the business of my one room fits all.
My volunteer work with WLLO has all of our meetings on video. We may keep it this way as no one has to drive, find parking and or find a place to hold these meetings. Convenient in that way. But there are quite a few bothersome effects to this. When first using this type of media, several people would talk at the same time or before one person was finished. I suggested that we raise our hand when we want to speak (put your hand in front of your face so everyone can see it is up) and the meeting host will call on you. The rest of the time, we should put ourselves on MUTE so we don't hear your dog barking, or kids knocking on my door, or rustling of papers right next to your computer mic, cell phones ringing or buzzing, sneezing or coughing, etc.
Then we have the participants who get up and down, eat while everyone watches, visibly works on something else or reads something then asks "wait, what did you say? " Some move their computers around during the meeting, adjust the angle of their camera or whatever. It all distracts from the meeting.
Recently, several articles have been written about why Zoom (or other) is terrible. Watching often deters from listening. Sometimes it's better to be heard and not seen.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/29/sunday-review/zoom-video-conference.html
WLLO now offers some social gatherings on Zoom and I think seeing and listening is a good thing for those who live alone. I host a Friday morning coffee and I think up a topic then go around the Zoom and ask each person. And I try to limit it to just 30 minutes which is a nice amount of time for chit chat and doesn't seem like a huge time commitment. We sometimes go over by 10-15 minutes but I would rather stop the gathering with people wanting more, than having them feel like it's being dragged out too long.
Last week I asked if you prefer home streaming or movie theaters. Then asked which service each used and why. I learned that Disney+ is offering the movie "Hamilton" on July 3 and discovered you can get a one week trial!
Silver linings in this blogging world!
ReplyDeleteThe idea Zoom calls freaks me out. Heck, I don't even like to talk on regular phones. Never have, never well. That said, I can see a day when I'll have to learn to use Zoom---for doctors---and it's good to know others in my age bracket have embraced it easily. Evidently it's easy tech stuff.
Right now I'm over-teched trying to keep all my stuff running. Spent a stressful two hours yesterday trying to get my camera to download photos, then another hour getting my printer to work. I need an IT guy to make my life run will well. I figure these these things out evidently but I hate it.
I hear your pain! If you ever want to practice on Zoom, let me know. It gets easier for me each time I use it. I prefer email communication over calling and video. Just a hermit, I guess!
DeleteLove Jan's mask. I want one too. I don't do Zoom yet and can see the problems. If you are in a meeting with a group normally, you would not see all the strange things going on unless you are the speaker. Think I will wait for Zoom till I have my Jetson mask:))
ReplyDeleteIt was thrust upon me ... first by my 9 year old grandson! He and 2 buddies are in love with technology ... so they can talk and show each other interesting stuff. Sometimes all three of them at the same time!
ReplyDeleteWLLO has a "tech" guy on the Council now. He likes video chats because he can show us on his screen what he is explaining. Keeps me thinking ...
We did a Zoom wedding shower a couple of weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteThe hostess told us all to click the mute button and if we were asked a question to unmute or if we wanted to say something, put our hand up and then when given permission, to unmute and talk.
I felt like I was back in First Grade! I didn't say much at all and.......maybe that's a good thing.
That is the etiquette! But at least we can see what is going on and you maybe got to feel a little bit like you were connected. It is a different kind of relationship tool.
DeleteI did see that about Zoom allowing you to pick different back grounds for meetings. Sounds like a good thing to do! My DIL has Disney+. She loves it for the kids.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was still working at home we had a conference call and someone put us on hold so we were hearing the hold music and we had no idea who it was so we had to end the call lol.
I think every one should have a fridge in their bedroom lol.
Betty
So far, I've only had ONE uninvited person try to get in. Fortunately, our Zoom is set up with a "waiting" room so the host gets to allow people in or not. Our library activity got hacked by person posting sexual pics.
DeleteI love my little fridge! Now ... if I just had a little bathroom ....