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Copy this to your clipboard, open your email client, paste the details into a new message, and invite away. So, in short, all participants need is the meeting URL , date and time , and a passcode. If you want to try out features before bringing other people in, create a test meeting at this stage and select “Start this meeting.
The first prompt, in either case, will ask you to join with computer audio if you are on PC, and will also give you the option to test your speaker and microphone. At the top right of the meeting window, you can choose to go full screen. We are now going to go over the basic settings you need to know about in meetings for management purposes. If you are using an external microphone, speaker, or camera, open up the arrow tabs next to these options to choose which equipment you want to use external or inbuilt.
Moving on, the ” Manage Participants ” tab is particularly important. Under this tab, you can find ” invite ,” which is useful if you’ve forgotten to bring someone into a session.
Clicking this option will bring up a box with everyone connected to the meeting. In the interests of privacy, however, hosts and other participants cannot control individual camera feeds. A handy feature to note here under ” Security ” is ” lock ,” which stops anyone else from joining an active session. Different views : You can pick one of four view options — but this only impacts how you view a meeting, and not others.
By default, Active Speaker is the default video layout — in which the person talking is ramped up to a larger screen — but there is also a gallery layout that brings in every participant on one screen through a grid, an ” immersive ” view that puts participants in the same ‘room’ through a virtual background, and a floating thumbnail option. The ” Share Screen ” tab allows you to share your PC screen with others, including your full desktop, browser, or open applications, and also permit others to share their own screens simultaneously.
Now, let’s talk about messaging. The ” Chat ” tab on the main bar is designed for users to type out questions and messages, as well as share files either hosted by cloud storage providers or stored directly on your PC, as long as the “Send files via meeting chat” option in Account Settings has been enabled.
As a host, you can also select the ” The final tab of note is the ” Record ” option, which you may want to use if you are discussing work matters and want to save the session in order to email a copy of it to others later.
By default, no one except the host can record a session unless the host gives permission to do so. Participants will be warned that the meeting is being recorded through an automatic audio message. Finally, the ” End Meeting ” tab finishes the session. If the host needs to leave but the meeting should carry on, they can assign the host status to another participant — but enabling co-hosts has to be selected first in the “Meetings” tab and can only be selected by subscription holders.
Alternatively, you can leave the meeting or end the meeting for all. Now that the basics have been covered, there is a range of settings and features that more experienced users might want to use. Let’s head back over to the web portal to run through a few options. If you are using the desktop application , you can quickly access this area by going to “Settings”.
If you have a Pro, Business, or Enterprise plan, you can take advantage of the webinars option. Webinars can be set up that broadcast to up to 50, view-only attendees at a time. Screens, video, and audio can be shared; chat sessions between attendees and panelists can be hosted, and webinars can be run on either a pre-registration or open basis.
In , Zoom introduced the option for enabling language interpretation. Up to 20 participants can be designated as interpreters during a Zoom session, and they can create their own audio channels for participants to select in their preferred language.
Virtual backgrounds can be used to hide the chaos and clutter of your home. There are specific hardware requirements, which can be accessed here. Most modern PC setups should be able to manage — but the virtual background, either made up of images or video, works best with a green screen and uniform lighting.
There is also “studio effects,” a beta service for adding filters. To set up a virtual background, go to the desktop app, “Settings,” and choose “Virtual Background. You may see a warning that says your hardware isn’t good enough — but give it a go, anyway. This is a useful option if you are canvassing ideas or soliciting feedback and it comes with different annotation options, including text boxes, arrows, and more.
The “spotlight” is a form of highlighter which can be used to bring user attention to a particular area or point. This can be enabled under in-meeting settings. Notes can be added to a virtual whiteboard and shared screens. When software is popular, scammers come out of the woodwork to try and find a way to capitalize. Zoom is no different ; the appearance of scammers jumping into unprotected meetings and posting malicious links and pornography has given rise to the phrase “Zoom-bombing.
Zoom has published a guide on how to prevent gatecrashers from disrupting your meetings, including pointers such as:. Zoom Rooms is a more advanced software offering available on a subscription basis. Zoom Rooms, an option for business owners, combines audio conferencing, video conferencing, and wireless screen sharing. A PC running Zoom Rooms is the bare minimum requirement, but iPads, TV displays, external speakers, cameras, and microphones can all be integrated within one room.
Zoom’s App Marketplace is worth investigating if you’re looking to implement more features in Zoom Meetings or Zoom Rooms. Apps can be integrated including the Otter. Video conferencing software has become a key tool in work and personal communication. Here’s everything you need to make your meetings more productive. Written by Charlie Osborne, Contributor on Feb. ZDNet Recommends.
Featured How to record a phone call on your iPhone Forerunner Solar review: Garmin’s most powerful watch for runners Bad news: The cybersecurity skills crisis is about to get worse The best robot mowers: Smart hands-free lawn care. Show Comments. For a more modern take on the bookshelf background, choose a colorful and aesthetically pleasing visual that emphasizes your love for literature.
Source: Curbed. For your next virtual meeting, take advantage of the opportunity to seemingly be joining the meeting from anywhere by choosing a background that transports you to a professional location such as this regal wing of a Los Angeles Public Library. Source: TechRepublic. If you find yourself missing the amenities of business travel , for your next meeting choose one of our free backgrounds that reflect your jet-setter lifestyle.
Source: ViewFinder. Whether that means that you have a pristine home office to work from or often set up shop at the kitchen table, with these free home office backgrounds your colleagues will be none the wiser about the messiness level of your home work space. To draw eyes during your next Zoom meeting, choose a home office background with a bright splash of color to liven up your screen. To convey the message of absolute comfort, set your Zoom background to the image of a comfortable living space.
No matter what your home office looks like IRL, with an elegant home office Zoom background you will give your coworkers couch-envy all meeting long. For a more relaxed Zoom meeting, set your background to your dream home setup. Those chic lounge chairs are a great conversation starter if you need a quick ice breaker. Source: Unsplash. To whisk yourself and your coworkers away to a more temperate atmosphere, choose an outdoor home office Zoom background.
To show your fellow meeting attendees a glimpse into what it is really like when you work out of your home office, choose a realistic home office Zoom background like this one. Source: The Container Store. As a member of the remote workforce, you have the ability to work from anywhere. Even when you are working out of your home office, a flexible workspace, or your neighborhood coffee shop you have the opportunity to exercise your creativity and choose a Zoom background that fits your WFA state of mind.
Have you been feeling out of this world lately? Choose a Zoom background that matches your mindset, like putting yourself on the moon. Source: Teleport. Perfect for a virtual class reunion or happy hour with old friends, a Zoom background that flaunts your school pride is perfect for a celebratory virtual meeting. To bring some of your personal taste to your next video conferencing session, set your Zoom background as the desk or home of your favorite TV character.
A Napa Valley state of mind may not be the most productive mindset for a work meeting, but this Napa Valley free Zoom screen is the perfect backdrop for your next virtual wine night.
Source: Visit Napa Valley. One of the most common choices remote workers make is to utilize their local flexible workspace. To match your Zoom background to your surroundings, choose a virtual background that reflects your love for these shared spaces.
Source: PopSugar. Just now catching up on the last season of Game of Thrones? To match your Zoom background to your current pop culture obsession, join your next meeting from the Iron Throne to draw eyes and command respect. One perk of the Work From Anywhere lifestyle is the ability to constantly be on the move. To reflect your highly-flexible work routine, choose a Zoom background that showcases your love of travel. The more scenic your Zoom background is, the closer you will get to your dream vacation.
For a large Zoom meeting, a background image that is too busy or detailed runs the risk of being distracting to the other meeting attendees. When you want to stand out without attracting too much attention, a solid image background that is more than a blank black or white box hits the sweet spot. The Open Content Program from the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Getty Research Institute is where you’ll find over , free, downloadable images of works of art.