Video Conferencing Makes Remote Work Easier

Video conferencing is the use of technology to connect two or more people to a virtual meeting. By using a computer or phone app, people in different locations can have a meeting and work collaboratively together. This technology has greatly improved the viability of working from home. Many companies across the globe now accept video conferencing as the norm instead of the exception because of the flexibility it provides. Now you don’t need to physically be in the office to work together. You can host screen sharing sessions and go over documents or work with coworkers. You can host training sessions where you share your screen and walk attendees through a new process or software. You can give a presentation to your boss from the comfort of your own home.

The easy availability of video conferencing means that you can coordinate your meetings and make them even more accessible than in person meetings because people don’t have to travel to your physical location to attend. It saves money on office space and travel. The most common hardware needed for video conferences is a laptop or computer with a camera. If you have a smartphone, there are also apps you can use to connect to a video conference. You will also need access to a reliable internet connection.

A Video Conference Software is Setup With These Basic Functions

• Voice Chat: Using a phone or microphone you can speak with all participants of the call. You can mute your audio if you are not speaking so you don’t accidentally add background noise. The meeting coordinator can also usually mute participants.
• Text Chat: Most video conferencing software will have a chat box feature. If you don’t have a microphone or don’t want to interrupt the speaker, you can type in here for others in the meeting to see and respond to.
• Video: Most laptops come equipped with a built in camera. You can use this, an external camera, or a phone camera (if supported) to share a live video of yourself. This way people can see you speaking as if you were together in person. Video can be turned on or off if you don’t want everyone to see you.
• Screen Sharing: This works like a virtual white board. People can share their computer screens to give presentations or collaborate on work together.

Questions and Answers:

You likely have some questions about video conferencing and how you can make use of it for your business. These common questions can hopefully alleviate your concerns.

Q: Why use a video conference when we can meet in person instead?

A: Sometimes it isn’t always possible to meet in person. A video conference can connect people that are located across the globe, in different cities, or working from home.

Q: Is video conferencing hard to do?

A: There are many different tools available that support video conferencing. The nuances will vary slightly depending on which software you use, but the overall experience is usually straight forward.

Q: Can I have more than one person on the video conference at a time?

A: Yes. You are not limited to one-on-one conferences. The maximum number of participants will vary depending on your video conferencing software, but you can have many people together at once.

Q: What if I don’t have a camera on my computer? Can I still participate in a video conference?

A: Most video conferencing software will give you the ability to join a conference without a camera or with the option to turn your camera off. Participants won’t see your face when you talk, but the rest of the conference functionality will be available to you.

Q: What if I don’t have a microphone for my computer? Can I still participate?

A: Some video conferencing software gives people the ability to call in with a phone. This will vary depending on the software you are using. Depending on the purpose of the video conference and your role in the meeting, you can log in and communicate using the chat box. If you are the meeting facilitator this may not be practical, but if you are attending a presentation it may work for you. Check with your meeting facilitator regarding expectations.

Q: How do I host my own video conference?

A: The process will vary depending on what software or app you use. You will need to schedule the conference using your preferred software. It will give you instructions on how to invite people to join. Usually you can email a link to people you want to participate.