Tools of the trade
For comfortable video conferencing in your virtual teams, maybe upgrade your bandwidth, your hardware and your software?
Bandwidth: more bandwidth, less trouble. First check system requirement for your tools of choice. That’s just few clicks away in Help or Support pages (an example here), or in printed User Manual (remember that?). Then check your “speed” at www.speedtest.net . Need to upgrade your bandwidth? See with your internet provider — or alternative internet providers in your area — what they could offer and how much that could cost. You might even save some money.
Hardware: most laptops come with built-in microphone and webcam, and that’s good enough most of the time. But more and more external, high quality, plug-and-play devices are on the market. External webcams, microphones, speakerphones, devices that integrate all of that… If you are spending lots of time in video meetings, and particularly if you are often at blended meetings, maybe you or your organisation could invest some money in equipment specially designed to make video conferences comfortable? Here’s an ad for illustration:
Softvare: less you need to install, the better. Even if you consider yourself a digital literate, most likely you will want to have less maintenance to do with your computer software. Something that works on any operating system or any device, within web browser or an app, and that automatically updates… that could be a good choice. For example (another ad for illustration):
Need some special tools and full package of pro tips?
Check this list curated by Lisette Sutherland on Collaboration Superpowers webiste, and her book.
