Advantages of Zoom
You must be wondering why you should use Zoom and not the applications you already have. Here are the benefits of Zoom:
Ease of use: The app is built to be user-friendly, especially for people not fluent in technology, allowing users to quickly get into conversations.
Availability: It can be used just as easily from your computer, laptop, tablet or phone. Setting appointments for conversations on any of these will be retained on all your devices' Zoom apps.
The number of users in a conversation: Zoom allows you to have conference calls with up to 1,000 (!) people, allowing you to view up to 49 people on your screen at once. So, for example, your whole family can see everyone else at once, as if you are sitting in the same room. You can also chat textually with any of those people or all at once at the same time.
Recording: A wonderful option the app has is recording the conversations (both sides will know) so you can watch your favorite moments again and again, or look over instructions someone relayed you.
Security: The app locks your records and encrypts them so they cannot be hacked.
Saving history: You can save up to 10 years of chats and conversations.
Sending files: You can send files through the chat or the video conversations.
Length of meetings: The free version of this app allows you to talk up to 40 minutes, which is enough for most purposes. You can then disconnect and start again. For longer conversations, you will have to purchase the app.
New Meeting: Starting a new meeting. We will elaborate on this option below.
Join: Joining an existing conversation. This is the same option as in the first window. You'll need the meeting ID to join.
Schedule: Organizing and scheduling meetings. We will elaborate more on this option below.
Share Screen: Sharing your desktop screen with someone else, so the person can see what you are seeing. To do so, you'll need the Meeting ID given to you by the other person.
In addition, you can find these 4 options on the upper or lower bar of the application -
Home: Back to the main menu from any window you are in.
Chat: Chatting with your Zoom contacts.
Meeting: Seeing all your meetings ahead in chronological order. By clicking on Start, you can begin a virtual meeting.
Contacts: Seeing your contact list, which you can sort according to different variables.
3. We will now introduce you to one of the most important aspects of Zoom - the video chat.
First, click on the main page on the New Meeting button. This will open your camera and in a few seconds you'll see a little message asking you if you'd like to have the conversation with sound. If you don't want to be heard, close it and stay only with video. If you change your mind and do want to be heard, click on Join Audio in the lower left corner of the window at any time during the conversation.
If you'd like to see the video chat in full size, click on Enter Full Screen located in the upper right side of the window. In addition, if you want to give your meeting ID number to others, you can find it in the upper part of the window.
If you hover with your mouse over the screen at this stage, you'll be shown all the options available on the lower side of the screen. Note this applies only to the desktop edition, not mobile.
Join Audio: Returning audio if you chose to mute it.
Stop Video: Will stop showing you but you can still be heard.
Invite (in the mobile app under participants): Inviting other contacts from your list on the application or by using their email address. The email will include all the details needed to join the conversation, including the link to it and the Meeting ID they will need to have in order to join.
Manage Participants (in the mobile app - participants): Showing the list of participants in the conversation. The menu has various options, such as muting or unmuting. There is a More option at the bottom for more advanced options.
Share Screen (in the mobile app - Share): Sending various kinds of files to any or all participants. The default will show you the Basic tab, but if you go to Files, you can share dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft one drive files. You will need to give Zoom permission before being able to do so.
Chat (In mobile app can be found in Participants): Having a group chat with the conversation participants.
Record: Recording the conversation. The default will record without sound, but a window will jump asking you if you'd like to record audio as well.
Note: This option only exists in the computer version at this time.
Reactions: Here you can send fancy graphic icons to the other participants.
End Meeting: Ending the meeting if you created it, or leaving the conversation if you joined an existing one.
Most options can be closed with another click on the button that activated them, or on the little X, they come with.
4. One of the useful features of the app is managing your meeting/conversation diary. To use it, go back to the main menu and select Schedule, which is located right under New Meeting. A window called Schedule Meeting will open, where you can put in the date, time and duration of the future meeting, including any other important details.
Note: The default is Outlook calendar, if you are using another calendar such as Gmail, you'll have to change it manually.
We hope you enjoy using Zoom to communicate with your loved ones during these difficult times!
