Real Talk About Video Chatting

Right now, video chatting is super popular. And yes, video chatting is amazing because you can see and hear people talking just like in-person. However, it is also frustrating and riddled with technology issues. There are several different aspects to this that need to be considered: the user, the technology and the setting.

On April 8th, Wednesday, at 9:30 am, I am doing a class about video chat if you want more information.

The Skills of the User

The person needs particular skills to successfully video chat. First, they need intermediate technology skills. First, copying/pasting and installing new programs/apps is an essential skill. Then, they must know how to use multiple tabs and programs on their machine whether it be a computer, smartphone or tablet. Lastly, the user must be able to problem-solve the issues. This involves knowing enough terminology to understand what another person or article is saying.

If you plan on video chatting, practice beforehand to make sure you can do it. If you can’t, you need time to troubleshoot the issues or have someone do it for you.

The Technology

There are a lot of technical requirements for video chat. The machine must have a camera, microphone, and speakers. Most computers have this. All smartphones and tablets should have this. Older model Kindle Fires do not have a front-facing camera.

Internet speed must be sufficient to handle video chatting. Everyone is video chatting, so internet speed is an issue right now. If you are on a computer, try hardwiring into the modem. That is when you use the ethernet cord and connect your modem to your computer as we use to in the old days (the early 2000s).

As I troubleshoot people through these issues, I am finding that people are having more success with smartphones and tablets than computers. I don’t know if it is because they are newer, or if it is already setup for this kind of thing. Either way, try a mobile device.

The program used is another factor. There are a lot of different video chat options like Google Hangouts, FacebookMessenger, Apple FaceTime, Zoom, Go To Meeting, Skype, Marco Polo, Whatsapp, etc. Each one is slightly different and all users must have an account with that program.

The Setting

Many people are video chatting for work. Workplace video chat will be more successful than volunteer groups, informal club groups, or just family groups. Most workplaces have an IT person or department to help troubleshoot problems. Workplaces also give employees machines that support video chat along with the program and accounts they will be using. Workplaces also have other means of communication like email and the phone. Plan Bs and plan Cs are in place.

Deciding on a program is a big decision. Like I said earlier, each user must have an account with that platform. And the features need to be sufficient for the purpose of the meeting.

If you don’t have these things, then the user must work the issues themselves. As I explained earlier, they might not have the skills or technology to make that happen.

Alternatives to Video Chat

Going from never video chatting to being successful in video chatting is a HUGE leap. First off, there are different levels of success with video chatting. Between the skills of the user, the technology, and the setting, there is a lot that needs to go right to get the perfect video chat and frankly that is not going to happen even for technology-savvy folks.

Most video chats have issues, so identify what the minimum of success looks like. For example, with my live online classes, the minimum a student needs is to be able to hear the instructor (me), see the presentation space, and use the chat feature. Seeing the instructor would be nice, but not necessary. Seeing and hearing other students would be nice but not necessary.

If jumping to video chat is unrealistic for users, start with something simpler. The more people, the more complicated any solution will be. The simplest alternative is to use email.

A step up from email would be doing a conference call. Your smartphone supports 3-way calls. Person 1 and 2 call each other. Person 1 calls person 3 using 3-way calling. Person 3 calls person 4, etc. To see your 3-way calling feature, look at your phone when you are in a call, there should be a button. Once you call the third person, merge the calls together, once again there will be a button on the screen that says “merge calls”.

Another alternative is to use instant messaging. Instant messaging is similar to video chat but has a much shorter learning curve. Most video chat programs have instant messaging options.

People see video chat as the best choice because it mimics real life. If you choose to use it, then have backup plans. However, it is not a good choice if people are frustrated and can’t use it successfully. Use a medium that works and be kind to yourself!