[Lnc-business] equipment for electronic meetings

[Alicia Mattson]

To fully participate by web with both video and audio in an electronic
meeting, you need the following:

1) a computer with high-speed internet access, with the aforementioned web
browser add-in, and with your software versions tested and approved at the
link in the meeting invitation

2) a webcam to transmit your video

3)  a microphone to transmit your audio when you speak.  Most webcams have
microphones built in, and that will work just fine.  If yours is a
video-only webcam, then you need a separate microphone plugged into the
microphone jack on your computer.

4) *It is VERY IMPORTANT* that you use earbuds or headphones plugged into
your computer's headphone jack to listen to the meeting.  Yes, you can hear
fine through your computer speakers, but the problem is that after the
audio comes out through your speakers, it feeds back in through your open
microphone and re-transmits to other participants, creating an echo.
Echoes are maddening and disruptive for the other participants.  If you
already have earbuds for a phone or iPod, that will work.  Mine cost a
whopping $5, and they work great.  $5 ones are readily available in the
gadget sections at places like TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory, Ross Dress
For Less, sporting goods stores, etc.  You don't have to spend $50 on fancy
headphones.

It is possible to participate without a webcam, so long as you have a
separate microphone.  Even if you have a webcam, you're not obligated to
turn on your video transmission if you're in your pajamas, or it's bogging
down your internet connection, etc.  You can turn on your microphone and
your webcam independently in the AdobeConnect meeting room.  You can still
use the microphone on your webcam even if your video feed is off.

If you attempt to participate via the web but without either webcam or a
separate microphone, well, you can hear us, but we won't be able to hear
you, and that's a problem.  You would be able to raise your electronic hand
in the meeting, but your only means of communication would be to send us
written messages in the chat window, which we may or may not notice, and I
don't think that's adequate.  If you have neither webcam nor microphone,
you really should use the telephone connection instead, and notify me in
advance that you need it.

There are several drawbacks to just using the telephone connection, so
participation via internet is strongly encouraged.  Phone participants
can't raise a silent electronic hand to request recognition to speak.  They
just have to interrupt someone to let the chair know they want to speak.
We use raised hands to vote, so if someone is on the phone, we have to
remember to get their vote verbally while others vote electronically.
Phone users can't see chat messages from others.  They can't see whose
hands are raised.  They can't see any materials displayed on the screen.
You do miss information if you're telephone only, so please join via web if
at all possible.

-Alicia
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