<div dir="ltr">Last term, I made the point that an exception exists to the headphones expectation - those who have designed a room specifically for the purpose of conducting no-echo webconferences should not have to wear them. I had such a room in my old apartment. Alas, I do not have one anymore.</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr">Joshua A. Katz<div>Westbrook CT Planning Commission (L in R seat)</div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Sep 21, 2016 at 8:04 PM, Alicia Mattson <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:agmattson@gmail.com" target="_blank">agmattson@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>To fully participate by web with both video and audio in an electronic meeting, you need the following:<br><br></div>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<br><br></div>2) a webcam to transmit your video<br><br></div>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.<br><br></div>4) <u><b>It is VERY IMPORTANT</b></u> 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.<br><br></div>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.<br><br></div>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.<br><br></div><div>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.<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br></font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><div><br></div>-Alicia<br><br></font></span></div>
<br>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>
Lnc-business mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Lnc-business@hq.lp.org">Lnc-business@hq.lp.org</a><br>
<a href="http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://hq.lp.org/mailman/<wbr>listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.<wbr>org</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br></div>