STAYING CONNECTED DURING COVID-19 VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING APPLICATIONS BY GINELLE FIELDS, Covid-19 has changed how we work and where we work. On account of Covid-19, remote communication is no longer viewed as a luxury but rather, a necessity, in order to maintain connection and productivity within the workplace. This has led to a massive uptake of video conferencing technologies since this type of technology allows virtual face-to-face meetings from diverse locations. This should not be the reality for only large corporations, video conferencing technology holds numerous benefits for actors including libraries. The following sections discuss the eatures of 3 popular online platforms, which Information Specialists can utilize in order to stay connected with staff and patrons.
GoToMeeting This platform is a popular choice for its international capabilities. Participants in over 50 countries are able to call into meetings directly from their cell phones using a toll-free number, and the cost for the call can be billed to the organizer of the meeting on a monthly pay-as-yougo basis. The basic plan costs $14 USD/ month and offers all the standard features, including the capability of recording meetings. Transcription service is not included at the basic plan but is available in the higher priced options. The free version allows up to 3 participants, screen sharing, video & audio-conferencing capabilities with a 40-minute cap. Microsoft Teams For industries already using Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams can be a natural pick. As it allows seamless integration with other Microsoft apps like Outlook and SharePoint. Therefore, users can complete all their tasks from this platform, which facilitates file sharing and co-authoring. The first payment plan starts at $5 USD/month (annual commitment). It accommodates up to 250 participants and includes standard features like 24/7 online and phone support. Using the free version, one can host 20 persons on video call with a 24-hour limit.
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