Video conferencing has managed to build a bridge between remote teammates, despite all the miles and social restrictions between them. Thanks to modern powerful equipment for video conferencing, distant colleagues can now collaborate on various projects, brainstorm genuine ideas, and hold large-scale virtual events without having to leave their cozy home offices.
So what exactly do you need to set up a real-time conversation over a video conference call? Today, we’ll break down all the types of equipment required for productive online meetings, work, and collaboration.
What are the most common challenges of video conferencing?
Despite being a leading-edge technology, video conferencing can bring a lot of challenges to a company that has just begun its acquaintance with this type of software for virtual communication. But with the right setup, there is nothing difficult about overcoming them.
1. Poor connectivity
A high-quality video call is impossible to set up without a proper internet connection. There’s nothing pleasant in seeing pixelated versions of other interlocutors, trying to comprehend what they’re talking about in the context of interrupted sound and clipped speech.
That’s why, before hosting or joining a call, make sure your internet connection works fine or, in case any troubles arise, try to find a fast Wi-Fi hotspot nearby.
2. Improperly chosen software
It’s not enough to just download the first app for online calls the market offers. It may not have all the necessary features your work requires, be too expensive and at the same time useless, or turn out to be incompatible with your device.
Fortunately, many developers now offer to try powerful video conferencing solutions that have just the right set of features and are available on any modern device. Some apps, like Whoosh or GoToMeeting, allow users to join conference calls directly from a web browser, without having to install an application.
3. The difference in time zones
Another grave problem many in-house employees face is the difference in time zones. It often happens that teammates are located in different countries and even continents. This causes the necessity to spend extra time scheduling to satisfy the requirements of every meeting participant.
There’s a solution: modern platforms, including Whoosh, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, offer calendar integration that analyzes the working schedules of people invited to a conference and suggests the most suitable time for everyone.
4. Insufficient web security
It seems everyone heard about security concerns that many people experienced while taking part in an online conference: spam attacks, sudden unwanted “guests”, “Zoombombing”, and other threatening activities.
But such situations can be prevented. Just choose video conferencing software with powerful security features, like password protection, multi-party encryption, and other tools that will give the meeting host full control over a meeting and its attendees.
Video conferencing equipment: essential components
Now when you’re aware of how challenging can video conferencing sometimes be, it’s time to move on and look at specific things you need to make it properly work.
● Internet or Wi-Fi connection
Even with the best possible equipment, your call is worthless if you have slow internet. If one person experiences issues with the connection, everyone else will notice them too. Therefore, before starting or joining a conference, take some time to check that your internet connection works well and there are no troubles with the bills.
● High-quality camera
A good webcam is extremely important for effective online collaboration. Ideally, it should be a special wide-angle camera with rich optics, impeccable color detection, and HD resolution. By the way, many modern services offer improved camera quality with several helpful touch-up tools. You can try them out on Whoosh or Zoom.
● Headphones
If you have a quiet place to work and don’t mind using your built-in laptop speakers, headphones might not be a necessity. But if you plan on traveling with your laptop or working in a noisy environment, they can make the difference between being able to hear everyone and completely missing what they’re saying. Modern headsets offer excellent sound quality with background noise suppression, comfortable ear cups, and an app for controlling your headphones from a smartphone.
● Good microphone
During a conference call, it’s highly important to hear and be heard clearly. To get rid of possible misunderstandings, poor sound quality, and annoying background sounds, it may be a good idea to buy a microphone. It can be either built into your headset or be a stand-alone mic connected to your device via a Bluetooth or USB connection.
● Appropriate software
How to pick an ideal app for your team? Just make a list of all the features you and your colleagues may need for productive work and look for an app that includes all (or almost all) of them. The platform you choose should be affordable, convenient, and easy to use for every member of the team.
Whoosh – a perfect solution for your business
Why waste time trying out tons of various apps? Meet Whoosh – a platform that will satisfy the needs of any remote employee.
Why so? Just look what’s inside!
- Unlimited Full-HD video meetings with up to 100 participants
- Sound enhancements: background noise cancellation, audio stream splitting
- AI-driven features: gesture recognition, AR masks and filters, smart scheduling assistant
- Mementos: short video mashups of every recorded video call with all remarkable moments
- Touch-up tools and virtual backgrounds to help users quickly get ready for an important event
- Weatherman layouts: a brand-new way of presenting – set any image, video, or slides as a background and put the speaker in front of it for a higher level of engagement
- Upscale web security: multi-party encryption, host controls, room locks, session IDs, and 24/7 network safety monitoring
- Compatibility with all modern devices: iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
- Available for free
Sounds good enough? Take your video conferencing experience to a whole new level with Whoosh – an app that’s going to revolutionize the way we host online meetings by making them more impactful, engaging, and interactive!
