hangout
(last update 22 August 16)
IN BRIEF:
- Hangout allows video conferencing up to 10 people and live streaming to others.
- (You can use hangout even if your computer does not have a camera, but you won't be visible to others. Indeed, you can turn off your camera during a hangout, which reduces the bandwidth needed.)
- Participants must all be signed up for google +, have the necessary audio & video plugins on a computer with mic and video, a reliable internet connection (preferably ethernet not wifi), and a headset or earbuds.
- (Google+ requires a gmail account, but you do not have to use that account for email. You can skip through most of the pages in the sign up for google+. Installing the plugins requires a series of steps similar to installing software.)
- The simplest way to get into a hangout is for the person who initiates the hangout to copy its URL to some place that everyone can see and then for participants to click on that URL.
- Chats (i.e., text messages) can happen during the hangout as well as screensharing a window from any participant's computer to show, e.g., a photo or a powerpoint.
- (These options are accessed by moving your cursor to the vertical dots at the upper right. Or, in the old format, to the icons that appear when the cursor is moved to the top left.)
- Fullscreen view of hangout is possible if your browser allows it (check the menus), but not full screen or slide show of any file shared by screenshare.
- (Simple clear way to share visuals is to save as a pdf, open it in acrobat reader, and specify "Read Mode" under View menu.)
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MORE DETAILS
- Another way to get into a hangout is for the initiator to invite other participants who must sign in on http://plus.google.com to check notifications or the hangout icon (=the apostrophe icon to the top right), which allow them to join the hangout. Third way is to create an Event with the option of hangout only and invite the relevant people, who again must check notifications. Fourth way is to create the Event as part of a google+ community that the relevant people are members of. In this case, participants can join the hangout via the Event listing in the google+ community.
- To run an educator's hangout (which allows 15 participants), the host signs into google plus using the username & password established by their institution's IT people, then clicks on the building-like icon in the upper right corner to change the status to allow anyone with the link to join, then accepts each person as they appear on the screen. (If the icon doesn't appear, try another time to start the hangout.)
- Join in early enough to check that all is set up and working. Once you are in, mute the mic when you are not talking (using the strip that appears when you move your cursor across the top). Check the settings (a cog wheel in the top strip) to make sure the form of input and output is what you intend.
- Technical glitches sometimes happen, e.g., the chat window stops letting you type, your voice stops being audible to others, etc. You can leave the hangout and rejoin to see if the problem goes away. If not, convey your situation to the host by chat or by speaking up at an appropriate point.
- Backup arrangements should be made if at all possible, e.g., post your presentation to a wiki or other place where everyone can access it if screenshare (see below) doesn't work. Hangout hosts should have a second computer and a second google+ name they can join the hangout with if need be. (The speaker and mic must be muted on the second computer until needed. Alternatively: Arrange for an assistant on a second computer to take over.)
- Bandwidth can sometimes be a problem, especially if you have a wifi connection. If the sound or your voice is breaking up, try turning off your video, then check your settings. If all else fails, send the host your phone number and ask to be brought in by phone. (The icons for video and settings are in a horizontal strip that becomes visible when you move your cursor to the top area of the hangout screen.)
- Screenshare: Practice this beforehand in a hangout that you initiate so you can make your own checklist of steps. (Otherwise you risk wasting other people's time.) Click on the green screenshare icon (in the strip that appears on the left) to share a window you have already opened. Screenshare does NOT work with full screen or slide show modes of presentations (ppt's, pdf's, etc). Instead, use "Reading View," "Reading Mode," or "Read Mode" (menu label depends upon software) to reduce the distracting clutter of toolbars, ribbons, sidebars, etc. on their pdf or ppt before you activate the screenshare. If your software does not have this option, toggle off the various toolbars, ribbons, sidebars, etc. (accessed under the View menu). Screenshare comes across a little fuzzy, so visual aids should use simple layouts and large text (see tips). If the presenter is moving between, say, a powerpoint and youtube videos, it helps to have someone else managing the screenshare so the presenter can focus on giving their presentation.
- To live stream a hangout the hangout initiator has to take a series of steps: Use Youtube Live, following these steps, fill in the requested info and click Share, click the start button below the screen that appears, invite guests (or skip), then, when ready, click on start broadcast. Before starting the broadcast, the streamed version's URL (even though it is not yet streaming) can be located via the Links at the bottom left. The URL for the hangout is across the top and can be copied into an email or some place that everyone can see.
- After a broadcast is over the video is available on the youtube site of the host (initiator) of the hangout. If the host can work out how to make "unlisted" the default option for their recordings, then the youtube is only visible to a person who has been given the URL. If, however, "public" is the default, then, unless all participants have given permission for the recording to be public, use Video Manager option immediately after the session to switch it from public to unlisted.
- If the hangout is on air, it is possible for the initiator to use the cameraman to mute everyone else during any presentation. (That makes sure that there are not distracting little windows for the hangout people who are not talking.)
- If the hangout emerges from an Event in a google+ community, reminders get sent out 30 minutes before broadcast time to everyone who signed up. If the hangout and youtube URLs are added to their appropriate fields in the Event, anyone viewing the event notice will see the streamed version (with a holding pattern visible until the broadcast starts). (These fields are visible if Advanced options is selected under Event options tab on Details for the Event further explanation.)
- Selfie: You can record a hangout on air with only yourself involved, e.g., narrating slides on screenshare or moving viewers through a sequence of websites. This is a simple way to record an at-your-desk TedXtalk or compose a spoken response when text won't convey the feelings.
- Edit youtube: Use video manager option on the youtube account where the hangout on air is stored to do simple edits (click on enhancements). Or export and use youtube editor. Or export as mp4 and use editor such as Quicktime to "trim" to the section you want.
- To watch YouTube videos with others in a video call see suggested steps.