Pandemic Watch: Communicating via video

These days, most of us are keeping touch via Zoom and its competitors, Skype, Google’s Meet, Facebook Messenger and others. I remember when Skype started. At that time, I worked for Vonage. We were rivals. I used them all. I have my favorite. But that will remain confidential. I am not here to promote any service. They all have pluses and minuses. Some have more of one than the other. Let’s move on.

These days, we are conducting business meetings, community and religious groups, fraternity alumni and family gatherings and just about everything else with video calls.

I’ve been involved with communications for most of my life. Whether it is my professional career in marketing/public relations or volunteer work. So I have watched it grow. Exciting to see all the ways we now communicate.

Recently, Jeff Pulver brought back his breakfasts and #140Conf via video call. I’ve attended several and am registered for more. They are valuable. For years, he has been at the forefront of the platforms to help people communicate. I first met him when I was promoting the former MessageClick, a unified messaging system. Our CEO met with him and was interviewed on Pulver radio. Then I worked for Vonage, which Pulver founded. Tidbit, at first it was Min-X (minutes exchange).

Conducting business and social meetings via video calls has been great. I’ve connected with friends I haven’t seen since college. I’ve met new people. But it does raise some questions. Does it work for all? Are we leaving people out?

I’ve learned the following. I should have said, “leaaarrrnnned” in honor of a great teacher many of us kids had decades ago. He used to say, “I’m gonna leaaarrnn ‘ya.” We used to make the appropriate changes to the word learn.

What about the elderly? Well, for the record like everything it depends on the person. I’ve been on video calls with an 85-year-old man, who talks about how he’s been communicating with his college student aged niece this way. I know a woman around that age, who back in the day was the den mother to many and baked better cookies than anyone. She’s now on Facebook sharing baking and other recipes. I haven’t tried to follow them. But I will. I know mine will never taste like hers. These people are doing fine.

For one of my community groups, we’ve done our trustee meetings via video. I’ve been teaching some of the older folks how to use it. They did fine. Some figured it out by themselves.

I ran similar sessions for people much younger. Some didn’t get it. Some of the more technical enabled folks didn’t either. So? Some people’s computers were too outdated to operate a video call. We tried to switch them to their tablet or phone. Tried being the operative word. Those folks wound up dialing into the 800 number provided by the video services. We still communicated.

A friend’s 14-year-old son did a video that was sent around to show people how to use the app. I am sure it got dozens of views. The kid’s amazing.

In the business calls I have been on, I have experienced similar. We’ve lost connections. I am the host of my fraternity alumni calls. Some jump right on. Some have connection issues or do not like the app I chose. I’ve convinced them to join and asked them to host on their favorite app. So far, I am still hosting.

A couple of online video calls tips. This is by no means exhaustive or correct. Just a few things I’ve noticed.

Sometimes you can’t log in right away. Refresh your browser and try again
Many of us are in different time zones. The calls may take place during your zone’s dining hours. No worries about sipping a drink while online. Or eating a candy bar. But if you need to eat a full meal, remember we are watching you in a headshot-sized frame. All we see is your chewing. Gum chewers look even less pretty. Consider turning your video off until you finish your meal
Remember to dress appropriately. I’ve written two posts about fashion during the online video call world. Scroll down and click. Regardless of whether you do a t-shirt, sweatshirt, sweater, a pair of shorts, sweats or jeans will suffice. Even your PJs, provided they are comprised of some type of full coverage. Yes, for most of the call we will only get a headshot. But callers move around. Sometimes they have to jump up to grab their dog or run into the kitchen. You’d be surprised what you wind up viewing

Bottom line we are all learning to change our lifestyles. We need to communicate. Let’s take the time to help our friends young and old learn how to use the resources we have available. Most importantly, let’s keep communicating. Remember soon enough something new will come and displace what we are using. I look forward to learning whatever arrives. And of course, one day, I might be sitting in front of my device being “leaaarrrnned” on how to use the new app. I can tell the youngling how I was once in his or her seat.

Other posts can be viewed at:

“Single Life,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/02/pandemic-watch-single-life

“Pandemic Watch: Seniors and lifesaving phone calls during the pandemic or other times,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/pandemic-watch-seniors-and-lifesaving-phone-calls-during-the-pandemic-or-other-times

“Pandemic Watch: There are places I remember.”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/pandemic-watch-there-are-places-i-remember

“Pandemic Watch: Creating a new fashion statement,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/27/pandemic-watch-creating-a-new-fashion-statement

“Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop,”

https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/pandemic-watch-sitting-on-your-stoop

“Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?”