Tech Tips, 0620 WYBJ, Vol. 43 No. 3. 54
| Author | Blake A. Klinkner, Washburn University School of Law Topeka, Kansas |
| Position | Vol. 43 3 Pg. 54 |
Tips for Professional and Secure Zoom Meetings
Blake A. Klinkner, Washburn University School of Law Topeka, Kansas
As many in-person meetings and proceedings had to be moved online during the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, Zoom has become perhaps the most common platform for conducting virtual meetings. Zoom went from 10 million daily users in December 2019 to over 200 million daily users in April 2020. CO-VID-19 has forced millions to work from home, required colleges and universities to move classes online halfway through the spring semester, and required some courtroom proceedings to become virtual. In many instances Zoom has become the go-to technology for connecting people in a time of stay-at-home orders, office closures, and social distancing.
Many individuals might not have been familiar with Zoom before the COVID-19 outbreak, and many Zoom users still do not feel comfortable using Zoom. I frequently hear users comment that having to access Zoom meetings from one’s home diminishes the professional atmosphere of calls, and that Zoom meetings seemingly do not allow users to collaborate effectively when it comes to sharing documents. Concerns about security and privacy are also valid as they pertain to Zoom meetings, as is the case with any newly-adopted technology. Fortunately, the tips below will help Zoom users adjust to this “new norm” and address some of these common concerns.
Choose a Professional Background for Your Video Backdrop
Not thrilled that everyone on your call will see in the background that you are attending from your kitchen table? Well, actually, they will be none the wiser that you are video conferencing from somewhere other than a professional location if you change your virtual background to a professional office setting. Within “Settings,” go to “Virtual Background” and then click the small icon box containing a “+” sign to “add image or video.” Zoom will open an upload screen where you can then select an image file to upload and save to your account as a new background. I did a Google search for a “legal bookshelf ” and found a high quality image of a bookshelf that I have used as a backdrop for all of my classes and meetings this semester, and many individuals asked me if I was still recording from my law school office because the backdrop looks so realistic.
Another benefit of...
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