Proposal: Live Zoom, on line meetings for technical issues

thataway

Active member
I am asking if there is any interest of establishing Zoom meetings. I envision these as being a supplement to the forum, and in no way taking the place of the forum.

Specifically, if someone has a problem, we can meet. The person with the problem can have photos, or even live views of the problem with the boat (including sound). Questions can be asked and answered in real time. Different views can be requested.

The participant would have be a registered C Brat to send the host an e-mail to indicate the session. I would not put the links and passwords out on a general forum. The request for help or a meeting could be made thru the "technical" or general forum.

In the last few weeks I have been involved in setting up and using Zoom for a virtual college class reunion and a local "Friday night cocktail hours". All which were done with large groups in real time in the past.

I am tossing this out for discussion. We may do a poll. We can have several persons designated as "hosts" or "Co Hosts". The 40 minute and up to 100 persons account is free. If we want some other features: longer sessions or more people (The last I cannot envision) I will set up a paid account. A paid account will allow past forums to be saved in the cloud or on a host computer.

For the first meeting I would suggest that all be unmuted. Also some may require a one on one session to get up to speed. At times we have had use a telephone (when the participant cannot get the audio and video to work.) However we discourage any background noise during the session.

The first meeting will be only a demonstration and discussion of what ground rules, topics and protocols should be. Down the line it might be fun to have a general social gathering. We have found that for many who are at home that 1:00 pm (1300) Pacific time is a good compromise allowing people from all US time zones out to Hawaii and AK to participate. We could schedule specific later times for those who work. There is a lot of flexibility.

There are two participant's screen views: One of the person doing the talking at that moment selected by the host, or a "gallery view" where all of the participants can be seen on one screen. The Mac users can use "Side Car" to have an I pad e as a second screen, so both views could be used.

For those unfamiliar: Here is a link to the various help tutorials from Zoom.

If anyone finds this overpowering, let me know or post here, and we can either refer to an U tube or specific link from Zoom as well as in person phone call or a personal tutorial session.

Most operating systems and devices. will work. A good WiFi connection is required, but we had one participant who didn't have WiFi and used a Smart Phone in a MacDonald's parking lot, because the house where the family was quarantined didn't have WiFi. I am using a MACbook and I Pad, but have access to android tablets and computers if necessary to help some one. Although a participant can block the video or audio, I would discourage this practice. Any spam or outside interference will not be allowed by whomever is the host.

I propose that a summery be posted on the forum along updates from the zoom meeting. Ie screen captures are easy to do.

All comments and suggestions are welcomed vis this thread or Private Message. I do not have along history using Zoom, and I am sure that there are some who are experts on the forum. If so, I would really appreciate your help!!

I would also like to have a few volunteers who would be willing to host and give their expertise, as well as input as to format and rules. For the class reunion there are 4 of us, who we have all known each other for 66 years!

Thank you all for comments both negative and positive.
 
Bob, I was glad to notice that you posted this in the "That's Life" forum -- visible only to registered users. I do like the Zoom meeting idea, mostly because it is a way to get together without being together, and it does not involve typing :lol: However, even with Zoom there is a certain amount of technical savey that is required. WE have been doing Zoom meetings for church for a month now and it has gone generally well.

Our group leaves everyone unmuted, and when it was small that worked well, but a it has grown, we have found that sometimes that causes some audio conflict and though the Zoom switches back and forth quickly, it has helped for the moderator to be able to recognize who is speaking so we have gone to raising a hand -- Yup, just like back in school so that only one person is talking at a time. That has worked quite well.

I believe to set up the meeting, the moderator would have to have actual email addresses for each participant. Is there an easy way with Zoom to connect to a meeting without actually getting an email with an invite link?

I have been using my HP Laptop for this but the idea of using my tablet and being more portable sounds interesting.

Thanks for bringing this up and for your work on it. As always, your contributions to the C-BRATS site are meaningful and generous. Thank you.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Just to point out that there are multiple conferencing tools available. If Zoom doesn't cut it for some reason, there are other choices.
 
Thanks for the comments. The reason I wanted to consider e-mail invites is that limited outside hacking to a major degree. If the person is willing to give the e-mail, that is a commitment to the site. Putting the ID and password on a place where it can be generally accessed, I believe is a potential hack.

I believe that to start with the participants should be muted, and then either digitally (click on) or physically raising the hand, is very helpful for recognizing the specific person to talk. Even wit only 10 people it can be chaotic unless the chair recognizes the person to speak.

Yes there will be a learning curve. I am not all that proficient. I welcome hosts/co-hosts.

We should start with a session just to be sure that people are familiar with the technology. One on one for some who are not takes time, but in the long run helps all with a smoother running meeting.

Keep the suggestions up.

Thanks

Bob
 
bobjarrard
why not just pick a time/day for the first meeting, send out the invite a day or two early to short circuit the lurkers (do we have lurkers? I know some of us have caught lunkers!), use the Password Function, enter in thru the Waiting Room, and see what happens?

As we are C-BRATS and therefore will have lots of opinions, may I suggest a bold member send out the invites for this coming Wednesday at 7am PST? Earlier would work for many I am sure, but we have those who are not "Left Coast" on board and some may work (what is that - have I forgot?). The other end of the day works well also, 6pm is popular. Sunday is a busy day for many of us with lots of Zoom meetings already.
As you can upload not only your Background Screen but also you can use the Share Screen function to upload pictures, documents, drawings, and even video - we could have a good old time.

Having been through a few of these Zoom startups, I suggest the first meeting deal with a gentle tutorial on the Zoom functions. It really helps to have a list of functions and tools that will be discussed and even better yet, if someone uses a "loose cannon" - that is an aim able camera, the portion of the screen in question/discussion can be zoomed in on Zoom, not all the buttons are self-evident. The host has some unique screen tools and so this job is best left to an "Assistant" with a participant shared screen up and running.

How about having the meeting hosted from someone's C-DORY, better yet, one that is in the water and moving! Or host from your Man Cave and show us your toys.

Some topics that I suggest:
#1 I would really like to learn how to use a tablet and lesser cost navigation software. Guess I am slow and often do not get the drift of what I read, video is better for me.

#2 Engine choices, especially two vs four stroke are always interesting. I like Yamaha, own a small Mercury, have serviced a fleet of 9.9's by both Honda and Yamaha, been on many a panga running a baling wire motor, like the smaller Tohatsu motors , and am intrigued by the 300 hour service interval of the Evinrudes.

#3 Panbo articles on radios, cell boosters, and the like are sometimes over my head but I am interested.

#4 "Dinks, Drunks, and Dunks" as we called tenders in my sailing days is always a good topic. I would love to find a dink that is light, takes a 2.5hp motor or more, is easy to row (with oras that fit inside the boat), stable, unsinkable, able to be beached without damage to the bottom, ready to hoist aboard (and it would be great if it can be flipped upside down without losing a few digits), comes with lockable deck chocks, has a way to fit a tight storm proof but vented cover, has good permanent fender/side wale protection, has some truly watertight storage, can be sailed using a Sabot/El Toro/Opti/generic windsurfer rig that breaks down for in-board storage, seats two plus stuff/one dog or three in a pinch, and is low cost/low maintenance!!!

I must be bored, retired, or stir crazy in Nevada lock down, or all three!!! Thanks so much for letting a guy with no C-DORY be a C-Brat for so many years.
Bob Jarrard bobjarrard@gmail.com
PS: I know Jim (former owner of Wild Blue) is always checking in here, he is
way tech smart and has a good grasp on so many topics, not the least of which is "Pets on a small boat - good idea or disaster about to happen?)! BJ

Wow. What a trove of ideas and thoughts. Lets kick this around--it is a little out of the range of what I originally considered. That was to just address unique problems.

If you build that unicorn dinghy; you will make a fortune.

I am very open to suggestions.
 
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