In the past nine months, our lives have shifted almost completely to the computer screen. Not only does most of our work take place in this context, but we participate in several videoconference meetings each day. In the process of adapting to this setting, we’ve learned some tricks that make the process more bearable for me, ranging from the placement of the camera to the use of headphones with an attached microphone.
We have become more comfortable with all the features built into the platform and can move quickly between speaking, listening, and the chat thread. Although some of your family members might be like us, we need to remember those who have not experienced a daily shift to virtual meetings.
Those who don’t use these platforms can find them difficult to use, anxiety inducing, and even more trouble than they’re worth. With December family reunions put on hold this year, many of them will be using this technology to connect with our loved ones, and a videoconference “gathering” is certainly better than nothing. When you include family members who are less comfortable with videoconferencing, there are a few steps you can take to make the process easier for all involved.
Guided Tutorial
Prior to meeting for your family reunion, you can take a casual opportunity for a guided tutorial of the interface. First of all, help your loved one set up a good chat station with ample lighting, clear audio delivery, and an adequate microphone. If possible, it can help to position this chat station close to the wifi router, offering the most signal strength possible in the home.
With the setting established, walk through the platform slowly, explaining the different features and settings, as well as how they are best used. For instance, you will want to encourage your loved one to mute the microphone when they are not speaking in a large group.
Background noise can complicate the audio signal quite a bit, so simply press “unmute” when you want to chime in. The other features such as the chat thread, breakout rooms, and the virtual whiteboard may or may not be necessary, but it won’t hurt to explain how they are used.
Set the Stage
When you have the date and time set, make sure all the family members know what to expect. Some people prefer a brief meeting for the group, while others like to let the videoconference roll for hours on end. Still others are comfortable enough to do other activities while the video call is underway, including crafts, cooking, baking, projects, and meals.
If your family members want to attempt this style of call, emphasize to your family members who are less familiar with the call that they don’t need to sit at the computer the entire time. This endurance test can be quite fatiguing indeed. If your family wants to play a game through the interface, explain to your loved ones who are newcomers to videoconferencing exactly how this will work. If they feel confused or overwhelmed at any point, it is always okay to step away and return later.
Accommodation is Key
When you want to make a video conference meeting work for those with hearing loss, take proactive steps to make the meeting inclusive and easy to engage. One of the most important accommodation strategies is to encourage all members to have clear lighting and to look directly at the computer when they speak.
Reading expressions and mouth movement can be quite helpful for those who struggle to understand what they hear. Determining a gesture that signals when a person will speak is a simple way to eliminate cross talk. When multiple people speak at once on one of these platforms, it tends to mute each of them, and these audio gaps can cause added confusion for someone with hearing loss. Keep in mind that the best accommodation strategy to pursue is treatment for hearing loss.
By getting to the source of the problem, a licensed hearing health professional can suggest hearing aids that will make conversations in person as well as virtual family meetings much easier to understand, so don’t delay! Contact us to schedule a hearing test!