{"id":23801,"date":"2020-06-02T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-02T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dottotech.com\/?p=23801"},"modified":"2020-11-11T07:09:39","modified_gmt":"2020-11-11T15:09:39","slug":"zoom-video-conferencing-top-two-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dottotech.com\/zoom-video-conferencing-top-two-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoom Video Conferencing: Your Two Biggest Questions Answered"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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In this Dotto Tech update, we answer the two biggest questions about Zoom video conferencing that our readers have. Find out what they are:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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I\u2019ll be honest: At this point, I can\u2019t give you an exact number if you were to ask me about how many instructional videos we\u2019ve done on Zoom or video conferencing. I feel that we\u2019ve been very thorough about explaining the different features and things you can do with this powerful piece of software.<\/p>

And while we\u2019re nowhere near done when it comes to sharing best practices and guides for Zoom, there seem to be two specific areas in which people keep hitting a snag. And the funny thing is, we\u2019ve already tackled both of them multiple times – and people still send questions about them.<\/p>

Thus, we\u2019ve decided to give you a clear, definite, simple, and unambiguous guide that answers the top two questions most DottoTech readers seem to have about video conferencing in Zoom.<\/p>

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Zoom Video Conferencing Top Questions<\/b><\/h2>

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The first question that people tend to throw my way on a regular basis is about how to configure Zoom. Specifically, it\u2019s about why they can\u2019t seem to see certain features of Zoom that I talk about in my videos when they\u2019re using the app on their own computers. Some believe that it\u2019s a geography- or location-related issue; others seem to think that I have access to more features simply because I\u00a0 use the Paid version of Zoom.<\/p>

The second question I get a lot is how to set up a virtual background. Many even ask about setting up a green screen (which, I have to admit, is a task that I don\u2019t enjoy very much). And again, some users don\u2019t have access to the same dynamic virtual backgrounds I show in my videos; they, too, end up thinking that it\u2019s a paid vs. free issue.<\/p>

So now, let\u2019s tackle both questions.<\/p>

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Question 1: Why can\u2019t I see [insert feature here] in my Zoom settings?<\/b><\/h3>

Without an ounce of hyperbole, I\u2019ve gotten infinite variations of this question more times than I can count.<\/p>

Let\u2019s start by talking about your Zoom account and settings. Here\u2019s a fact: If there are features you\u2019re not seeing, it\u2019s unlikely to be because you\u2019re not using the paid version, and most certainly not because you\u2019re in the \u201cwrong\u201d country.<\/p>

First: For many people, their first exposure to Zoom is via a meeting<\/a> invitation. Now, joining a meeting doesn\u2019t require an account. Anyone with the link and the correct password can join a meeting sans account.\u00a0 And when you\u2019re in that meeting, you can participate just like, well, a normal participant.<\/p>

That\u2019s not all there is to Zoom, though. So there are two important components to this app that you need to be familiar with: the application<\/i> itself, which is where the meeting actually takes place, and your account<\/i>, which is where you can access most of the settings and features. (It\u2019s also what determines if you\u2019re using the free or paid version – but again, don\u2019t let that distract you from understanding why you can\u2019t seem to access certain settings).

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When you sign into\u00a0 your Zoom account via the homepage, you can go to your account settings. This page, which is within your web browser, is where you fiddle with the app\u2019s global settings.<\/p>

So – why ARE you sometimes unable to see some of the features I showcase in my videos? Is it because you\u2019re not using the paid version?<\/p>

Well\u2026 no. In fact the paid version and the free version are virtually identical with only a handful of differences.\u00a0<\/p>

For starters, all of the features are there, but they aren't always turned on. When you schedule a new meeting, you get access to different options. You can invite participants, add a meeting description, or even mute people upon entry (which is quite useful).

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But if you go into your Settings from your account window, it\u2019s kind of like entering Aladdin\u2019s cave. You can customize the Zoom app with a host of features, such as the ability to enable or disable the password requirement before joining a meeting, toggle chat on or off, or even prevent attendees from saving the chat.

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You can give people the ability to transfer files and offer files for download, add a co-host, or turn the whiteboard on or off. One feature that\u2019s only available in the paid version, though, is polling (and at this point, I may need to apologize for saying in the past that it was part of the free version. Whoops!) And again, not all of these features are turned on.\u00a0

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And why is that? I think it\u2019s because of two tools: the Breakout Room and the Remote Support.<\/p>

The Breakout Room lets you take all of your participants, divide them into smaller working groups for a set period of time, and then bring them back together at the end. Another option you can turn on is remote support, which is extremely useful if you\u2019re providing technical support or teaching someone.<\/p>

However, you can't have both options turned on at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>

Zoom gives you access to all of the tools in here, but only turns on the basic ones when you set up your account. To customize the app for your own needs, you\u2019ll need to go through the settings yourself.\u00a0\u00a0

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(Oh, and we have plenty of videos about that, so go check them out!)<\/p>

Now, if you go through the Preferences menu within the app itself, you can override some of the settings you previously toggled, while individually dealing with the other small setting you\u2019d like to tweak (or general settings such as dual monitor use).\u00a0

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Question 2: How do I set up a virtual background and green screen for my Zoom video conference?<\/b><\/h3>

Now, let\u2019s move on to virtual backgrounds. Actually, the virtual background<\/a> and the green screen are kissing cousins, but they aren't the same thing.<\/p>

And again, some people are seeing limited options for virtual backgrounds and wondering if they should shell out money for the paid version.\u00a0 And to that, I say: It has nothing to do with whether you\u2019re paying or not, or even your location on the globe.<\/p>

Basically, it all depends on your computer\u2019s processing power. Simply put, if Zoom has determined that your computer can\u2019t handle a processor hog of a background (like a moving image, for example), then it won\u2019t even show you the option in the first place. Virtual backgrounds, especially the more intricate ones, require a LOT of processing power, after all.\u00a0

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Fortunately, most computers today can handle the demands of Zoom. but if you don\u2019t get the option to put a video in your background, that\u2019s not because of the app; it\u2019s because your machine simply can\u2019t handle it.<\/p>

As for the green screen option, it\u2019s similar to the virtual background, but also a little bit different.\u00a0<\/p>

So first, start by turning on the green screen.

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Once you've got it set up – and note that it doesn\u2019t literally <\/i>have to be green – you can proceed with choosing which background you want to use.<\/p>

You\u2019ll notice that there\u2019s a small dot near the corner of the window that gives you an eyedropper tool of sorts. Click that, and then click on whatever background color you want to be treated as the \u201cgreen screen.\u201d\u00a0

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In this case, I used my orange shirt. I click it; in an instant, it becomes a \u201cgreen screen\u201d that shows the background I select among the available options in Zoom (which again depends on my computer\u2019s capacity).

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And that\u2019s it! I\u2019m glad that I got to make this guide, so that hopefully, the next time someone wants to ask either of these two questions, they can find either this blog or the video (which you can view here<\/a>) and have their questions answered quickly<\/p>

Now, let me ask YOU a question: Are you ready to level up your skills and eliminate your reservations about technology? If you are, then sign up for our Webinar Wednesdays, a weekly learning opportunity for tech geeks and enthusiasts. Check it out here<\/a>.<\/p>

As always, have fun storming the castle!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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