Improved Collaboration for VCU Zoom Users
As some users will know, VCU Zoom is actually divided into two accounts: a “HIPAA” account for departments and units dealing with protected health care information, and a “Main” account for all other users. One of the side effects of this division has been a limited ability to collaborate between accounts. Users on the “HIPAA” […]
New Adobe Creative Cloud Pricing Starts May 15th
This isn’t strictly a “Zoom” post, but the suite of Adobe Creative Cloud products can be used to enhance your Zoom meetings by creating personalized virtual backgrounds or avatars, editing and adding effects to video and audio clips for sharing, etc as well as many other professional and educational applications. Starting May 15th, students can […]
“Vanishing Pen” and “Reaction” emojis added to Zoom version 5.6.3
Version 5.6.3 of the Zoom desktop client was released on April 19, and among the new features offered are a “Vanishing Pen” for annotation and an expanded library of “Reactions” emojis and symbols. The Vanishing Pen can be accessed when you’re in Sharing mode by first choosing the “Annotate” option… …and then changing the default […]
Closed Captions and Live Transcriptions
As of Feb 1, 2021, the “live transcript” option has been added to the VCU Zoom account, making it possible for users to include live captions in their meetings. To take advantage of this feature, you’ll need to be running at least version 5.5 of the desktop client. You can update your version by opening […]
The Trouble With Chromebooks
A number of users have experienced difficulty using Chromebooks to participate in Zoom meetings. For one thing, they’re unable to enter Breakout Rooms by choice, or even to be manually assigned to them by a meeting host. The Zoom Support team has advised us that this issue and others stem from the comparatively primitive nature […]
Using the Language Translation Feature
The “Language Translation” feature has been enabled for VCU Zoom users. With it, you can provide non-English speakers with a real-time translation to the language they need. As host, you’ll need to enable language interpretation when you schedule your meeting. The feature requires the cooperation of a meeting participant who act as an interpreter. It […]
Participants Can Choose Breakout Rooms in Zoom 5.3.0
The latest version of the Zoom desktop client adds the ability for meeting participants to place themselves in Breakout Rooms. With Version 5.3.0, the meeting host can decide from three choices when using Breakout Rooms: (1) allow Zoom to randomly assign participants into a designated number of rooms, (2) let the host manually make the […]
UPDATE: Passcodes and Waiting Rooms NOT Mandatory Starting 9/27
In a reversal of the company’s previously announced policies, Zoom has decided NOT to enforce Waiting Rooms or Passcodes on all meetings starting September 27. Zoom says this reversal is “based on the feedback that we received about both the nature and timing of these changes.” While it’s unfortunate this decision comes so close to […]
Enabling Passcodes Or Waiting Rooms for Meetings
(NOTE: This article has been edited to reflect Zoom’s decision NOT to enforce Waiting Rooms or Passcodes for all meetings, as originally announced.) “Zoombombing,” or unwanted intrusions into Zoom meetings by uninvited troublemakers, continues to be an issue for users worldwide. Waiting Rooms and Passcodes are two ways to combat this trend. To make passcodes […]
Regarding August 24th Service Disruption
Zoom has issued this statement regarding the service disruption experienced on the morning of August 24: Dear Valued Zoom Customer, As you may know, at 4:56 am PDT today, August 24, Zoom experienced a partial disruption of our Meeting, Webinar, and website services. We largely restored service by 8:26 am PDT. We have determined that […]