Hi All,


Now that I'm using Zoom and the like to take classes, attend webinars, 
participate in meetings, carry out work tasks, and gather with people 
for formal and informal activities, I'm noticing lots of logistical 
glitches I didn't expect. I've been able to resolve some and am still 
working on others. I'll give some examples, but I'm posting to ask 
whether others here have encoutnered this and how you've resolved it.


Here are some examples:


* How do you manage the screen reader with the virtual meeting app? I've 
tried having them on different sound cards, having them on the same 
sound card, and turning off the screen reader altogether, but each has 
it's drawbacks. In general having both on the same sound card and 
listening through the headset works best, but if it's the first time, 
you need to put them on separate sound cards so you can dismiss a 
notification from the Windows assistant, and the rest of the time, you 
have to learn not to get distracted by chats, etc.


* How do you complete right-now tasks when the mic is unmuted? I like 
meetings where people's mics are unmuted because that type of atmosphere 
allows for discussion. That can be complicated, though, when you need to 
do something quietly in the background right now. For instance, today I 
was on a continuing education webinar. One of the things we had to do 
over lunch was record a short voice sample and text it to the 
facilitator at a specific point. Other people would fiddle with their 
cell phones quietly to send the recording in. I couldn't do it without 
muting my mic, which I wasn't supposed to do, or getting up to find the 
right headset, which was headset upon headset. I finally just got up and 
left for a few minutes to do it in another room.


* How do you act on important information that is put in the chat 
window? Sometimes presenters post URLs, phone numbers, log-in info, 
addresses, code numbers, etc., in the chat box for you to use during the 
meeting. Screen readers don't always allow you to copy it to the 
clipboard, so you have to actually use the screen reader's spelling 
feature to listen and write down. For me, this is challenging because I 
need to listen to long or complex information several times as I write 
and check it and am totally tuning out the presentation during that time.


Any tips or other such glitches you've noticed?


Ciaowhile I'm


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