Conferencing/working remotely whilst being in contact with work

[Yolande Peach]

I hope this isnt a silly question but I should be very grateful for any advice/suggestions on the easiest/best way for a computer operator at home to remain in contact with her boss visually and aurally throughout the working day (I suppose without having to make a call or press any buttons) - as if they were sitting opposite each other. We have desktops in the office (with no webcam or microphone) - and are working out what IT equipment to get for the home worker.

Suggestions so far:
An ipad with facetime operational at all times - though we don't have wireless in the office so would have to use a long cable.
Google facetime
Cisco Webex

any thoughts much appreciated

 

[arnydnxluk]

Any solution is going to require someone to make the initial 'call' each day. I'd get mic/webcams added to the office computers and use something like Google Hangouts.

However to be honest I'm not sure what the purpose of doing this is. I can only think it sounds like a bad idea. You may well have a legitimate purpose but in my experience one of the reasons people work from home is to have a more relaxed working environment, I doubt anyone wants to be 'spied on' throughout the day. Surely the real solution here is to hire on-site staff if you need permanent audible/video contact?

You could also look at tools such as HipChat where you can freely type to each other (in both team and private rooms), engaging in video calls or screen sharing as necessary too. This kind of thing is pretty common for communication with remote workers.

 

[Bradley Holmes]

I work with people in my office and with remote workers at the same time, When my local colleague has an issue I just roll my chair over to his station to help, its really quick and easy.
I guess you are trying to recreate that sort of experience with your home worker.

It´s not as easy when remote workers need some help, but you can do it, we use hipchat in the office and we are able to communicate fine through that.

Is the real reason you want these tools for communicating? or is it to monitor the homeworkers performance? Things like Timedoctor would be better for that.

 

[Yolande Peach]

Thanks for all replies so far. Definitely not surveillance. It's for two people working together in a team and the junior needs to consult with the partner and vice versa. They usually sit opposite each other in the office but the partner needs to spend more time at home because of the children.

 

[Yolande Peach]

We were thinking of perhaps a dedicated tablet each - as this wouldn't interfere with what's on the screen - but the benefit of attaching mike and cam to the desktops i guess is that they are 'wired' so there wouldn't be any problem/lag with wifi. The 'conference call' would last all working day so no having to recharge batteries.

 

[pjperez]

I'd say it is way better to have an IM solution. The problem is not just the two persons being in different physical locations, but also the person at home can't be always keeping a synchronous conversation

If you had a chat or Instant Messaging solution (e.g. Skype) the person at home could reply to queries at his own pace, plus establish a call for when it's faster to talk and both are available. I do work from home a lot and many of my colleagues are in different physical locations either way - IM works like a charm.

 

[Alan]

Interesting no one has mentioned Slack (but HipChat has been mentioned) see https://slack.com/

Slack is a really good instant messaging system that is current and works really well for remote working. Actually we even use it when we sit opposite each other - as there is nothing worse when in the depth of something to have a colleague roll a chair over ... and interrupt.

And it integrates well into the the Google Apps world, for instance want to start a Google hangout in slack just type /hangout.

If you haven't tried Slack yet you should (its free too - with some limits but not harsh limits )

 

[arnydnxluk]

We use Slack but I mentioned HipChat for its video calls and screen sharing which may be more suitable for the OP. Not sure if Slack supports those features as we don't require them. I was happy with the simplicity of HipChat but couldn't put up with the frequent outages for the past year.

Definitely agree this is the right solution in 95% of cases. I just can't see permanent video calls working. In an office environment you may be within close vicinity of each other but it's not usually direct face to face - there's at least a monitor or something in the way!

iPads seem a bit pointless. The desktop computers should have no problems multitasking with the video call application running in the background.

The group messaging apps have the added benefit of you all being able to communicate within the company in addition to separate private conversations/calls. It's one central place to communicate without employees having to add each other etc. Anybody who wants to set up a permanent video call for the day can do so between each other easily. The other benefit of something like HipChat, Slack or even just Google Hangouts is you can copy/paste links to the other person and upload files to share, generally a bit quicker than email and easier to manage.

 

[ffox]

Take a look at Skype. You can add a Camera and mike if you want, but the instant messaging will do most of what you need. No need for wireless, just connect using your regular Internet connection. You can share desktops as well, but best of all, it's free.

 

[Alan]

Slack(and HipChat) is an order of magnitude better than Skype for remote asyncronus team working - and is free.

Google Hangouts has all the same facilities as Skype on steroids and is also free.

 

[ffox]

Do a Bing search for Google Facetime and go for the Wishpond link. It's a good comparison piece.

 

[Alan]

Thats a fairly thin article.

Summary:
Skype

- "Skype is available for almost any device" (not all and no web only video version)
- "although a subscription is needed by at least one of the members if more participants want to participate"
- "Skype often suffers from quality issues"

Facetime
- "FaceTime is the most restrictive" "only.. Apple devices." "only support one-on-one"

Google Hangouts
- " is completely free and also has cross-platform functionality"
- "high quality video"
- "many business-savvy features"
-like Hangouts on Air where you can broadcast a webinar to the world and record it to YouTube directly - no charge


Also the article is wrong- you don't need a Google account to join a Hangout. You can join a Hangout if you have the URL of the video call.

What I think is a shame is that Google have some fantastic business products and in the main these can be used for free - yet they don't get publicised very much - so people just assume 'Skype' for chat / phone / video conferencing, 'Webex' for webinars, 'Dropbox' for cloud storage, 'MS Office' for office tools etc

Learn more about hangouts https://apps.google.com/learning-center/products/hangouts/#/list

 

[ffox]

What I think is a shame is that Google have some fantastic business products and in the main these can be used for free - yet they don't get publicised very much

Just so. Can't help but wonder why. If Google want their business products to do well in the market place they have to fund both development and publicity.
But, the decision as to what product is the best fit can only made by those who will use it. The best thing here is that the business test and evaluate all contenders themselves

 

[Yolande Peach]

Thanks everybody for your really interesting comments - I will start by genning up on both Slack and Hangouts.

 

[pjperez]

Skype is available on web and also has HQ video (plus other stuff anyone could find just loading their main page), but I guess that wouldn't fit the narrative of a reseller of Google products

At least you should put a disclaimer before talking about competitor's products, Alan. You have been inaccurate and you are biased.

 

[Yolande Peach]

PJPerez the few times I've tried skype in the past (using video) I found it jerky and ended up turning the video off. The IM would be fine for my purposes as I'm a fast typist - but I think they need face to face. This is a work in progress and I will try to remember to report back once it's working fine. As we haven't tried hangouts/slack I can't comment on them and might find the video as jerky.

 

[pjperez]

PJPerez the few times I've tried skype in the past (using video) I found it jerky and ended up turning the video off. The IM would be fine for my purposes as I'm a fast typist - but I think they need face to face. This is a work in progress and I will try to remember to report back once it's working fine. As we haven't tried hangouts/slack I can't comment on them and might find the video as jerky.

Hi Yolande,

It is fine to decide based on either your experience or reliable data. For all I know Hangouts might work better for video or not; I have no stake on this. My concern was with a fellow member (Alan) not disclosing their involvement with one of the offered solutions.

 

[ffox]

PJPerez the few times I've tried skype in the past (using video) I found it jerky and ended up turning the video off. The IM would be fine for my purposes as I'm a fast typist - but I think they need face to face. This is a work in progress and I will try to remember to report back once it's working fine. As we haven't tried hangouts/slack I can't comment on them and might find the video as jerky.

I think you'll find that all VC apps are prone to latency and stutter. It's a question of bandwidth more than anything else. If your users are fitting in Video while uploading or downloading there will be lower quality. The subject of video conferencing is high on my agenda, so I'll look forward to your feedback. Thanks in advance.

 

[Page]

I think the reason you were thinking about tablets was just that they were on all the time and not affecting your main screen

I dont know the options in this area well but Skype shrinks down and you can share screens etc

But - if you are not doing it already then I would - get another monitor and you can have them at the side so that your main working screen is not affected - and if sharing screens you can see theirs and yours

Two screens is also just a great productivity booster on its own - so even when not skyping away you are getting benefit
You can have one as your main screen and the other as an extra screen that is also used with skype
And skype can go large and small and share screens etc
And there is skype chat that sits alongside well for less intrusive / urgent bits

It sounds as if you might have a few screens in your office - so just try it - very quickly

You may then find that you want two big screen or one big screen and one smaller at the side for skype

I would start with Skype I think - and then use that as the comparison tool if it is not up the the job or is missing features etc

 

[Alan]

At least you should put a disclaimer before talking about competitor's products, Alan. You have been inaccurate and you are biased.

@pjperez specifically can you tell me where I have been inaccurate?

Please. You can't accuse without being precise.

Did you mis understand my post - it was a summary of a post that ffox suggested reading, and it also contained inaccuracies, that hangouts you need a google account.

A a Google Reseller I am supposedly reasonable expert in their products, and bringing to the attention of the OP a free alternative to Skype was my prime intention.

I also introduced to the OP Slack, an excellent product that I have no direct involvement with, apart from as a user.

I don't think you bought any value to the OP except to make, and as of yet, an unfounded accusation. Nice way to make friends.

As for disclaimers, @ffox sells microsoft products, it is clear in his signature, I sell Google products, it is clear in my signature. I'm not sure what you sell, your signature is more obscure.

 

[ffox]

As for disclaimers, @ffox sells microsoft products, it is clear in his signature, I sell Google products, it is clear in my signature. I'm not sure what you sell, your signature is more obscure.

Ah. Sorry Alan, but I do not sell Microsoft products. I sell my own expertise. While my target market is those who use, or potentially use, Office 365 and other Microsoft products I do not act as a reseller and I make nothing when anyone choses to buy MS products on my advice. My signature simply states that I specialise in automated work flow, you can surmise that I actually do business analysis. I recommend Microsoft products simply because the Office 365 platform is the most cost effective available at this time. When that changes I shall recommend that which benefits customer and potential customers most.

 

[Alan]

Sorry @ffox all you posts are so biased towards O365 I just assumed that you sold it, you know what they say about assumptions.

Normally I only post a Google 'counter' post because you seem so infatuated with O365 & Sharepoint, that I feel compelled to show the other side of the coin.

Its not uncommon in this forum for open biasedness towards technology choices, by people that have a commercial interest, WordPress versus OpenCart versus Magneto sort of thing.

I don't have any issue you, just don't like being told, unjustifiably that I am inaccurate, by a member that has only come on to fix his rewrite/regex problem (which I think I knew the answer too but someone beat me to it) and then decides to pick on my

 

[Alan]

My signature simply states that I specialise in automated work flow, you can surmise that I actually do business analysis.

@ffox - this is the bit I read ".... for organisations wishing to utilise the full power of SharePoint online in O365."

It is an interesting stance to not be a value added reseller when the expertise you are selling is specific to a vendor product. Its like being half independent.

I tried being totally independent advisor, but it is a very difficult to persuade people to part with money for advice in this field, they want solutions, hence deciding to specialise, and as I have never personally like MS technology (to do with my career path)- Google was the obvious camp to look at.

 

[ffox]

@ffox - this is the bit I read ".... for organisations wishing to utilise the full power of SharePoint online in O365."

It is an interesting stance to not be a value added reseller when the expertise you are selling is specific to a vendor product. Its like being half independent.

No problem Alan. I post on this forum to give free advice, based on many years of experience. My reward is to get valuable feedback on the perceived value of the products I see as being the best vehicle for the sale of my services, and I get an insight into the way people use IT to conduct their business. It's a 'long tailed game' for me, but everyone else wins a little in the short term.
As a matter of fact most of my business is concerned with providing customers with server script and C# application solutions to data flow.

 

[pjperez]

@pjperez specifically can you tell me where I have been inaccurate?

Please. You can't accuse without being precise.

Did you mis understand my post - it was a summary of a post that ffox suggested reading, and it also contained inaccuracies, that hangouts you need a google account.

A a Google Reseller I am supposedly reasonable expert in their products, and bringing to the attention of the OP a free alternative to Skype was my prime intention.

I also introduced to the OP Slack, an excellent product that I have no direct involvement with, apart from as a user.

I don't think you bought any value to the OP except to make, and as of yet, an unfounded accusation. Nice way to make friends.

As for disclaimers, @ffox sells microsoft products, it is clear in his signature, I sell Google products, it is clear in my signature. I'm not sure what you sell, your signature is more obscure.

I have mentioned an objective inaccuracy (Skype is available on web) and a more subjective one (video issues). You have come to this thread not to just praise the good things about Google's products (we agree they're awesome!), but also to talk about another product without actually making the effort of checking your facts. I might have been too harsh on my previous comment, sorry for that, but you would do well to check facts about your competitors before talking about them.

And no, I don't sell anything remotely related to this thread