Omaha Sherlockian Society

This page is a brief introduction to using Zoom, a very popular tool for video conferencing. You can use it to create your own meetings (for free, with some limitations), or to participate in meetings when you have an invitation, which includes a URL, or link, to the meeting (which looks something like https://zoom.us/j/12345).

You can use Zoom on a desktop or laptop computer, a tablet, or a smart phone. Obviously a large screen and a camera that's stable will improve your participation, so if you use a tablet or smart phone, it will be best to put it down on a desk or table, perhaps propped up on something.

So let's start.

1. Click on the link provided in the invitation to the meeting.
2. If this is your first meeting, you likely don't have the Zoom app on your device. So follow the prompts that will guide you through installation of the Zoom app.
   1. If you're using a smart phone or tablet, go to the whatever app store you use and look for Zoom Cloud Meetings, or perhaps Zoom Client for Meetings.
   2. If you're using a browser on a computer, a popup will appear that says you need a new app to open the link. There may be an app store suggested in the popup, and you can certainly try that. If that doesn't work, close the popup and note the message “If nothing prompts from browser, click here to launch the meeting, or download & run Zoom.” Here you'll want to click on “download & run Zoom.” The application installer will be downloaded, and then you can run it. It may take 5-10 minutes, so do this an appropriate time before your meeting is scheduled to start. When it runs it will ask you to enter your name, after which you click the Join Meeting button. Now you can choose whether to join the meeting with video or without video. Most users do join with video, but click whichever button you wish. You might be asked if you want to join with computer audio or not. And naturally joining with computer audio is recommended.
3. And now you're in the meeting – perhaps. In some cases you may be put in a waiting room. This is a tool that can be used to prevent unwanted folks from joining the call. You'll see a message something like “Please wait, the meeting host will let you in soon.” You don't have to do anything, but hope the host isn't sleeping.
4. Now you're really in the meeting. Look around the screen and you'l see a few buttons that allow you to do a few things:
   1. The lower left (usually) has buttons to control muting the audio or disabling the video. Use these as you wish.
   2. A little further to the right is the chat button. This allows you to type text messages to everyone or individual users. You'll see the Zoom Group Chat window on the right side of the screen.
   3. And still further to the right is the leave meeting button. Use this to completely leave the meeting.
   4. At the top right of the main window you'll see a button that says (alternately) Speaker View or Gallery View. With Speaker View selected, your window will only show the individual who is speaking. Gallery View shows everyone.

And that's it. If you have further questions or difficulties, try using one of the many web sites that discuss Zoon, or contact us for additional help!