At Workstorm, we understand that some business is best conducted face-to-face. Whether it’s in a meeting, over lunch, or on the golf course, complex conversations can require the use of more than just typed or auditory words. Facial expressions, voice intonation, hand gestures, posture, even thoughtful breaks or pauses in a conversation can greatly impact how messages are sent and received by others. This, in turn, can impact a person’s perceptions, beliefs and response to a given conversation. That’s why Workstorm provides a videoconferencing and screensharing solution out-of-the-box.
Get your PC ready for a Videoconference
Click the Windows key on your keyboard or the Windows start button in your taskbar.
The start menu will pop up on your desktop. Click the Settings icon in the top Pinned section of the pop up. If there is no Pinned section, or if the settings icon is not visible, search “Settings” in the top search bar.
Click the Privacy & security button in the left panel. This will open the Privacy & security settings.
Scroll down to the App permissions section. Click on the Camera section. This will open an expanded view of camera permissions and settings.
Toggle Camera access and Let apps access your camera on. Click on the dropdown arrow on the right of the Let apps access your camera section. This will open a list of apps that have camera access enabled/disabled along with other permission settings.
Toggle Let desktop apps have access to your camera on. You may have to scroll down to find this setting. After ensuring all camera permissions are correct, click on Privacy & security in the top location header or click on Privacy & security in the left panel. This will navigate you back to Privacy & security settings.
Scroll down to the App permissions section. Click on the Microphone section. This will open an expanded view of microphone permissions and settings.
Toggle Microphone access and Let apps access your microphone on. Click on the dropdown arrow on the right of the Let apps access your microphone section. This will open a list of apps that can have microphone access enabled/disabled along with other permission settings.
Toggle Let desktop apps have access to your microphone on. You may have to scroll down to find this setting. Ensure all microphone permissions and settings are correct.
Get your Mac ready for a Videoconference
Click on the top left Apple icon menu and open System Preferences. Then, navigate to Security and Privacy and select Privacy. Go to Camera, Mic and Screen Recording (see below) and ensure they are enabled for Google Chrome and Workstorm.
How to start a Video Conference
Click the blue +New button in the top left of your side bar and choose Video Conference.
A new video conference window will appear where users can send invites, dial-in information and links to their colleagues to join the active video conference.
Bulk User Invites
Now you can invite multiple users via bulk user invites vs. inviting users one-by-one. Below the “Send invitations to…” bar click Bulk Add Users
You will see all possible users you can invite to a call. Pick user/s from the scrollable list or search for specific users.
When you are finished, click Send Invites on the bottom right hand corner of the modal.
Starting a Video Conference in a Private or Team Conversation
- On the right-hand sidebar of the conversation window, click the Video or Audio icon. Audio calls will start with video off by default.
- The user on the other end will hear a ringer, if their volume on their computer is on, as well as see a pop-up toast requesting that user to join the active video conference you started. The invited user/s can accept or decline.
Video Conference Window Layout Options
Workstorm provides two layout options, Presenter and Tile mode. Presenter will follow the dominant speaker and tile mode allows you to see other attendees in a grid layout based on your viewing preferences.
Keep the toggle to the left if you want to use Presenter mode and switch it to the right to activate Tile mode. Depending on your screen size and the number of attendees on the call, use the Max Video Feeds slider to customize how many tiles you want to see on your window at a time.
Accessing Conference Chat and Private Messages
If you don’t already see the video conference command center menu open on the left side, click the ellipsis menu in the top left of the video conference window:
If you have any existing private messages with an attendee, users can access their 1-on-1 conversation to send messages back and forth during the call, upload files, view previously uploaded files and use search functionality all without having to leave your video conference window. Access your private message by clicking the middle menu tab called Messages and then directly below select Send Message to…
Conference chat is also available for users that don’t have existing private messages with an attendee on the call.
Screen Sharing
For best performance, enable screen recording for your browser or desktop app in your operating system’s settings.
To start screen sharing, click the Share Screen button highlighted below.
Make sure to select your entire screen, browser tab or an app window that you want to share and then select Share. All of the attendees will now be able to view your screen share.
That’s not all, Workstorm offers the ability for multiple attendees to share their screen at once. No need to waste time by having to get the presenter to stop sharing, request permission to share from the moderator and then start sharing yourself.