One of the recommendations for this time at home during the virus pandemic is to learn a new skill. While I would have preferred to master one I chose, I had instead to learn how to use Zoom. Not to be confused with Zumba, the dance exercise, Zoom is an application for computers, phones or tablets that allows people to “meet” in “virtual rooms.” In the photo above, some of the employees of Zoom are pictured having one such get together.
Because regular meetings of people are prohibited, many of us have had to find ways to connect face to face, or at least image to image, with one another. Zoom uses the camera and microphone on a given device to send a person’s image and voice to others. Much more capable than Facetime, the Apple application which allows us to talk to one another, Zoom has the capacity to host large meetings, to allow breakout sessions during them, to allow people to take turns when facilitated by the host, and other things I have yet to discover. Since I really don’t want to spend my whole time at home learning Zoom, that is as much as I am likely to know.
The Friars from our church set up separate Zoom sessions for each of the Mass times yesterday. Since we go to the 11:45 Mass, for instance, we logged onto Zoom at 11:30, giving us a chance to virtually meet and greet one another. One positive addition to this way of meeting was that each person’s name was displayed under the picture like a name tag. We often only know each other by sight, so now we had names. We also had a chance to see people’s living rooms, their uncombed hair, and their pets.
Most fun was the majority’s inability to use the application smoothly. If I had ever wondered how families interacted before they entered church, I now had my answer. “No not that button.” “Get that image off the screen.” “You are only showing your pants leg.” “Let me work this myself!” While the majority of microphones were on mute, per the Friar’s instructions, each new person entered noisily and clumsily, interrupting the already semi-chaotic gathering. I guess people who come late to Mass also come late to Zoom!
I would love to know if anyone else has attempted to master a new skill. Please share. One at a time. Just like on Zoom. (Don’t worry. I can’t see or hear you.)
Another blogger has mentioned this recently. I’m thinking of signing up in the hope we can use it for our writing group meetings – although not all our members are internet savvy.
LikeLike
I think it would work well for that purpose.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t even have a camera on my PC. I won’t be zooming anyone soon.
Besides, I don’t know that many people these days, so it would be a very quiet ‘Zoom’. As for learning a new skill, my routine has hardly changed from last year. Other than washing my hands a lot more, and not visiting neighbours, life for me goes on as normal. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLike
At least you won’t be looking under my mattress for contraband reading material!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suspect you had a paperback of ‘The Carpetbaggers’ at one time too. You might even have sneaked a look at ‘Lady Chatterly’s Lover’. 🙂
LikeLike
Mary McCarthy’s “The Group” was the much passed around book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m FaceTiming my Apple friends, and Zooming those that are on non-Apple devices. Advantage of Zoom is, as you say that you can have more people in your Virtual meeting, but because businesses use it, there can be issues with the system overloading. I had to switch to FaveTime today for that reason at one point…
LikeLike
My daughter was just wondering when Zoom would crash.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed!
LikeLike
“We also had a chance to see people’s living rooms, their uncombed hair, and their pets…..Most fun was the majority’s inability to use the application smoothly. If I had ever wondered how families interacted before they entered church, I now had my answer.”
Thank you for this happy dose of realness!😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are quite welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to learn Zoom yesterday and YouTube last week. Both we uncharted territory for me. I am exhausted! I strongly encourage any Zoom users to add a password to the ID sign-in number. Google Zoom Bombing and you will see how Zoom meetings are being interrupted by some really nasty stuff. Happy Zooming. It’s not my favorite, but it is keeping people in touch.
LikeLike
Wow. People don’t miss an opportunity to be ugly do they. Just read about a man stealing a shipment of masks and selling them on Ebay before being caught!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Terrible!
LikeLike
Good advice for sure. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best to you, Elizabeth.
LikeLike
I’m trying desperately to hang onto all my old skills. There are six of us living in the house right now, two of whom are avoiding the rest of us because they are afraid we could have the virus. I need every diplomatic skill I ever had to keep things running smoothly. Exaggerated? Of course. What’s the fun in keeping a molehill tiny??
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you can all stay well together.
LikeLike
We are all well so far, and the tension had lessened.
LikeLike
Whew.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Zoom is an old “skill” for me having participated in Zoom meetings for what seems like forever as part of various a state-wide and national organizations. The new skill I am trying to mistress is the back-end of WordPress. And this is not because I actually want to but because it seems I have to.
LikeLike
I am trying that too. I am trying to set up a second blog and am amazed that I figured out how to set up the first one.
LikeLike
Ha! I can relate. We tried using Webex for the first, also to connect with church members. I learned my PC does not have a microphone or camera – as nearly as I can tell- so we used our phones. I still need to try it on my husband’s computer which is newer. Yes, lots of challenges but I suspect this is one we will eventually master!
LikeLike
I bet you wondered why you didn’t appear on the screen!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was actually glad to not show my face! 🙂 Someday maybe we’ll upgrade! In the meantime we’ll be incognito! 😀
LikeLike
Stealthy church goers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Still working on overcoming my vanity!!
LikeLike
And as our hair grows out we will all have to give up our vanity I am afraid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a delight your post was! I don’t think I have learned any new skill, but I did work on an old one and my pup has been getting extra walks.
LikeLike
I bet the dog is happy.
LikeLike
Learn a new skill? It will take the rest of my life (and even that probably won’t be long enough) just to read all the unread books on my shelves (though I should probably give some thought to trying speed-reading) 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a ton waiting too. Along with a couple of 1000 piece puzzles.
LikeLike
I had never heard of Zoom until two weeks ago, and you are the fifth person I’ve heard who has endorsed it.
LikeLike
I wish I had stock in them.
LikeLike
Haven’t tried the app yet. I am comfortable with Messenger at the moment.
LikeLike
At least you know how to connect.
LikeLike
✌
LikeLike
I have been attending Zoom calls for two years. I have never started one myself. I think I need to learn the skill. Your post was spot on.
LikeLike
Good. I don’t know how to start one yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very informative – thanks!
LikeLike
I’m reading this and commenting as a delaying tactic – I’m supposed to be installing Zoom to participate in our music group meeting.
LikeLike
I would like to know how that works to make music together in Zoom. Our Friar fortuitously muted us all during the hymns, so I have no idea.
LikeLike
Timely post, Elizabeth. I want to learn how to use Zoom For our ‘bar night’. If there are 6 of us, how donee get started? Does each person shave to have an app? Help me out. Also, I recently started teaching myself to type properly using ‘Typing Tutorial’ on Google. Next, I want to learn how to neatly fold a fitted sheet.
LikeLike
Yes everyone needs the app but I don’t know how to set it up since the Friar did it. As for the fitted sheet, Marie Kondo–a rather folding obsessed woman can show you in a video.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So, what you’re saying is that took a Divine intervention to do it? I’ll check out the video, too. Thanks for replying and keep on writing! (Steve)
LikeLike
Yup.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This Zoom was suggested twice yesterday by two different people! I have problems with phone calls with FM brain fog! Social isolation is not new to me with chronic illness. So
Zoom won’t be my new learning activity! Lol!
I’m thinking of putting our family history & photos into a book through one of the online indie publishers or book companies…For the family 😀
Bless you,
Jennifer
LikeLike
That is a wonderful idea. I have a number of photos now that I don’t know who the people are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what got me started in scrap booking initially, as after my late husband passed, his son & I found a box of old photos… we had no idea who these people or what the occasions were in them!
Neither did his siblings. It was sad that this history had been lost forever.
So over the past 16 years I have made scrapbooks for each of my girls of their childhoods, which they loved.
And a scrapbook book for each grandchild of the time & experiences with them as grandparents (each getting their book for their 18th birthday gift). All with journaling of the occasions & fun contained within.
But with past family history, photos & family stories I think I’ll do a compilation once & then order copies as gifts… 😉
LikeLike
That is a great idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! This is such a timely post. I never heard of Zoom until about a week and now I read something about it almost every day. I’m going to do some research on it and maybe make it the one thing I learn during this time.
LikeLike
Welcome and thanks for the comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My writing group is trying out Zoom and wow was it a disaster the first time! I think we all needed written instructions haha!
LikeLike
It is challenging. Our priest did have to silence us all.
LikeLike