“Zoom, Zoom!”

~ Elizabeth

C29C6BB2-CA4D-48D2-AD70-C4EA6031947C

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.)

 

54 thoughts on ““Zoom, Zoom!””

  1. 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.

    Like

    Reply

  2. 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.

    Like

    Reply

  3. 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…

    Like

    Reply

  4. “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!😂😂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. 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.

    Like

    Reply

  6. 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??

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. 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.

    Like

    Reply

  8. 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!

    Like

    Reply

  10. 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) 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. I had never heard of Zoom until two weeks ago, and you are the fifth person I’ve heard who has endorsed it.

    Like

    Reply

  15. I’m reading this and commenting as a delaying tactic – I’m supposed to be installing Zoom to participate in our music group meeting.

    Like

    Reply

  16. 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.

    Like

    Reply

  17. 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

    Like

    Reply

      1. 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… 😉

        Like

        Reply

  18. 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.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment