Using these tools and apps, we are socially distant but closer than ever #inittogether
We are a nation that has now had to switch to the virtual world to stay connected. For our safety and the safety of others, home is the best place to be right now. However, it can now feel quite isolated and cut off. So it’s time to switch things up a bit so that you can still be virtually ‘social’ and stay linked with family, friends and also work colleagues. Seeing each other in the virtual ‘flesh’ really does make a difference in terms of staying connected emotionally.
Whether you FaceTime your loved ones, need to use a video conferencing tool to bring your team together for a meeting, or use a video app so that you and the boys can be down the virtual pub; it is crucial for mental health to stay connected and support one another in these testing and worrying times.
Here are some great apps and tools available on the market. So whether it is to have a conference meeting or keep in touch with loved ones, check out the top ten below:
ZOOM
Zoom is very commonly used in the business world because of the range of services they offer. You register, click join/host a meeting, enter your ID and you can connect via video face call with your colleague or team. You can video call, hold conference calls and webinars. This is great for both work and ‘meeting’ the girls for lunch seeing as we now can’t physically meet.
Just set this up at home, everyone can sign in and boom, you are all together on Zoom. They allow 30 minutes of free video on a 1-1 basis but if you want a group of you together, there are upgrade options if you would like to use more of their services. www.zoom.us
FACEBOOK PORTAL
This is the perfect tool to keep properly in touch with friends and loved ones so should be ordered today. A camera is attached via your TV so it’s like FaceTime but on a massive screen. Even though the portal comes in at £149, they are offering £50 discount on certain deals at the moment and they will deliver to multiple addresses.
This is perfect for Grandparents to see you all in a room on a large screen, rather than a tiny screen on a smart phone. The smart camera zooms and pans out whenever more people enter the room and when there is movement, so it will always keep you on screen. It will put their mind at ease when they can see everyone’s faces, in the kitchen while you are cooking dinner or dancing with the music on. It feels like a real connection even if it is virtual one. You can all have a game of charades! www.facebookportal.com
SKYPE
This tool is heavily used in the business world and, similar to Zoom, it works on the same basis of holding online meetings via video. This is a free tool so get it downloaded on the computer and the mobile. This is great if you have family based elsewhere in the world as they offer very low calling rates abroad (for a small fee they will connect you all with a Skype number).
This tool can be downloaded on computers, mobiles, tablets and even the Xbox One console so a great idea to keep your children in contact with their friends at this difficult time where they are missing their friends. It’s handy to have on the mobile as well as you can use it anywhere to stay connected then, and you can also use this as a messaging tool. Skype connects millions of businesses and individuals on a daily basis so now is a good time to get involved. www.skype.com
LARK
This is a great tool for those of you working from home remotely. No one needs to be in an office right now when you have so many great tools such as Lark. You can link in your calendars, chat and message, hold video calls and conferences, share files, manage and store data securely and much more! Once you have set it all up, it’s a great way to connect the members of staff all in one place and stay organised.
It is free to set up but as with all tools, you can choose which package suits you and your team best. Just because the physical office is closed, there is always a way to connect your teams virtually so you can all function and continue with the same work as if you was in the office together still. This way is safer right now. www.larksuite.com
Babl Cloud
Babl is another great tool to connect the business world internationally and locally. With flights out of the question right now, you can still stay connected with your overseas partners and team members. Remotely, you can still keep the office running and it is a time to adapt and utilise new practices for things to run seamlessly.
With the features of video calling and conferences, file sharing and the messenger tools, this is a great addition to your now ‘virtual’ office. They also enable screen sharing, you have access to your dashboard so everything is in one place and using AI technology, every call made has a transcription that you can access after your call has ended. This is great for any minutes and making sure you haven’t missed any important notes. www.bablcloud.com
HOUSE PARTY APP
Now we’re talking!! A brilliant app that has been around since 2016 and owned by Epic Games but given the current climate, people have now swamped to this app so that they can quite literally….party. Even if it is virtually, we will still party on down and dance and sing. It’s vital for your mental health right now so keep your spirits up.
It’s a free app to download on your mobile, connect with your friends that are already on there or make some new friends. You can video call and all play games at the same time together, leave each ‘face’ voicemails and you can choose who you add to your room. Just some great fun to keep each other sane and we all need to smile right now. Download the app on Android or IOS.
GOOGLE DUO
Another great app for the smart phone, tablet or computer as you can video call with a group of up to 8 so perfect for both the working team together and more importantly, girls night or lads night! This is also a great way to bring households and families together all at the same time rather than separate chats.
Hold a remote family meeting while you are all in your separate gardens so you have the best of both worlds. Fresh air and connecting to your loved ones and the Grandparents can still see the children playing. Keep smiling everyone, we have to. You just need a Google account which is free to set up and off you go. www.duo.google.com
RING CENTRAL
A great tool for your virtual office to have. This is a world leading company, and trusted by some top names in the business, and it pulls everything together rather than using separate providers. Like with all of these services, you can choose which package suits your business and they offer free trial first.
Offering video conferencing and virtual telephone numbers, integrated telephone networks, call recording and a contact centre and much more. With businesses around the world shutting their doors and workers now at home working remotely, it is worth looking into this as a viable resource to help assist you on this rocky road of change and adaptation. www.ringcentral.co.uk
FACE TIME VIA IPHONE
A firm favourite that most people access and is used worldwide. This is great for a quick and easy connection, for quick chats and keeping in touch to see everyone’s lovely faces. Where it’s hand held, you can all just mooch around the house from room to room or pop it on the side in the kitchen so you and your gal pal can cook dinner with each other, or dance with each other.
It’s free and you just need your data or WiFi and it’s very common. The difficulty with this, is with keeping in touch with those who don’t have Apple devices. Also, it is good for one to one chats, but if there is a group of you, you are better off with the computer or laptop to get you all in.
WHATSAPP FACE VIDEO
This works on the same basis as the Face Time via IPhone, but with Whatsapp Video it can work across all smart phone models so this opens up more connections and contacts to you. Again, this is free to download and use; you just need WiFi or your phone data.
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If you have elderly relatives who don’t have a smart phone or computer, grab them a little notebook laptop, set up one of these tools for them, then have it delivered to them. So over the phone, you can tell them what to click on and they can then see your face properly now when they talk to you. It will make their day.
Also, don’t forget you can send letters the good old fashioned way to loved ones. Everyone loves a hand written letter. You can send pictures to the Grandparents that the children have completed and all sorts.
Whilst this is a time of isolation and fear, now is a time to be together more than ever; even if it is virtually. We must adapt with our work life and home life the best we can so that we can carry on making everything keep turning in our worlds. These tools are great for keeping in contact with family, but the videos are also a great way to get your work online too. Many Personal Trainers are holding one to one sessions via video for example. We all have to adapt our businesses and make some changes here.
If you are a business that is struggling setting your office up remotely, please speak to Lindsay Gilbey at www.praemando.co.uk as she will be able to assist you; she is the top Virtual Assistant in Essex and she knows her craft. Listing details are here for more information: https://allyouneedessex.com/listing/praemando-elite-business-services-ltd/
Try and smile when you can and stay safe everyone. And most of all, keep your mind strong right now. Better times are coming.
(All image rights to Gaelle Marcel via Unsplash).
