Overview

Depending on the web meeting product or services you use all of or a subset of the following functions will be available for you during a web meeting. VoIP is typically used for the audio connection but also telephone connections or a mix of VoIP and telephone connections could be used depending on the services used.

Presentations

Presentations are typically used during web meetings. Different document types like PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, Excel spread sheet or PDF files can be used. Some services also support Mind Maps. In addition, multimedia presentations or video clips can used as well.

File Sharing

In order to share documents interactively between the meeting participants the file sharing function can be used. 

Screen Sharing

Screen and application sharing allows to share screens during the meeting. A typical use for this is Help Desk and technical support in the IT industry. 

Remote Control

This is another useful function for the Help Desk, which allows the moderator to access the PC of another user to assist in solving a problem or to help configuring a system for example..

Whiteboard

The virtual Whiteboard can be used in the same way as a normal Whiteboard and allows to draw pictures or write text or to write text in a shared document. Typically pre-defined geometrical symbols and various colors are available. If you are working in a team and need share documents this is a very helpful tool. 

Mind Maps

Using Mind Maps is another way of working collaboratively and interactively. You draw Mind Maps directly on the screen together with other participants and qucikly arrive at consensus over e.g. a project.  

Chat

Chat including various options like one-to-one, one-to-moderator or all-all can be used during the meeting to exchange information outside of the actual presentation or discussion.

Break-Out Rooms

This is a function which allows the moderator to create virtual rooms like real break-out rooms where a group of participants can work on one subject whearaes other gropus can work on different project all moderated by trhe moderator.

Presence Control

Presence Control is a feature which can be used during webinars or eLearning for example. It allows the moderator to verify if the expected participants are still in the meeting or if they left. There are important cases where e.g. doctors or nurses need to participate in yealy news updates to be able to receive a renewed certificate for their continued word. Traditionally this was done in a physical meeting room - now this could be done using a webinar. 

Archiving

This function allows you to save a meeting for later use including the documents you used during the presentation.

Recording

You might want to save a meeting or e.g. training for later use. In the area of online training this may be very useful if you want to replay a presentation you alredy did.

Polling

The polling function allows the moderator to set up a number of questions ans get an immediate feedback from the meeting participants.

Languages

Most web service providers offers several languages to facilitate for participants in different countries to use their native language.

Securtiy

Security is important in order to have safe meetings. SSL is one of several methods used to guarantee the security during the meeting. 

Connection check

In order to verify the spreed of your Internet connection and to avoid problems with the connection during a web meeting you may use the Connection Check to verify the quality of your connection.

Statistics

At the end of a session the moderator may receive a summary of the meeting with the number of participants, length of the session etc. depending on the web service provider.