Using Cameras


Look at the camera when you talk. It is natural when talking in a video confernce to look at the person you are talking to. However, in most cases this is not where the camera is positioned - so the other participants see you looking up, down or to the side rather than directly at them. The solution is to look at the camera lens rather than the display.

Give the camera a chance to switch to you. Voice activated systems in multi-user confrences will switch the focus of the conference to the current speaker, but take a second to do this. To avoid trying to make a point over someone else's picture it is a good idea to give a short introduction each time to give the system a chance to identify you and send your picture to the other participants before actually making your proper contribution. One way to do this is to say "Hi, Mark here from St. Mary's School - my point is...".

Following these tips can seem a little strange at first, but with practice can become comfortable and second nature.