Start a Hangout

TOOL + TUTORIAL

This post will cover Google Hangout. Since we are a Google Apps campus I thought this might help some who have never tried a hangout with a colleague. This is perfect for a department meeting group project with those who are working remotely. Google Hangout is a video conferencing system that lets you have a video meeting. These are great because there is no mucking around with firewall settings, no VPN software to install, and chances are you probably already own everything that you need to get started. Continue reading to learn how to setup your own hangout.



TIPS: 

• Don't eat the microphone. Too close can cause your audio to be muffled.
• Everyone participating has to have a Google account.
• Invite up to 10 people total. 

TOOLS:

• Browser w/ active internet connection
• Webcam
• Microphone
• Google account

TUTORIAL:
* This tutorial is not for a Google Hangout on Air.


1. Login to Google.com or Tmail with your Trinity credentials.

2. Click the Plus beside your name to get to Google+.
Ex. +Gregory

3. On the lower right-hand side click Start a video Hangout.

4. In the Post a video Hangout invitation click Cancel. We are going to first test our microphone and video camera to make sure everything is working properly.

5.  At the top click the Setting icon. It looks like a gear.

6. This screen allows you to check the video and select which microphone devices you would like to use. If you don't see a device you would like to use try unplugging the device and logging out of Google. Then reconnect the device and login again. You can also play a test sound. This means that the headphones or speaker are working. Click Save Settings.

7. Now we can invite people. Click the Invite people icon at the top or click the blue button Invite people.

8. In the Add people box add the name of the person you want to invite. Then click the green button Invite. You can also invite people outside of Trinity Tmail network.

9. Now you wait for the people to get the invitation, respond, and enter the hangout. Once the person is in the Hangout they will appear on the larger version of the screen and your video will be in the bottom right corner. At anytime you can click on your video to go to the full screen. If there are many people in the hangout, the person who's currently talking will be big on the screen so you'll never miss what's being said, and you'll never have to wonder who said it.

10. At the top of the screen are the controls for the hangout.

• Invite people will allow you to invite additional participants. 
• Mute microphone mutes only your microphone. 
• Turn camera off only turns your camera off. 
• Adjust bandwidth usage allows you to adjust the bandwidth in case you have video or audio quality issues. 
• Settings icon lets you check your camera, microphone, and speakers.
• Leave call ends the hangout.
   

11. On the left side of the screen are some apps for a Hangout. Click on the icon to activate and again click on it to deactivate.

• Chat allows you to chat with the group. You can close the chat at anytime.
• Screenshare lets you share what is on your screen while the camera is still running.
• Capture takes a screen shot which can be shared with those participating in the hangout.
• Google effects are for fun. You can add things like sounds, silly hats and eye wear. 
• Hangout toolbox lets you put a name title (Lower Third), control others audio to your preference, and track comments.
• Click the three horizontal dots to see more apps.

12.  When your all done and the meeting is over you can click the red telephone icon to leave the hangout.