Remote desktop sharing allows users to share their desktop view with others in real-time. It can be enabled through operating system preferences or webinar software, and is useful for educational purposes and secure information sharing. Screen capture software is an alternative. It’s important to consider what might be exposed before sharing, and cleaning up the desktop is a good practice.
In the computer world, a desktop refers to the background screen on a computer. It is also used to refer to the entire array of everything visible on the monitor. Normally, a user’s desktop can only be seen by someone who is within visual range of the computer monitor. Through a mechanism called remote desktop sharing, on the other hand, the view of the user’s desktop, i.e. the same view that one sees when looking at the monitor at any given moment, can be shared in real time with another user out of reach in order to view the monitor .
Remote desktop sharing can be an operating system preference that can be enabled. It is easier to activate between users who share the same network. There are also free and purchasable software applications for webinar software, which often includes a cross-platform desktop sharing tool as part of its online meeting features, along with video chat, slide presentations, audio chat, etc. This allows you to share the material securely.
Remote desktop sharing can be used for educational purposes as well as for the secure sharing of very sensitive information. For example, using remote desktop sharing, an instructor in an online course could demonstrate how to perform a certain action in a software program. A software developer could demonstrate the functionality to a client, without releasing the software in beta. A technical support representative could better understand a customer’s problem by actually seeing the problem in action, without having to reproduce it on their own computer.
Screen capture software provides an alternative, but asynchronous way to share your desktop. Screen capture software takes a movie of your desktop, with or without voice-over narration. This movie can then be emailed or uploaded to share with others.
When using remote desktop sharing, it’s a good idea to think ahead about what might be exposed. Items stored on the desktop or a browse window showing a list of documents could reveal a lot in document titles. A dock showing heavily used programs may be a beta tester. Any messages that might appear, such as when an instant messenger is active, might also bring personal matters into a business meeting. Therefore, cleaning up your desktop before sharing is generally a good practice.
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