Screen sharing allows others to view the contents of a computer’s desktop, useful in web conferencing. No downloads are needed, but attendees may need to upgrade their browser. It allows for last-minute refinements, but hosts must be careful to close irrelevant files to avoid embarrassment.
Also known as desktop sharing, screen sharing is the ability to allow others over a secure connection to view the current contents of a computer’s desktop. Remote desktop access of this particular type is often useful in web conferencing applications, as it allows a conference moderator or leader to allow other participants to view the document or presentation that the leader is currently viewing on their desktop . Screen sharing allows you to view your desktop and also to conduct what is known as a guided web tour, allowing other people to watch as the conference moderator browses different websites or even demonstrates the functionality of a search engine.
Screen sharing is somewhat different from other forms of application sharing in that participants typically do not need to download or cache any files before the web conference begins. Typically, all you need is an internet connection and login credentials to join the conference online. Depending on the conferencing platform used, there may be some limitations on the different browser versions that are compatible. This means that attendees may need to upgrade to a newer version of a particular browser to participate in the screen sharing portion of the meeting.
One benefit of screen sharing is that the organizer or moderator doesn’t have to submit files or instructions to download presentations before the meeting. Hosts can work on the content of a presentation up until the conference start time, making it easy to manage any last-minute refinements that come to mind. This can be especially important when the subject of the web conference is some type of developing situation that the business faces or information relevant to the meeting doesn’t reach the host until the last minute.
While screen sharing is an extremely useful web conferencing tool, it’s important to remember that during the meeting, attendees can see everything that’s displayed on the organizer’s desktop. While some screen sharing tools include a feature that allows you to block the view of all but a portion of the desktop, most projects allow participants to see the full desktop just as the host sees the viewing area. This makes it very important for the organizer or leader to close e-mail boxes and any other files that are not relevant to the subject of the meeting. This minimizes the chances of accidentally displaying something that isn’t appropriate for the meeting and embarrassing the leader or one of the attendees.
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