Google Meet

- Overview

Google Meet is a video communication service developed by Google. It's a platform for hosting and joining video calls, meetings, and webinars, suitable for both personal and professional use. It enables users to connect with others remotely through video, audio, chat, and screen sharing. 

- Free Group Video Conferencing 

Google Meet provides a good option for free group video conferencing, but it's important to be aware of the 60-minute time limit for group calls on the free plan and the data usage associated with video conferencing.

• Time Limit: For free users, one-on-one meetings have no time limit, but group meetings (3 or more participants) are limited to 60 minutes. If you're using Google Meet's free plan for a group meeting, after 60 minutes, the session will end automatically, and all attendees will be kicked out of the group calls.
• Participant Capacity: The free version of Google Meet allows up to 100 participants in a single meeting.
• Data Usage: While the service is free, video calls consume data, especially on cellular connections. Estimates suggest around 1 GB to 2.6 GB per hour, depending on video quality and the number of participants. You can potentially reduce data consumption by lowering video quality.
• Availability: Google Meet's features are accessible through the Google mobile apps (iOS and Android) and the Google website.
• Privacy Features: Google Meet includes host controls that allow the host to manage participant access, including muting or removing individuals, and locking the meeting to prevent new entrants.

- Key Features for Short Seminars

Google Meet, a popular video conferencing platform, can be used to host short seminars or presentations, offering a streamlined and accessible experience for online learning. It allows for real-time interaction with participants, features like screen sharing and live streaming, and integrates well with other Google Workspace tools. 

Seamless Integration with Google Workspace:

• Users can schedule seminars directly through Google Calendar, and a Google Meet link is automatically generated and added to the event.
• Attendees can join meetings with a single click from the calendar invitation.
• Files stored in Google Drive can be easily shared during the seminar.
• Users can start a meeting directly from their Gmail inbox.

Ease of use:

• Google Meet's setup process is very straightforward, making it easy to create meetings and invite participants.
• The interface is user-friendly and intuitive, even for those not familiar with video conferencing platforms.

Interactive features:

• Screen sharing: Present slides, documents, or applications directly within the meeting. Users can share their entire screen, a specific window, or a Chrome tab. Sharing a tab with audio ensures the sound from your presentation is also heard by attendees.
• Real-time Interaction: Facilitate Q&A sessions, polls, and other interactive activities during the seminar.
• Live streaming: Stream the seminar to a wider audience, allowing for broader reach, according to StealthSeminar. Note that live streaming is typically a paid feature for Google Workspace users.
• Meeting Recording: Record the seminar for later access or review. Recordings are typically saved to Google Drive and are available for download or streaming within a few hours. This feature may require a paid Google Workspace edition.
• Breakout rooms: Divide participants into smaller groups for discussions or activities, fostering more in-depth interaction. Note that creating breakout rooms may be limited to certain Workspace editions.
• Q&A Sessions: Allows participants to ask questions without interrupting the presenter, and the moderator can manage and address these questions.
• Polls: Create and launch polls to gauge opinions, check understanding, or add an interactive element to the seminar. Polls can be created in advance or on the spot.

Accessibility:

• Live Captions: Displays real-time captions of the speaker, making the seminar more accessible for participants who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Live translations may also be available for paid Workspace plans.
• Generated Transcripts: Get an automated meeting transcript to help those with limited working memory or those who need more processing time.
• Screen Readers & Keyboard Shortcuts: Google Meet works with screen readers and provides various keyboard shortcuts for navigating the interface and controlling the meeting.

Additional considerations:

• Google Meet's free plan allows for one-on-one meetings of up to 24 hours, but group meetings (3+ participants) are limited to one hour. Paid Workspace editions offer longer meeting times.
• While Google Meet includes noise cancellation, some reviewers note that it may not be as effective as some competitors in blocking out certain types of background noise.

- How to Use Google Meet for a Short Seminar

To conduct a short seminar using Google Meet, you can either schedule it in advance via Google Calendar or start an instant meeting. Participants can join using the meeting link or code provided. 

• Create a Meeting: Start a new meeting in Google Meet or schedule one through Google Calendar.
• Invite Participants: Share the meeting link with participants via email, text, or other communication channels.
• Screen Share: Present your content by clicking the "Present Now" button and selecting the desired window or screen.
• Interact with Participants: Engage with participants using the chat feature, raising hands, or other interaction tools.
• Record the Meeting (Optional): Start recording to capture the seminar for later viewing.
• End the Meeting: Conclude the seminar and end the meeting session.

During the seminar, you can utilize features like screen sharing to present materials and chat for Q&A. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Scheduling or Starting the Meeting:

• Schedule in Google Calendar: This allows you to set a date and time, send invitations with the meeting link, and manage participant details.
• Start an instant meeting: Click "New Meeting" and then "Start an instant meeting" to begin the meeting immediately.
• Share the meeting link: Copy and share the generated link with your participants. You can also share the meeting code.

2. Joining the Meeting:

• Using the link: Participants can join by clicking the provided link.
• Using the code: Go to meet.google.com, click "Use a meeting code," and enter the code.

3. During the Seminar:

• Screen Sharing: Click "Present now" to share your screen, a specific window, or a Chrome tab. This allows you to display presentations, documents, or other materials.
• Chat: Use the chat feature for questions, comments, or to share links.
• Host Controls: You can manage participants, mute/unmute, and control other settings through the host controls.

4. After the Seminar:

• End the meeting: Click the "Leave call" button to conclude the session.
• Review recordings: If you recorded the session, you can access and share the recording. 

- Ways to Connect to a Google Meet

Google Meet is a video conferencing service that allows users to connect with others for meetings, calls, and presentations. It offers various ways to join a meeting, including using a link, meeting code, or calendar event. 

Ways to Connect to a Google Meet:

1. Using a Meeting Link:

• From an Email or Chat: Click the meeting link provided in an email or chat message.
• Directly in Meet: Go to meet.google.com and enter the meeting code or link.
• From a Calendar Event: If the meeting was scheduled through Google Calendar, open the event and click "Join with Google Meet".

2. Using a Meeting Code:

3. From the Google Meet App:

4. From Google Chat:

5. Joining via Phone:

• If the meeting creator added a phone number and PIN to the calendar event, you can call in to the meeting using those details.
• Enter the phone number from the calendar event and the PIN when prompted.

6. Using Google Calendar:

7. From Google Meet Hardware:

• If you have Google Meet hardware, you can join meetings directly from the device.

• Select the meeting from your list of scheduled events or enter a meeting code.

- Google Meet Rules

While anyone can join a Google Meet video chat with a link, regardless of whether they have a Google account, they typically need to be admitted by the host if they aren't explicitly invited or if the host has stricter access controls in place. 

Any individual with a Google Account can initiate a video meeting through Google Meet, invite up to 100 participants, and conduct meetings lasting up to 60 minutes without incurring any cost. For one-on-one calls or mobile calls, there is no time limit.

In summary:

1. Anyone can join a Google Meet meeting as a guest, even without a Google account, if the meeting host allows it.

• Guests without a Google account will need the meeting link or code.
• They'll typically be prompted to enter their name and "knock" (ask to join) the meeting.
• The host or a co-host will then need to admit them to the meeting.

2. Meeting hosts have options to control who can join a meeting:

• Open Access: Anyone with the meeting link can join without knocking.
• Trusted Access: People within the host's organization can join without knocking. Those invited through a Google Calendar event can also join without knocking. Everyone else must knock.
• Restricted Access: Only those invited through a Google Calendar event or by a host within the meeting can join. Everyone else must knock.

3. Invited guests on a Google Calendar event can often join automatically without knocking, especially if they have a Google account and the host has the appropriate settings enabled.

- Important Security and Privacy Considerations

Google Meet prioritizes security and privacy for its users, employing various measures to protect data and control access to meetings. 

Key considerations include encryption, access controls, and reporting features.

Security and Privacy Features in Google Meet: 

• Encryption: Google Meet encrypts data both in transit and at rest. Encryption in transit ensures that data transmitted between users and Google's servers is scrambled and protected. Encryption at rest safeguards data stored in Google's data centers.
• Access Controls: Only invited participants can join meetings. The meeting organizer can manage access, approve or deny join requests, and remove or mute participants.
• Reporting Abuse: Users can report any inappropriate or abusive behavior within a meeting.
• Anti-Hijacking Measures: Google Meet incorporates measures to prevent unauthorized access and hijacking of meetings, including unique meeting codes and secure meeting IDs.
• Client-Side Encryption (CSE): For users with high security needs, Google Workspace offers client-side encryption, allowing organizations to maintain control of their encryption keys.
• Compliance: Google Meet adheres to industry security standards like IETF's DTLS and SRTP, and undergoes regular security and privacy audits.

Best Practices for Users:

• Use strong passwords: for meetings, especially for meetings with external participants.
• Be mindful of screen sharing, ensuring sensitive information is not visible to unintended viewers.
• Utilize mute and camera options: when not actively participating to minimize distractions and potential privacy concerns.
• Review Google's security and privacy documentation: to understand the platform's features and best practices.
• Be cautious of meeting links: and avoid posting them in public forums or unprotected calendars.
• Utilize the waiting room feature: to manage participant access and approve each participant before they join.
• Report any suspicious or abusive behavior: within a meeting.