[Ncabs] Google Hangouts

[Brice Smith via Ncabs]

Travis, thanks for your explanation. I appreciate what you have done here.

I have to ask, though: do you use JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver or another
screen access program? None of your slides mention access technology,
and you use terms like "click" and "drag" throughout your
presentation.

I reluctantly need Google services for work, and while I can use them,
I frankly find them annoying. JAWS and Hangouts don't work well
together. VoiceOver and Hangouts on IOS don't work well together. You
might have some luck using Mozilla, and you'll have better luck using
Chrome and ChromeVox.

But something can be both technically accessible and difficult to use.
The average screen reading user probably relies on Mozilla or Internet
Explorer, uses JAWS or another program, knows how to navigate with the
tab key, arrow keys, and common quick navigation keys such as "H" for
headings and "X" for check boxes. Google, which likely requires a
separate web browser and screen reader, is difficult for the average
blind person to use.

Compare this with a program like Skype, which requires a quick
installation and only five minutes with the tab and arrow keys to make
the average screen reading user feel comfortable. You can install
customized scripts for JAWS and Skype, but you don't need them. Skype
also works with VoiceOver on IOS. So, it's accessible from the moment
you download it, across platforms. And it's easy to use.

Before you dismiss me as a Skype fanboy, know that I'm not. I rarely
use it, but I'm aware that it's popular with the blind and accessible
with screen readers across multiple platforms.

And that brings me to the point I made yesterday: ease of use is
essential. You all want to meet somewhere that's as easy as possible
for the most people possible. It doesn't matter if that's Skype,
GoToMeeting, Starbucks or the good old telephone. But you want to use
a platform where your audience, busy blind students, don't have to ask
each other if it's accessible or pull themselves around a steep
learning curve with JAWS or NVDA.

Because for many screen reading users, Google's services are
frustrating and confusing. Maybe that's google's fault, maybe that's
the fault of blind people who don't know enough about their access
technology, and maybe that's the fault of archaic assistive tech
companies, unable to keep up with the times. But that's reality, and
it's something you probably don't want to put upon perspective members
right now.

Brice


On 5/16/14, Travis Sherrill via Ncabs <ncabs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello all:
>
> I'm going to copy and paste a Hangouts tutorial that was created by a
> visually impaired user (me). The text I have pasted below is the text (word
> for word) in the videos I created.  I'm not sure if you will be able to
> access the videos.  If you are a visually learner and would like to see
> Hangouts in use, email me off list and I'll send you the links to see if
> you
> can access them.  The reason I'm not sure if the videos are accessible is
> because for my class project, I had to use a particular screencasting
> software as assigned by my professor and it wasn't extremely accessible.
> I'm not sure if you are going to be able to access the videos so I'll paste
> the text of the videos in this email.
>
>
>
> Google Hangouts is actually more accessible than is Skype in my opinion.
> In
> order to join a hangout, you have to have an email from the person who
> wants
> you to join the hangout.  In that email, you have two options, you can
> either watch the hangout (which you don't want to do), or you can join the
> hangout (which is what you want to do).  If you have further questions you
> don't want to ask on the list, please email me off list.  I'm getting my
> library science degree with the ultimate goal to work with creators of
> technology to make it more accessible to the visually impaired.  I know
> this
> is a lot of information.
>
>
>
>
> Part #1 Tutorial:  What is Google+ and Google Hangouts
>
>
>
>
> Hello, my name is Travis Sherrill and this is part 1 of a three part
> tutorial on Google+ and Google Hangouts.
>
> Slide One
>
> In this video tutorial, we are going to:
>
> --define Google+
>
> --Define Google Hangouts
>
> --Discuss potential uses for Google Hangouts
>
> Slide Two: What is Google+?   Google+ is a social networking and identity
> service that is owned and operated by Google Incorporated.  Google
> describes
> Google+ as a social layer that enhances many of its online properties and
> that it is not simply a social networking platform, but also an authorship
> that associates web content with its owner/author.
>
> Slide Three: What are Google Hangouts?
>
> Google Hangouts is a unified communication service that allows members to
> initiate and participate in text, voice or video chats, either one-on-one
> or
> in a group.  Hangouts are built in to Gmail, Google+, and mobile
> applications are available for Android and IOS devices.
>
> Slide Four: What are some purposes of Google Hangouts?  Hangouts serve
> numerous purposes.  In the academic landscape, professors use Google
> Hangouts to communicate with students.  Hangouts bring the face-to-face
> atmosphere into the online environment. Hangouts is also an effective tool
> for how to tutorials.  In libraries, reference librarians use hangouts as a
> virtual tool to assist students with finding resources.  Hangouts bring
> people together. Hangouts offers a tool to conduct meetings with people
> across the nation. This allows people to collaboratively be in one place.
> You don't have to travel.  You don't have to be out of the office.  The
> library saves money on travel expenses. Finally, do you have a favorite
> athlete or celebrity that you dream of sometime talking to?  Many athletes
> and celebrities use Hangouts as a collaborative tool to communicate with
> fans.  Search Hangouts to see if your favorite celebrity or athlete has
> hosted or will be hosting a future Hangout that you might be able to join
> in
> on.
>
> Slide Five: Review:
>
> In this tutorial, we have defined Google+, we have defined what a Google
> Hangout is, and we have discussed some of the purposes Google Hangouts
> might
> serve both inside and outside of the library. What are some purposes you
> might utilize Google Hangouts for in the future?
>
>
>
>
> Part #2 Tutorial:  Creating A Google+ Account.
>
>
>
>
> Hello, my name is Travis Sherrill and this is part two in a three part
> tutorial on Google+ and Google Hangouts.
>
> Slide 1.  Google+ and Hangouts
>
> Slide 2. In this tutorial, we are going to:
>
> --learn how to create a Google+ account
>
> --learn how to create a Google+ profile
>
> --examine how to navigate the Google+ home page
>
> Slide Three: Creating a Google Plus account. Creating a Google+ account is
> quick, free, and easy.  Google is open to everyone. Go to
> www.plus.google.com <http://www.plus.google.com> .  If you have an existing
> Gmail account, log in with your user name and password.  If you do not have
> a Gmail account, click create an account.
>
>
>
> Slide Four:  This is what create a Google account screen looks like.  Fill
> out this form by adding some personal information and click the blue next
> step button to continue.
>
>
>
> Slide Five:  Adding a profile picture.  At this point, your Google+ account
> has been created and this is where you can begin personalizing your
> profile.
> The first thing you can do is add a profile photo.  This is extremely
> important so that people can recognize you from across the web.  The world
> is full of thousands of John Smith's, but if you have a profile photo, your
> friends, family, and other acquaintances will know they are adding the
> correct John Smith to their circles.  To add a profile photo, simply select
> your photo or avatar and drag it into the box.  Adjust the photo if
> necessary and click next step.
>
>
>
> Slide Six: Creating Circles.  Now, it's time to make connections.  Google
> calls them your circles.  Circles for friends, family, acquaintances, work,
> or you can create the categories of your choice. I created a circle called
> classmates.  Circles allow you to publish content to all circles or
> specific
> circles.  For example, if you went on a vacation with your family, your
> classmates circle would not want to see the pictures from your family
> vacation.  Search for people you would like to connect with.  Like Facebook
> and Twitter, Google+ provides suggestions for people you might like to
> connect with based off of who you are already connected with.
>
>
>
> Slide Seven:  The continue button in the lower right corner will allow you
> to follow things you love.  The possibilities are endless, sports, cooking,
> history, technology, music, entertainment, and so much more.
>
>
>
> Slide Eight:  Navigation of the Home Page: When you log in to your profile,
> you start at the home screen.  Here you will find your posts, streams, and
> topics.  You will always have a vertical navigation bar on the left side of
> the page.  This navigation bar has eight tabs:
>
> Home,
>
> Profile (where you can always make changes),
>
> People (suggestions of people you may know on Google+),
>
> Photos,
>
> Communities (groups of Google users who come together via social media to
> share),
>
> Events,
>
> Hangouts,
>
> Pages,
>
> Local (recommended places near location),
>
> Settings,
>
> And a search box at the top.  The Google chat and hangouts menu is on the
> right side of the page.
>
> Slide Nine:  In this tutorial, we discovered how to create a Google+
> account.  We also explored the Google+ home page. Do you feel equipped to
> create a Google+ account? Do you feel that Google+ will be a useful tool
> for
> you in the future?  Are you hooked on Google+ yet?
>
>
>
>
> Part #3 Tutorial:  Creating a Google Hangout
>
>
>
>
> Hello, my name is Travis Sherrill and this is part three of a three part
> tutorial on Google+ and Google Hangouts.
>
> In this tutorial, we are going to learn how to create a Google Hangout and
> examine some features embedded within Google Hangouts.
>
> After you have logged in, click the home link to go to the Google+ home
> page.  Once you are on the home page, click the hangouts link. On this
> page,
> you will see two options, video hangouts and hangouts on air.  We don't
> want
> our hangout to be shown live on Google+ and we don't want the hangout to be
> accessed via YouTube so we are going to click the video hangouts link.  One
> more note: hangouts has a limit of ten people who can participate in a
> hangout at a given time.  An unlimited number of people can watch a
> hangout.
>
>
> Once you click on the video hangouts link and once that page has loaded,
> you
> will see other hangouts that are recorded and active.  We don't want to
> participate in any of these hangouts so we are going to click on start
> video
> hangout.
>
> Now, we are located at create a hangout screen.  The link at the top of the
> page is used to invite people to your hangout. Just below this link, you
> see
> a text box.  This text box is to type a message that describes what your
> hangout is going to be about. Inviting people to your hangout is simple.
> You can either invite people from your circles or you can invite people
> from
> outside of your circles as long as you know there name or there Gmail email
> address.  I'm going to invite my family from my circles.  So I click on my
> family and now they are invited to my hangout. Now that people are invited
> to the hangout and now that people know what your hangout is going to be
> about, click invite. We are now in a Google Hangout.  Now that we are in a
> hangout, let's examine some of the features within hangouts.
>
> The first feature I want to talk about is the chat window.  We will click
> on
> it and it will open on the right-hand side of the screen. This allows
> people
> who are part of the hangout to chat in a text box while the hangout is
> going
> on. In order to chat in a hangout, you have to be invited to the hangout
> and
> you can't just merely be watching the hangout. I have typed Hello.  This is
> a good way that everyone can participate if you do not have a microphone.
> You can convey your message to everyone through the chat.
>
> Next we want to talk about the screenshare.  The screenshare function is a
> neat feature because it allows everyone in the hangout to share their
> screen.  Whether you want to share your desktop, a document, or a website,
> this feature allows everyone to share screens within a hangout.
>
> Google Effects, this feature allows people within a hangout to do some
> neat,
> fun, interactive things within a hangout.
>
> Google drive:  This is a neat feature.  Let's say that you are working on a
> group project and you have four people in your group.  Google drive allows
> you to utilize a Google dock you have created within a hangout.  This
> allows
> for everyone within your hangout to contribute to the same document.
>
> Next I want to talk about the microphone.  This is very important.  On the
> hangouts microphone, you have mute and unmute.  If you want to say
> something
> during a hangout, your microphone needs to be unmuted.  Make sure when you
> start a hangout that the microphone is unmuted.  If muted, people will not
> be able to hear you.  IF you are not going to say anything and you just
> want
> to listen, mute your microphone because hangouts picks up a lot of external
> sounds and this distracts people.
>
> Next is the camera. Google hangouts requires a webcam.  Simply turn your
> camera off or turn it on.  If you are talking the camera turns to you, if
> someone else is talking, the camera turns to them.
>
> The final thing to examine is the end call button. Simply click the end
> call
> button and the hangout ends. I hope these tutorials have been beneficial.
> I
> hope you have enjoyed them.  I hope Google+ and Google Hangouts is
> something
> you will use in the future both in your professional and personal life.  If
> you have questions about anything covered in the three tutorials, please,
> don't hesitate to email me.  Thank you for your time.
>
>
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-- 
Brice Smith
North Carolina State University, Communication - Public Relations
Brice.Smith319 at gmail.com