Sandra Gayer ran a very helpful second session on making use of additional features in Zoom.
There is a reminder of some useful keystrokes further down this page, and here is a link to the Masterclass on Zoom Part 2.
Masterclass Keystrokes.
The following will only work well from within the Zoom App, not the website. Officially, all keystrokes should function identically, whether in a meeting launched from a web browser or the app. However, experience across the VI community reports limited or zero functionality in meetings opened on the Zoom website. It is highly recommended, therefore, to download the app and create a basic account, which is free.
If entering a standard Zoom room and the call is being recorded, you must press the “got it” button, before you will be allowed to access any keystrokes such as unmute and raise hand. Press the tab key until you hear, got it. If the popup isn’t on the main screen, press f6 until it appears. In a Zoom webinar, you do not need to activate the “got it” button, if the call is being recorded. You can raise hand but you will not have access to the unmute function until the host gives you permission to speak. This will appear as a popup and you will need to tab to unmute, if on a computer. If using a smart device, swipe right to unmute. When entering a webinar, your camera is off and you are muted by default.
Basic keystrokes.
Windows
To mute or unmute, alt A. To raise or lower your hand, alt Y. To turn video on or off, alt V.
Mac.
To mute or unmute, command shift A. To raise or lower your hand, options Y. My knowledge ends here for the Mac.
Landline.
To mute or unmute, star 6. To raise or lower your hand, star 9.
Smart devices.
Mute or unmute is on the lower left corner. Raise or lower hand is in the lower right corner but if this button isn’t on the main screen, it can be found within reactions, same region of your screen.
Chat.
This is inaccessible on a landline, swipe right to chat on a smart device. On a Windows computer, it is accessed through alt H. This opens the chat panel and your cursor is automatically placed in the edit field to write your message. Pressing enter, sends your message. Write the message continuously, without trying to create paragraphs otherwise the message will be sent. If you wish to send the message to specific participants, tab to the dropdown menu. Otherwise the message is sent to everyone by default. To save a messages from chat, either highlight all, control A, copy, control C, then paste into Word or notepad or any preferred word processing programme by using control V to paste. Alternatively, the chat can be saved from within Zoom by tabbing to more options, within chat. All of the above can only be carried out while the meeting is still running. It is only possible for the owner of the Zoom account to access chat messages from past meetings, from their own account.
Share screen.
Alt S to share screen then tab to the options. Remember to tab to “share sound,” and press space to check the check box. Once this is done, press tab until you hear the share screen button. Once you have finished sharing your chosen media, return to the Zoom window and press alt S again, which will end the shared session. The fewer programmes and tabs you have open, the easier it will be to return to the Zoom window. Remember that only sighted individuals can see your visual media. The screen you share, however accessible the text or other material is at your end, all that is seen at the other end is an image of your screen. Speech programmes will report that screen is being shared and whether or not the image fits their screen.
Rename yourself.
To rename yourself from within a meeting, enter the participants’ list, alt U, find your name which will appear at the top of the list by default, then tab to more options, arrow down until you hear rename, press enter and you are automatically in an edit field, the default setting is over type rather than insert. Pressing enter again will save your changes, for this meeting only. To change your name, as it appears in Zoom sessions, on a permanent basis, access your credentials from within your account.
Breakout rooms.
If you’re being asked to join a breakout room, a popup will appear and you need to tab to “join” or “join now,” press enter and you’ll be in the breakout room.
If the host has chosen to start breakout rooms automatically, you’ll be taken straight into the room without having to navigate the popup. Breakout rooms will always behave this way if you’re accessing a session from a landline. If you do not wish to let the breakout room end automatically, you can tab to leave. When you press enter, you’ll have the option to “leave room” or “leave meeting.” Note that the video and microphone settings may differ in the breakout room so check before speaking, assume nothing. You can tab to remaining time if you don’t know how long the breakout session is. There will be an automatic countdown towards the end and your TTS will read it to you.
Security settings.
If you are the Zoom host, you have access to the security settings of the meeting. To access their functions, from the main screen, tab until you hear, security settings. There is no need to press enter on this but arrow down the list. All of the options on this list are check boxes which can be checked or unchecked by pressing spacebar. This is where you find, allow participants to share screen, lock meeting etc. It is also where the waiting room can be turned on and off.