If there is one thing that the Covid-19 pandemic has taught, it is that messaging applications, and in particular those for video calls, represent one of the most important tools, able to bring people closer, even from a distance, and to allow them to continue working. Google Meet, as well as other messaging apps, has been enormously successful in this particular period of health crisis, so much so that it completely disrupts its functioning. In particular, Google has worked hard to update its application , changing its layout and even making it free for everyone. Precisely for this reason, macitynet groups in this article some tricks to use Google Meet to the fullest, exploiting 100% the potential offered.
- 1Start or join a meeting
- 2Grid view
- 3Add other participants
- 4Desktop Sharing
- 5Live Chat
- 6Remove or mute a participant
- 7Subtitles
- 8Schedule a meeting
Start or join a meeting
As obvious as it may seem, anyone who visits Google Meet for the first time may find it difficult to start or join a meeting if someone else initiates it. First of all, to make the best use of Google Meet you will need a Google account; just to understand, what you use for the Mail. At this point, all you have to do is head to this web address .
From this page you will have two options: start a meeting, or join an existing meeting. By clicking on “Start meeting”, you will be given a code to forward to the participants. To the latter, all that remains is to reach the same page linked above, enter the code and click on “Join”.
Grid view
As we said at the beginning, the increase in the use of Google Meet in recent weeks has prompted Big G to make important changes to the app. Among these, the ability to change the layout of the meeting, with a view of the participants in small windows arranged in a grid. In this way Meet’s is placed as a real Zoom competitor. In any case, to change the layout during the meeting, simply press the three dots that appear in the lower right part and then choose the option to change the layout. From here, you can choose the view in windows arranged in a grid, alternatively, the one that best suits you.
Add other participants
In addition to sharing the meeting code, you can add other participants by inviting them via email. To do this, simply click on the icon with the two profiles in the upper right corner. From here, you can choose to invite other users, simply by entering their email. The latter will receive an e-mail message containing the link to the meeting: by clicking on it they will have access to the video stream.
Desktop sharing
One of the most important functions of Google Meet is that which allows you to share your desktop, the work desk of our computer. This means that the other participants will see everything displayed on our computer screen in real time. This is a useful function, especially in the workplace, to make everyone participate in what you are doing on your machine.
To share your screen, simply click on “Present now” next to the three dots at the bottom right. Choosing this option will open a submenu where the user can choose whether to share the entire screen, a portion of it, or a Google Chrome tab.
Live chat
Although the ability to chat via video conferencing is often sufficient, Google Meet also features a chat for exchanging text messages between individual participants. This is an important addition because it allows, for example, to send a message to a user without disturbing others, or whoever is speaking. Furthermore, it allows for example to exchange links or other documents. In any case, to start the chat, it will be sufficient to always click on the icon with the message in the top right. From here the chat will open to start a textual dialogue.
Remove or mute a participant
A meeting could turn into chaos if several attendees are noisy. Not so much for their possible rudeness, but for the fact that the different environments they participate in could be noisy. And then, whoever created the meeting will also have control over their microphones. Or rather, he can choose whether to silence them to the ears of all participants. To do this, simply click on the profiles icon at the top right, choose the user to silence, click on the arrow at the bottom next to their name, and click again on the microphone icon. The same procedure also allows you to remove a user from the meeting, but in this case, instead of clicking on the microphone icon, you will have to choose the icon alongside with the “-” symbol inside the circle.
It should be noted that if a user deactivates his microphone, it will not be possible to activate it for the admin, who therefore only has the possibility to silence, but not to force the microphone to be kept open.
Subtitles
At the moment it is possible to add subtitles only in English, but also for us Italians this is an already very useful feature. Imagine, in fact, having to attend a meeting in English. Although your English is sufficient, you may find it difficult to understand speech, especially of a native speaker who certainly does not speak slowly. By activating the subtitles you will have a complete and almost perfect transcription of what will be said in English.
Activating subtitles is very simple: by clicking on the menu with the three dots, you can choose the option to activate or deactivate subtitles. At the moment the subtitles are only in English, and there are no options for automatic translation, as is the case for example on YouYube.
Schedule a meeting
Thanks to the integration of Google Meet with Google Calendar it will be possible to schedule a meeting. In fact, from the home page, in addition to being able to start a meeting or join an existing one, it will also be possible to schedule the meeting via Google Calendar. Just click on the appropriate banner to be directed to your calendar. From here you can name the event, choose a date and time, and invite other users.
After saving the event, you will see it appear on your calendar with a link to directly start the meeting on Google Meet.
Google Meet on Gmail
Over the months, Google has intensified its efforts to make Google Meet even more accessible to everyone, even and above all on the move. It is clear that in times of pandemic the use of these tools must take place at home, but by implementing Meet on the mobile Gmail app, it has made it possible to use this tool even for those at home who only have a smartphone or a tabler. , which certainly have integrated microphones and cameras.
And then, to participate in a Mett meeting, simply open the Gmail app on Android and iOS and click the “Meeting” tab that appears at the bottom next to the Mail item.
Google Meet on TV
You knew you can also access Google Meet on your home TV. To launch Meet calls on your TV, simply download the latest version of Chrome on your desktop or laptop. Next, you will also need to update your Chromecast. Google’s browser is an essential piece of the puzzle because Meet will continue to use the computer’s camera, microphone, and audio to facilitate the call.
After updating all necessary software, the user will see an option to broadcast the meeting before joining. You can also broadcast to the screen when the call is initiated by clicking on the three-dot icon and then choosing the option “Broadcast this meeting”.
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