Videoconference
Third-party services are used for videoconferencing because the current products on the market perfectly support several simultaneous connections. However, in order to evaluate the videoconferencing tool, we have to decide whether the meeting will be held in the same place or not:
- Private: Only full members of the cooperative can access it.
- Open to the public: anyone interested can observe the meeting.
Another aspect to be taken into account when selecting the most suitable tool is the number of partners who will participate in the meeting.
Orientations of videoconferencing systems available on the market and their main characteristics:
- Proposal from cooperativism
- Payment
- Moderation functions
- Free Sofware (BigBlueButton)
- Free
- Without moderation functions
- Free Sofware
- All people must have an account on Skype (Microsoft)
- Free
- Without moderation functions
- Proprietary software
- Everyone must have a Google account (for example, a Gmail account)
- Free
- Proprietary software
- All the people have to take into account in Zoom
- Proprietary software
Any of the above systems are optimal for social gatherings of 10 or less people, where all members participate with video and voice options enabled.
When we want to hold a private meeting of more than 10 participants we recommend to do it in Webinar mode.
If we want to hold a meeting open to the public we can expect, apart from the members, an undetermined number of people, then we recommend following the recommendations for meetings with more than 10 participants, webinar or broadcasting, but in this case enabling videoconferencing open to the public.