Using Zoom for Visually Speaking

By Dendron Chamberlain
© 2020 Visually Speaking

New to using ASL online?

Most hearing people are accustomed to prioritizing audio quality on video chat, but with ASL it is the video quality that matters. If you have one, use a computer instead of your phone. This ensures the image is big enough for you to understand what is being signed. Here are some practical things to do to make yourself more visible and easier to understand:

• Wear colors that contrast with your skin color. This makes your hands easier to see, and your movements easier to understand.
• If you know how to use digital backgrounds, leave them turned off. These are glitchy, making you harder to see.
• Set up your space ahead of time so that you can test whether the background in your Zoom preview contrasts with your skin and clothing enough to make you easy to see. You can hang a sheet or towel over a door for a simple change in background color.
• While you are testing your preview, move your hands to the top, bottom, left, and right edges of your signing space to make sure you are fully visible.

Here is some more detailed information.

New to video chatting or Zoom?

You can use Zoom online, or you can download the program. Downloading the program allows you to use either method, which provides more options for troubleshooting. Depending on which way you are using it, Zoom’s display will be a little bit different.

You will either get a link or a meeting ID number. Click the link or put the meeting ID number into Zoom to open the meeting.

Around the edges of the screen you will find various controls. Spend some time before class looking through them to be sure you are familiar with them. The most important two to learn are the buttons that turn your mic and camera on and off. Be sure that your camera is on and your mic is muted. Voices are always off in Visually Speaking classes.
Here is a link to Zoom’s tutorials for more assistance.