Best Ways to Communicate from Home during Corona pandemic

Communicate virtually during isolation and the comfort of your own home with apps and technology.

Best Ways to Communicate from Home during Corona pandemic

By ilovelimerick correspondent Roisin Smart

With recent measures to attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19, businesses, schools and universities are all closed until further notice. While this should have resulted in a freeze on education or workflow, technology allows us to communicate virtually during isolation from the comfort of your home.

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Different communication apps are being put to clever use by schools, universities and businesses alike. For some places still figuring out the best way to communicate from home with others, we have gathered information on a handful of communication apps that provide top-class services.

Schools and universities have been using Skype which can allow up to 50 people into a call at one time. Skype allows for computers, tablets, mobile devices, the Xbox One console, and smartwatches to be used within one call, giving everybody a chance to use it. The app is also free to download and use.

PDST, the professional development service for teachers has set up Distant Learning on their website. This gives teachers various websites that can be used for posting homework and lesson plans that can then be accessed by their classes at home. PDST states that “schools will be enabled to limit the impact of school closures by giving learners access to materials, support, classwork and feedback.”

Businesses have taken to using programmes such as Zoom, Facetime and Facebook messenger. Zoom provides a conferencing service that combines video conferencing, online meetings, chat and mobile collaboration. The product is free and allows for meetings to last up to 40 minutes with a 100-person limit.

Julie Kilmartin, founder and principle of Kilmartins Educational Services say they plan to use technology to provide their services.

Some school services like Kilmartin’s continue to offer online individual intuition, with one-on-one grinds still going ahead. At the moment, Kilmartins’ teachers are using various platforms such as Zoom and Skype to continue to provide students with classes.

Founder and Principle of Kilmartin’s, Julie Kilmartin, said: “Kilmartin’s are education innovators, and now more than ever education and how it is delivered is evolving, and we plan to be leading the pack in regards to bringing education to our students in the safety of their own homes.”

For companies with employees that may have Apple devices, Facetime can be used. Already installed on Apple products, Facetime allows up to 32 people in one call.

Facebook Messenger is another free service that allows companies to interact and hold meetings. All that’s needed is a Facebook account. With a capacity of up to 50 people, this is also a great way to connect with friends and family who you are away from.

If you’re not working or studying, there are also apps such as Snapchat and House Party allow for you to connect with friends via video call also. Snapchat allows up to 15 people in one call along with games and filters available to be used.

House Party is a newer video call app available on App stores. Eight people can call each other and chat or play games. You can also make your own private chat rooms.

While there are loads of other services that can be used for communication through text and image, the ones listed above are the best when it comes to communication between schools, universities and businesses.

For more information on Zoom, click here.

For more information about PDST, click here.

For more technology news, click here.