Screen Sharing; why we're using Glance

The annual invoice arrived for paying for our screen-sharing services. In these times of economic hardship we've had to do some testing to check out value for money etc. There are many screen sharing and conferencing tools available that are free. So why are we not using them?

Well, I spent the better part of a morning testing out a number of the freebies.

YUUGUU, Crossloop, Gotomeeting and a few others.

a) All those I looked at required the person accessing the conference to download software. I don't mind downloading it onto my computer. However, most of the businesses we work with have strict controls that do not allow employees to download software. So that was the biggest limiting factor.

b) A couple of the trials ended up with all of us losing the plot. Either the file conflicted with Google Chrome or some other rather minor yet annoying thing that didn't go to plan. I feel that it only takes 1 small irritation to put someone off web conferencing and I would prefer not to put participants though any hassle whatsoever

c) Some tools have more facilities than Glance. For us, the cost of those facilities outweighs the experience. They take longer to load, longer to log on and then everyone needs some degree of acquaintance using them. Unrequired hassle.

So like a really good washing machine - I need only those programs I will use, it needs to do the job I ask for it, and needs to be so blindingly obvious in it use that if I have to refer to a manual then there is something wrong with the design.

So, we'll pay the invoice for Glance now...!

Use Glance for a quick way to share your screen

I've been testing this system for a few weeks now and it is proving invaluable. So far I have used it to share my screen as part of a training session (I was on a conference call with a group and then directed them to my screen), used it to show someone in IT what was happening when I tried to use their new system and used it in a coaching session where I could dircet someone how to log on to a new system we're using.

I like it because the other party has no software to install and is very quick to set up. I reckon it takes me 15 seconds to set up a sharing session and it seems to take about 30 seconds for the other user to then get access to my screen. What I like is the fact I can choose to share at a moment's notice and it works.

You just click on the G button on your taskbar and you are automatically given the session ID which you tell to the other person, along with your bespoke web address for the session. They go there, put in the session ID and they get to see your screen.

I have two screens and the Glance system chooses to share the main one. This was a key test for me because most other screen sharing systems get confused and I have to go through (the nightmare) of resetting my screen settings (and then remembering how to get the second screen up and running again...).

www.glance.net if you want more info and to download a trial.