The video call user interface

Video Calls by Weframe can be created and operated easily and intuitively. They are reduced to essential functions to enable you to conduct your call effectively.

 

CONTENT

• The Video Call Widget
  • States of the Video Call Widget
  • Statuses of the Video Call Widget
  • Positioning and Scaling
• Layout of the video call
• Controls of the video call
• The control panel
• Microphone and camera states
• States of the avatar
• Why is the thumbnail currently not available?

The Video Call Widget

As soon as you share your Session, the Video Call Widget appears on the left edge of the Workspace. You can join and operate a video call using the Widget.

 

States of the Video Call Widget

During an ongoing video call, you can switch between the states of the Video Call Widget by tapping the "Maximize" or "Minimize" button or by opening or closing the camera flap on the Sessionboard. Opening or closing the camera flap after a manually selected state change only stops or enables the transmission of your video image.

 

The difference between the two states is that in the maximized state you can see the participants' video transmission, while the minimized state gives you a clear view of the Workspace.

Please note: Regardless of the state of the Video Call Wiget, your video image is transmitted as soon as you are in an ongoing video call on the Session board and have opened the camera flap. Close the camera door if you do not want video transmission.

 

Statuses of the Video Call Widget

Video Call available

As soon as you have participated in a Shared Session on the Sessionboard, the video call widget is available. Tap on "Join" to start or join a video call.

Video Call is running

This state is displayed during an ongoing video call. You have the option to turn the microphone on and off and maximize the video call widget to view the video transmission. Go to "Leave" to end the video call.

Positioning and Scaling

The maximized Video Call Widget can be freely arranged on the Workspace. To do this, scale the widget to the desired size using the pinch gesture and place it in the desired location by dragging it with a finger. The changed position of the maximized Video Call Widget is retained even after switching to the minimized state and back.

Layout of the video call

Grid View

In an ongoing video call, the participants are displayed by default as a video preview or  avatar in a grid view. So you always have an overview of all participating persons. With the help of various indicators in the individual grids, you can also keep an eye on who is speaking, has muted their microphone or deactivated the camera.

Portrait view

For example, you can actively set a currently speaking participant to portrait view by tapping or clicking the corresponding tile. The tile is enlarged to the entire area of the camera window. By tapping or clicking on the "Grid" button in the upper right corner of the camera window you can switch back to the grid view with an overview of all participants.

 

Controls of the video call

Video calls by Weframe are set up in the same way on Sessionboards as well as on laptops / PCs. These are the elements using the portrait view of a participant as an example:

1. Control panel
2. Context menu
3. Grid view

   Switches to the grid view with the overview of all participants.

4. Participant information

   Displays the name of the participant and the status of his/her microphone.

The video call controls will automatically disappear after a few seconds, giving you a clear view of the video transmission. Tap the Video Call Widget once to show the controls again.

The control panel

The control panel is the main menu of the video call. Here you will find all essential functions. Depending on the device from which you participate in the video call, whether from a Sessionboard or via laptop / PC, the contents of the control panel differ.

Control panel on the Sessionboard

1. Fullscreen

   The Video Call Widget is enlarged to the entire Weframe display.

2. Minimize

   Minimizes the Video Call Widget.

3. Volume
4. Mikrophone
5. Share screen

   Shares the screen of the Sessionboard in the video call so that participants on the laptop / PC can also see the Workspace.

6. More

   Opens the context menu below which you will find the "Help" for the video call.

7. Leave

Please note:The control panel disappears automatically after a few seconds and reappears by tapping the Video Call Widget once.

 

Control panel on the Laptop / PC

The elements of the control panel

1. Camera
2. Microphone
3. Screensharing

   Shares your screen with all participants in the video call.

4. More
5. Leave

The elements of the context menu under "More"

1. Settings

   Settings can be made on the microphone, speaker and camera.

2. Help

Please note:The control panel disappears automatically after a few seconds and reappears by tapping the Video Call Widget once.

Microphone and camera states

The microphone and camera can have different states during a video call. These provide you with information about the current status of the video and audio transmission of the participants.

Microphone states

1. The microphone is muted.
2. The microphone is switched on.
3. The microphone is on and the participant is speaking.

Camera states

1. The camera is deactivated.
2. The camera is activated and the thumbnail is currently not available, but can reappear at any time.

States of the avatar

The avatar of a participant is composed of the first letters of the first and last name. It replaces the thumbnail if it is not available or the camera is deactivated. Depending on the states of the video or audio transmission, the avatar can have different states.

Camera is deactivated

The camera is deactivated and:

1. The microphone is muted. The avatar remains in his basic state.
2. The microphone is on, but the participant is not speaking at the moment. The avatar remains in its default state.
3. The microphone is on and the participant is speaking. The avatar pulses to signal that the participant is speaking.

Camera is active and the thumbnail is not available

The camera is active, the thumbnail is not available and:

1. The microphone is muted. The avatar remains in his basic state.
2. The microphone is on, but the participant is not speaking at the moment. The avatar remains in its default state.
3. The microphone is on and the participant is speaking. The avatar pulses to signal that the participant is speaking. 

 

Why is the thumbnail currently not available?

The dynamic fading in and out of the thumbnail of participants is due to a limitation of the respective system (CPU, bandwidth, etc.). The available resources are distributed accordingly so that the currently speaking and the frequently speaking persons are displayed in the best possible quality, whereas the other participants can be currently faded out.