Zoom Fatigue – It is real, but is it not alleviated by all of the benefits “Zoom” meetings provide us?

Video fatigue is real but don’t the benefits of working from home offset this fatigue?

Recently, Sam Blum at Lifehacker wrote an interesting article about “Zoom fatigue.” It’s real, and it affects all who use any video conferencing platform, not just Zoom.  But isn’t this offset by the benefits we get from working from home?

“Zoom fatigue” is “… caused by needing to feel perpetually switched on as you jump between browser windows for various online meetings.” It’s caused by intense eye contact and watching yourself on video, less mobility because you are stuck in a chair in your home office, and the difficulty of interpreting your colleague’s non-verbal cues from a video screen.  How is that any different than what happens when we had to “physically” go to work? 

In either environment, you will have the same concerns as Sam talks about when you are in a video conference setting.  Sure, you have to remain in eye contact at any meeting, but if you are not speaking in a physical or virtual setting, eye contact is not that essential.  And at least at home, you can turn off your camera when you are not the one in the spotlight.  Plus, let us not forget that we are more likely to be better relaxed at these meetings because we are better rested!  We don’t have to get up as early to get ready for work, travel to work, and set up at work to go to a meeting.  We can sleep in a little, not feel the rush to get on the road to work, and be comfortable in our own home!

If you are going to be self-conscious about yourself, you will be self-conscious whether you are in person and on video. It is a personal issue that you are going to have to work on either way.  As for the mobility issue, use the extra time you save by working from home by exercising at home – go for a walk, do some pushups or invest in some home gym equipment (FYI:  I do all three!).  Lastly, communication can be the key to success.  If you feel something is off because of a nonverbal cue you are getting from your audience – follow up and ask!  It can be done both in person or on a video call.  You can even use the phone!

MTC!

Sound Quality versus Privacy – What is more important to a lawyer in a smart speaker?

Sound Quality versus Privacy – What is more important to a lawyer in a smart speaker?

MacRumors came out with an article comparing the mini-smart speakers currently on the market.  The candidates are the Amazon's Echo, Apple’s Homepod mini and Google's Nest Audio. They all retail for about $99.  It looks like hands down the Echo and Nest beat the Homepod-mini for quality and depth of music.

The audio specs break down:

• Echo: 76mm woofer and two 20mm tweeters.

• ‌HomePod mini‌: Full range driver and dual passive radiators.

• Nest Audio: 75mm woofer and one 19mm tweeter.

BUT IS SOUND QUALITY WORTH THE TRUE “COST” OF THE DEVICE:

Certainly, if you are vested in the Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant platforms, I can see the draw to remain in the respective platforms’ microverse.  But sound quality and smart-assistant integration are not THE major concern for attorneys – It’s Privacy!

Amazon Alex and Google Assistant do not have a great reputation for protecting your privacy.  Apple Homepods have had its share of fairly recent problems too!  But Apple’s Siri is more active in protecting your privacy.  The inherency of its “sandboxed” software makes it more likely prying eyes 👀 (or in this case ears 👂🦻!) will not be obtaining your private or your client’s confidential information!

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY ALERT!
Remember, the Model Rules of Professional Conduct require you have to be both competent in your use of technology in your office Rule 1.1 [8] and take reasonable efforts to ensure your client’s information is protected, Rule 1.6 (c).

Granted, I am a Mac user in my private practice.  So, I would naturally gravitate toward Homepods.  But I do use Windows machines when it comes to the blog.  And IMHO the overall risk right now in buying an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant is just not worth risk – even with the discounts you may be finding on Amazon!

MTC

Happy Lawyering!!!

The Presidential Election is Over – Now What (at least as it has to do with our law-office technology needs)?

Courtrooms are going to be empty for a while until this Pandemic is under control; are you professionally competent to be Virtual!

This blog is not about politics.  But regardless of your politics, we could not escape the noise from the recent election.  It has added a lot of stress for everyone.  While the pressure is not entirely over (and may not be entirely over for many days, months, or years), we always need to be focused on our law-practice obligations.  So, as I asked in my headline:  Now What (at least as it has to do with our office technology needs)?

Nothing.  We still need to maintain tech competence in our work.  We are still dealing with an ongoing pandemic.  You may feel your rights are being violated by having to wear a mask, keeping social distance from others, and appear in places by video. But businesses, courts, and law offices are not moving back to full-time in-person office work-life, depositions, or hearings for the foreseeable future.

First, the Pandemic is not over.  The possible vaccine is not out yet and the means of distribution has not been established.  And that whole process will likely take many (not a couple) of months if not at least a year.

Second, businesses, law firms, and courthouses are realizing there is great time-saving convenience and effectiveness in conducting business, hearing, depositions, etc., remotely.  No travel, no traffic, no hassle!

Lastly, $MONEY$!  Everyone is realizing that video conferencing is saving a lot of MONEY!  Law firms do not need to have everyone in the office for work to be accomplished – this cuts down on overhead – office space, associated furnishing, associated liability insurance, associated electric and internet, time-money loss traveling to and from work every day, and so on.  Lawyers, like any business, are capitalists.

It is the nature of the capitalist beast to make money by saving money.  And it is clear our capitalist society is beginning to adapt to the virtual world (especially since the Pandemic is not going away anytime soon).  Granted, not everything can be done remotely.  But we are still young in this new millennium and have only tapped into what technology can do.  Time will only allow technology to 1. Advance even more and 2. Decrease in costs.  This will likely produce a more virtual legal world that our ethics requires us to be prepared.  Are you ready?

To learn more follow my blog, listen to my podcasts and if you find you need more personal one-on-one help, reach out to me.  I do offer services to help other attorneys one-on-one – in person or virtually.

MTC