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ABA Techshow

'60 in 60' Techshow session features tips to improve video meetings, boost well-being

By Lyle Moran

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stopwatch with the number 60.

Image from Shutterstock.com.

Fittingly, the first all-virtual ABA Techshow concluded Friday with a “60 in 60” session that highlighted a number of tools and tips lawyers can use to ensure their videoconferencing meetings feature solid audio and video quality.

The weeklong event was held remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the four presenters during the traditional final session offered technology tips that will be helpful as many attorneys continue working from home.

One of the microphones recommended for video calls was the Blue Yeti USB, which Roberta Tepper, Techshow 2021 co-chair and lawyer assistance programs director at the State Bar of Arizona, said offers studio-quality sound.

Her fellow co-chair Allan Mackenzie, founder of efficient.legal, shared that the Logitech USB Headset H390 he uses is very affordable and effective.

“About every other Zoom meeting people ask me what microphone I’m using because it’s the clearest they have ever heard,” Mackenzie said.

Ivan Hemmans, Techshow co-vice chair and senior manager of technical development at O’Melveny & Myers, said the SoLID Lavalier microphone is another affordable option that produces higher quality sound than the built-in microphones on desktops or laptops.

He also mentioned several tools that could help session attendees boost the quality of their videos for meetings and webinars. One webcam Hemmans touted was the Logitech C920 HD Pro, which he says is much more available now for purchase than it was early on in the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he referenced Reincubate’s Camo, which is an app that allows the user to utilize their iPhone as a webcam for video calls.

Mackenzie brought up how Zoom backgrounds used on video calls might not show up seamlessly behind the person using one. His recommended solution: adding a green screen. He listed several options ranging in price from $12.99 to nearly $160 that can be found on Amazon.

On the personal side, Brooke Moore, Techshow co-vice chair and founder of MyVirtual.Lawyer, said Facebook’s Portal Mini has helped her communicate with her parents remotely during the pandemic.

Follow along with the ABA Journal’s coverage of the ABA Techshow 2021 here.

The speakers also provided plenty of ideas for tools attorneys can try to help them enjoy their downtime and find some peace of mind.

For those into hiking, Tepper suggested the AllTrails website, which offers thousands of trail guides.

“If getting outdoors is the way you cultivate your calm, this is the app for you,” she said.

Tepper also said the Medito app is great for those who have not meditated before or are eager to get back into meditation. The Noisli app also provides a nice mix of sounds, she said.

Mackenzie recommended Radio Garden as a tool to listen to radio stations from around the world and said it’s led to him listening to a lot of tunes from Zimbabwe.

Among the apps touted to help lawyers wind down and get some solid sleep was Philips’ SmartSleep Sleep and Wake Up Light Therapy Lamp highlighted by Moore.

Here’s the full list:

    1. Blue Yeti USB microphone
    2. Green screens for Zoom
    3. Ember smart mug
    4. SoLID Lavalier microphone
    5. LED Flashlight Gloves
    6. Otter.ai—transcription tool for Zoom
    7. Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker
    8. Logitech C920 HD Pro webcam
    9. Medito App for meditation
    10. CarbonKlean Peeps eyeglass lens cleaner
    11. Wireless four-in-one charging dock (Many different types available)
    12. RetiCAM tabletop tripod
    13. Goody for sending gifts
    14. RadioGarden
    15. PhoneSoap>UV light sanitizing device
    16. iPhone/iPad tripod mount (many different types available)
    17. Mealime meal planning
    18. Logitech H390 USB Headset
    19. reMarkable 2 tablet and marker
    20. Reincubate Camo webcam app
    21. AllTrails
    22. ActiveWords
    23. LARQ Bottle PureVis self-cleaning water bottle
    24. Selfie ring light with tripod stand (several models available)
    25. Noisli app
    26. Gooseneck phone and tablet holders (many different models available)
    27. SmartSleep Sleep and Wake Up Light Therapy Lamp
    28. GVM G100W Bi-Color LED Video Light Kit with Lantern Softbox
    29. Allrecipes
    30. Jabra Speak 410 portable USB conference speakerphone
    31. Q Portable Charger
    32. HDMI video capture card: Elgato Cam Link 4K or IPXOZO Audio Video Capture Card
    33. VOCH Night Light Bluetooth Speaker
    34. USB Clock Fan with Real Time Clock and Temperature Display
    35. “Carpool Karaoke” The Mic
    36. Add an HDMI Capture Card to your DSLR/Camcorder
    37. BlissLights Sky Lite Laser Galaxy Projector
    38. Fujitsu Scansnap ix1400
    39. LED Light Up Face Mask
    40. Blackmagicdesign ATEM Mini
    41. Bose Frames Audio Sunglasses
    42. MS Outlook Tip: When you send or reply to an email, have the return replies go to someone else.
    43. Clubhouse invitation-only audio chat app
    44. UGREEN Adjustable Desktop Cell Phone Stand
    45. Dodow sleep aid device
    46. Sceptre 35-inch curved ultrawide monitor
    47. Cozi family organizer app
    48. Reflector 3 wireless screen-mirroring application
    49. WAYAYA Fire-Breathing Dragon Light
    50. Expanscape seven-screen laptop
    51. Facebook Portal Mini
    52. Mesh network (eero, Google Nest, Orbi WiFi 6, Deco W3600)
    53. Qwerkywriter typewriter-inspired mechanical keyboard
    54. Tip: Office 365 Bookings
    55. Birdie personal safety alarm
    56. Camtasia Windows/Mac screen recorder and video editor
    57. Whistle GO Explore Pet Tracker
    58. MS Word Tip: CTRL-SPACE removes font formatting but leaves paragraph formatting intact. CTRL-Q leaves font and other character formatting intact but reverts paragraph-level formatting to normal style of current document. CTRL-SHIFT-N returns the selected text to normal formatting.
    59. Blue Snowball iCE USB Mic
    60. Glide Gear TMP 100 iPad Teleprompter

Related topics:

Technology | Practice Technology | Career & Practice | ABA Techshow

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