For most people, making zoom work is merely clicking the link in an invitation to a meeting. The rest happens automatically, all you do is follow the prompts. Easy?
Not always. Particularly for those who infrequently use the internet. The symbols, gestures, and words that are required to interpret and interact with a computer constitute a foreign language that’s not familiar. The glossary below demonstrates my point.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Screen | The entire surface that displays computer images |
| Cursor | The arrow, pointer or place marker that moves with your mouse or follows the movements of your finger. |
| TouchPad | A touch-sensitive surface that controls the cursor. (Sometimes the screen itself) |
| Window | A rectangular region of the screen that can be resized, moved about, or stacked in layers on a screen. |
| Web Address | The location of a particular page of information in the World Wide Web of Internet information. (e.g.: https://zoom.us) Technical name: “URL” |
| Address Bar | When using web browser software, the region of the window that accepts or displays the web address the browser seeks to access. This is not the “search” bar which interprets typewritten keywords and initiates a search for relevant web sites. |
| Enter | The act of pressing the “Enter” key on the keyboard. (This key may be marked “Return” or may have a bent arrow symbol tracing a line down and to the left.) |
| “Click” | The act of tapping the left mouse button to select whatever the cursor is pointing to. |
| “Right-Click” | The act of tapping the right mouse button to view options related to whatever the cursor is pointing to. |
| Drag | The act of moving a graphic object on the computer screen by pointing to it with the cursor, holding down the left mouse button, and moving the mouse. |
There are many more of these terms, and many of them refer to an action originally performed with a mouse, but now refer to gestures performed on a touch-sensitive surface with the finger(s). We stroke and tap, not point and click.
It’s not realistic to think that people will take a course to learn how to use their computer or tablet to access Zoom. Coaches or guides are needed to help them acquire minimal familiarity and skills to get started.