What can you do with Video Call Apps & Tools?
You can share your screen, share and annotate documents and images, collaborate on a shared whiteboard, download shared files and share multiple cameras during consultations using Video Call Apps & Tools.
Some Video Call apps & tools are available to use with your Video Call account, while others are in a clinical trial phase.
Accessing the Apps and Tools drawer
The Apps and Tools drawer can be opened by clicking on Apps and Tools at the bottom right of the call screen
| Clicking on Apps & Tools opens the ‘Available tools’ panel on the right of the call window. Some Apps can be requested and are configurable, so your list might look a little different to this image. Please note: As per the text at the top of the panel - shared apps & tools will not persist beyond the end of the call. You can download or snapshot anything you need to keep on the patient's file. You can tick the 'Make tools view-only for guests' box if you do not want other participants to download shared tools. |
  |
How to use Apps & Tools during a Video Call
Clicking on Tools will open a panel to the right showing all the Tools available for you to share screens, images and documents and collaborate during a video call. Here are the Apps & Tools enabled by default when you set up your clinic, and explanations regarding how to use them:
Share an image or PDF
Sharing an image on a computer
| Click on Share an image or PDF to navigate on your computer or device to an image or PDF you wish to share in the call. It will be shared with the other participants in a video call and will be available to download using the Resource Toolbar at the top of the shared resource. |
 |
| The Resource Toolbar (explained in more detail below) will include a download option when sharing a resource that can be downloaded (eg a file). You can save PDF and image files with or without any annotations made diruing the consultation. |
  Save 1 page pdf document Save multiple page pdf document
|
|
When sharing a PDF file with multiple pages you can step though the document using the arrows with page numbers at the top right of the Resource Toolbar, and annotate on any required pages. In this example the Social Media section has been outlined for reference during the consultation. |
 |
| Participants can click the download button and if they would like to save the annotations with the file, they can select the option to Save this document with annotations, which will download all pages with any added annotations. Please note: remember to download any shared resources, if required, before the call ends as all information is purged at the end of the call. |
 |
Sharing a real-time camera image on a smartphone or tablet
| Click on the Apps & Tools (plus sign) menu at the top right of the Video Call screen on your mobile device. |  |
| Click on Share an image or PDF from the options displayed. You will be provided with options to choose an action, and you can choose from your photo library, take a photo to share into the call or choose a file. Select Take photo to capture and share a high-resolution still image. |
 |
| Take a photo as you usually would with the camera on your device. Then click on Use Photo confirm image will instantaneously be shared into the call and be viewed by all participants. |
 |
| To return to the call screen, click on the two arrows at the bottom right of the screen. Please note, there is no digital footprint left on Video Call after the consult and the image taken will not be saved. |
 |
Start a screenshare
Click on Start a screenshareto share a screen from your computer with other participants in the call. You have 3 options when using this tool:
Android devices are unable to share screen - this is an Android limitation. You can share images, pdf files etc but not an entire screen. |
 |
| When you click ‘Share’ your selected option will be shared into the video call. All participants are able to annotate over the shared screen using the Resource Toolbar - you and other participants can also take a snapshot using the camera icon. Please note: remember to take a snapshot (if required) before the call ends as all information is purged at the end of the call. |
 |
|
Sharing a video with audio using Screen Share You can share a video with audio from a Chrome tab (eg a YouTube Video) or from your desktop by sharing Your Entire Screen. Before clicking Share, click on the Audio tick box at bottom left to enable audio from your computer to be shared. Please note: audio sharing is only possible when the person sharing is using Chrome or Microsoft Edge. |
 |
| Once you are sharing you will need to click on the microphone icon in the Resource Toolbar above your shared video to enable participants to hear the audio from your computer. If this icon is red you are not sharing your computer's audio. |
 
|
Screenshare: Important information for MacOS X Catalina And Big Sur Users
Apple introduced new security features with the release of OS Catalina and these also apply to Big Sur. If you are running macOS Catalina - version 10.15 or later - or any version of Big Sur, you must grant Google Chrome or Firefox access to the new screen recording permission in order to share your screen during a call.
How to enable screen sharing for your browser:
1) Open System Preferences by clicking the Apple Icon at top left of your screen and selecting System Preferences.
2) Click the Security and Privacy icon.
3) On the left, scroll down and click Screen Recording.
4) Click the checkbox next to the browser you're using - either Chrome or Firefox should be in the list. Note, you may have to click to lock in the lower left in order to check the box.
5) When prompted, click Quit Now. The change will not take effect and you will not be able to share your screen until you quit and restart your browser.
Add a whiteboard
| Click Add a whiteboard to add a shared whiteboard to your call. All participants can see and create shared annotations on the whiteboard and the download button is available for all participants in the Resource Toolbar. Please note: remember to download the annotated whiteboard (if required) before the call ends as all information is purged at the end of the call. |
 |
|
Update to whiteboard pen colours and sizes From December 2021, we are pleased to announce the release of a wider range of font colours, sizes and stickers for you to choose from when annotating on a shared whiteboard. |
 |
Share a document camera
|
Click on Share a document camera if you have a camera pointing at a document you want to share, you can select it and share with other video call participants. Document cameras are typically low frame rate and high resolution so best used for still documents and images. This tool allows annotations and snapshot functionalities. Please note: remember to take a snapshot before the call ends as all information is purged at the end of the call. |
 |
Share a file
| To transfer a file to another participant, select Share a file and navigate to the required file. A download button will appear for your patient/client to click and download the file. This feature is enabled via the File Transfer Add-on in the Configure Add-ons section of the waiting area dashboard. |
 |
| If a participant tries to share an executable file with you a warning will appear in the file share dialogue box. Executable files contain a set of instructions which your computer or device interprets and runs when you open that file. This is why they can be potentially harmful. It would be very unusual for anyone to need to share this type of file with you in their consultation. |  |
Request a camera
| You can request another camera from a participant in the call, if required. For example a patient and a GP in one location calling another specialist via Video Call. The specialist could request a scope camera they know is available and the GP with the patient could then select that camera. |
 |
| The patient/client end will see this message and they can select the required camera or source using the button (for example a scope if not a camera). |  |
| Once the camera/source is shared into the call, annotation and snapshot functionalities are available. The image can also be flipped, if required, and a video quality can be selected. Please note: remember to take any snapshots required before the call ends as all patient information is purged at the end of the call. |
 |
Add a video
| Clicking on 'Add a video' allows you to upload videos available on your device into your call and watch them with other participants. The app synchronises the video for everyone in the call. |  |
YouTube Video Player
| Click on YouTube player to embed a YouTube video in your call and all participants will be able to see and hear. The YouTube Video Player app allows users to share a YouTube video without needing to share a browser tab. All you need is the YouTube link. Please note, this is specifically for YouTube videos and is not designed to work with links from other video streaming services. If you fast forward or move to another section of the video, this will update for all participants. The link you use must be a YouTube link. |
 
|
Add a grid view (2 or 3 panes)
| You can share more than one tool at a time using grid view. Before you select the grid view tool you need to have at least two active tools available (or three for the 3 pane option). Once you click on grid view – 2 panes the interface will open and you can select a currently available tool for each pane. Once selected all participants will see both tools shared into the call. You can click on the arrow to the left of the shared grid view to minimise the caller screens and maximise the shared tools. You can use the Resource Tool Bar to zoom in to a screen and create annotations. Grid view – 3 panes works similarly but allows you to share 3 available tools at the same time (remember you will need at least 3 active tools to use this option). |
 |
Managing the Apps & Tools in the Active Tools Menu
| As you add resources to your video call they will be available and managed from the Active Apps & Tools icon. This icon only appears when you have at least one available app/tool active. The number 1 in this example informs you that there is currently 1 available app or tool. |
 |
| Click on the icon to see which apps/tools you have currently available – remember you can only share one app at a time (unless using grid view) and you can click between them to share with your call participant/s. This image shows two available tools that can be toggled between as required. |
 |
| To remove a tool so it is no longer available for sharing, click on the bin icon to the right of the tool. |
 |
| You will be prompted to confirm you want to remove this app/tool. |
 |
Using the Resource Toolbar during a call
| The Resource Toolbar is visible while using tools that support annotation, zoom, rotate, full screen, download, snapshot and various other functions. When you share a tool the Resource Toolbar will show the available options for that tool. In the examples to the right one toolbar has a download button and the other a snapshot button - this depends on the Video Tool being shared as outlined above for each tool. The download button is an add-on in the configure section that is provided by default - this can be uninstalled if desired. Using the Resource Toolbar you can use the following icons:
|
 
|
Why can't I see some of the apps or tools outlined above within a Video Call?
You may not see all of the apps or tools outlined above as some may have been uninstalled by your Organisation and Team Administrators. For information on configuration and uninstallation of tools, refer to Configure and uninstall new add-ons. Please note that if you do uninstall any apps or tools from the Add-ons section you will need to contact the Healthdirect Video Call team to add them back to your clinic.