18th of April — next meetup of the Malmö Non-Fiction Bookclub
Hi everyone,
Let's have another “Currently Reading Fika”, a remote one this time. The idea is the same as previously: give and get non-fiction reading tips based on the books you're reading now or have recently finished. But we do it online.
The date and the time: Saturday, 18th of April, 10:30
I hope by that time I'll finish reading “Chief Engineer: Washington Roebling, the man who built the Brooklyn bridge” by Erica Wagner, “Samhällsguiden: en handbok i offentlig service”, and “How to be a Leader” by Plutarch.
The place: this will be a remote event, because, as you know, virus. https://meet.jit.si/malmononfictionbookclub is the link where it will happen.
Q&A
Q: what is this jitsi thing?
A: It's a group video chat, kinda like Skype or Zoom or BlueJeans, except (1) fully encrypted, (2) free, (3) privacy-friendly, (4) registration-free (you don't need an account).
Q: how do I use jitsi?
A: On a computer (no matter if it's a PC, a MacBook, a Linux machine, etc), just open the link in your browser. The browser will ask to access your camera and microphone — if you want people to see and/or hear you, tell the browser to allow it. That's it. On a smartphone, you'll need to install the app — just once, of course. Then you just open the same link as you would open on the computer. The app: Apple store link, Google Play Store link, F-Droid link.
Q: I've never used jitsi, how can I test that it works on my device?
A: Go to https://meet.jit.si/, start your own test meeting, and see what happens. As usual with software, it helps if everything is up to date, like your operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android...) and your browser (Safari, Chromium, Edge, Firefox...)
Q: I've never used group video chats, can someone help me out?
A: Sure. To check that the sound and the video are working as intended, join the call 15 minutes before the scheduled start, I'll be there. You can also reply to this email if you'd like to try out your setup earlier.
Q: Is there anything which is good to know before joining a group video chat?
A: Yeah, for example:
- The better your internet connection, the better the chat. Best option is an ethernet connection (that is, sticking an internet cable into your device); next best is a strong stable WiFi (e.g. being connected to a router and sitting close to it, being the only user); least favorable option is mobile internet (like 4G) in an area with bad coverage — but if it's good coverage, even 4G is more than sufficient.
- For sound, the best option is a headset (earphones combined with a microphone). The next best is the built-in mic and speakers — smartphones and laptops have those, but keep in mind that it might result in an echo (when your mic is picking up what comes out of your speakers). If that happens, mute yourself when you're not talking.
- If you're going to use a camera, think of the angle and of the background that people will see.
- Don't put the microphone too close to your face — it might pick up your breathing, and you'll probably be asked to mute yourself when you're not talking.
- Keep in mind that there's always a bit of delay between the people speaking and the others hearing them.
- If you use your smartphone, holding it in your hand the whole time might be tiresome — find or make a stand for it, so that your hands are free.
Q: what will we do?
A: These events have 3 parts:
(1) casual small-talk for the first few minutes, waiting for people to arrive
(2) a round of introductions — everyone takes turns to say “Hi, my name is...” and add whichever details they want. Some people tell their age, some people mention their job; most people tell what kind of books they read and how (paper, ebook, audiobook...)
(3) a round of book reviews — everyone takes turns to tell the group about the book(s) they've been reading. Everyone else can ask questions, comment, suggest another book to those interested in the topic, etc.
So, one more time: Saturday, the 18th of April, 10:30, https://meet.jit.si/malmononfictionbookclub. If you have questions, please reply to this email, and I'll see what we can do.