Your start in alfaview

• Installation
• Join an alfaview room or a meeting
• Set up camera and microphone
• Main menu in the alfaview app
• Secondary menu in the alfaview app
• Status menu in the alfaview app

The preparation

Installation

alfaview can be installed on Windows, macOS, Fedora based (Linux) and Debian based (Linux) operating systems. It can also be used on mobile devices with the mobile version available in the Google Play Store and the App Store.

Installation on mobile devices

Download alfaview from either the Google Play Store or the App Store.

Your start in alfaview

Join an alfaview room or meeting

Join the alfaview room or meeting using the invitation link you’ve received. You do not need to register and create an account.

• Click on the invitation link. If you have received your invitation from the email address support@alfaview.com, please click on the Open conference room dialog button in the email.
• Enter your name in the Name box if it has not been predefined.
• Join alfaview either via the alfaview app or the Webclient by clicking on the corresponding button.

You must accept the terms and conditions before you can join an alfaview room or meeting for the first time.

Set up camera and microphone

Before you enter an alfaview room, the Quick Setup menu is displayed. This allows you to test and adjust the settings for your audio equipment and camera.

Set up your camera

alfaview uses the camera that is selected as the default device for your computer the first time you use it. You can see the preview video on the left side of the Quick Settings window.

Select camera

• Click on the drop-down menu with the camera icon and the name of the preselected camera.
• Select the camera you want to use from the drop-down menu.

Blur surroundings

The feature Blur surroundings allows you to blur your video background and protect your privacy.

• Click on Camera effects in the menu on the right.
• Select the degree to which you want your surroundings to be blurred (Off, Standard, High, Pixelate).
• In the alfaview app, you can adjust the focus area within your video by moving the slider.
• You can also select the option to mirror your own video for yourself. Click on the slide control to activate or deactivate this feature.

Set up your audio

alfaview uses the audio device that is selected as the default device for your computer the first time you use it. You can choose either to use a communication device or to use a separate microphone and speaker.

• Click on the drop-down menu with the microphone icon and the name of the preselected audio device. The menu is divided into three tabs: Communication device, Microphone and Speaker.
• Click on the respective tab to change the settings.

Communication device

• In this tab, you can select the communication device to be used in the alfaview room.
• You can also activate the Echo cancellation and Noise cancellation.

Microphone

• In this tab, you can select the microphone you want to use in the alfaview room.

Communication device

• In this tab, you can select the speaker you want to use in the alfaview room.
• Click on the Test speaker button to make sure your speaker is transmitting sound.

alfaview app and webclient

The stage is the centrepiece of the alfaview room. The videos of all participants and the screen sharing options are displayed there.

Main menu

Activate and deactivate your camera and microphone in the main menu. You can also access the Share Content feature and activate Pause mode.

Microphone

Control your microphone in the main menu.

Camera

You can choose whether your video is shown to everyone in the alfaview room or only to the VIPs present. Please note that you can only see other people’s videos if they see yours.

Share content

The Share content feature allows you to share your entire screen, a screen region of your screen or an application with others in the alfaview room. You can also share video from a second camera.

Type of shared content	Description
Screen region	Share only the part of your screen that you want the other participants to see. You can pause the recording and make markings.
Application	Share a running application without showing other applications or parts of your screen with other participants.
Screen	Share your entire screen with other participants and show multiple applications at the same time.
Second camera	Share the video from a second camera.

Share a screen region

• Click on the Share content icon in the primary controls and select the Screen region option.
• Move the blue selection frame to the position on your screen that you want to share and modify the frame size by dragging the sides and corners of the frame.
• Start the region share by clicking on the Share button in the centre of the frame.
• You can pause the recording and make markings within the frame.

Share an application, a screen or the video from a second camera

• Click on the Share content icon in the primary controls and select the type of content you want to share.
• You can choose to share the sound of your computer or the application in the drop-down menu for the selected content in the bottom right corner.
• Select the screen, application or secondary camera you want to share.

Take a break

Secondary menu

You can access six tabs from the secondary menu: Participant List, Group Chat, Live Transcription, Toolbox, Settings, and Room List. Additionally, you can leave the alfaview room.

Open the individual tabs by clicking on the appropriate icon.

Participant List

The participants list shows who is in the main room and in the subgroups of an alfaview room. As a moderator or room administrator, you can also see and manage the waiting room.

Switch to another subgroup by hovering over the group name until the Join button appears. Click this button.

Write short message

Write private short messages to other participants in your room that only the two of you can see.

• Click on the context menu next to to the name of the person you want to send a message to.
• Click on the Write short message button.
• Enter the message in the text box. Click on the Send button.

The other person will now receive your message and can reply to it.

Group chat

The group chat provides a platform for exchanging written messages with other participants and spectators. Please note that messages are displayed from the moment you join the alfaview room or subgroup, previous messages are not accessible.

Enter your message in the input field. To send your message to the chat, either click on the Send message icon or press the Enter key.

The other participants can now read your message.

Live transcription and translation

Transcription enables barrier-free communication and an automatic protocol by automatically transcribing the spoken word into text. The transcription can also be individually translated into another language using Live Translation.

Toolbox

Quick votes, polls, star ratings and a whiteboard are available in the Toolbox to facilitate collaboration in alfaview. External tools from third-party providers and websites can also be integrated.

Tool	Description
External Tool	The external tool links to another website or a third-party tool, allowing all participants in the alfaview room to easily access the required documents and tools.
Whiteboard	The whiteboard allows you to work collaboratively. You can download the whiteboard content as a PDF.
Poll / Vote	A poll or vote allows you to vote on one or more answer options, depending on your settings. Star ratings allow you to rate a question, item, or suggestion from one to five stars.

Access Whiteboard or external tool

• Click the Toolbox icon in the main menu to open the list of tools.
• From the list, select either the Whiteboard or the external tool you want to open.
• Click on the Open button. You will now be redirected to the whiteboard or external tool.

Take part in a vote or poll

• Click the Toolbox icon in the main menu to open the list of tools.
• From the list, select either the Quick vote or Poll you want to take part in.
• Read the statement or question and then select one or more answers, depending on the setting.
• Confirm your choice by clicking on the Vote button.

Take part in a star rating

• Click the Toolbox icon in the main menu to open the list of tools.
• From the list, select the star rating you want to take part in.
• Click on the Open button. You will now be redirected to the star rating.
• Read the statement or question. Then click on the number of stars you wish to award.
• Confirm your choice by clicking on the Vote button.

Settings

Customize all important settings such as the appearance, camera and audio selection or accessibility in the secondary menu.

Setting	Description
Learn more abut the latest update	Read our release notes to find out what changes and updates are included in the latest update.
Feature preview	Test new features in the alfaview app that are in the early stages of development.
Accessibility	To make alfaview easier to use, you can change the font size of the user interface and chat, enable screen reader announcements or select an accessible display. You can also set the keyboard navigation scheme and enable keyboard shortcuts.
Dark theme	This setting allows you to choose between a light and a dark theme of alfaview. Click the slider to toggle between the displays.
Echo cancellation	Activate Echo cancellation if you are using a separate microphone and speaker. This prevents the sound from the speaker being picked up by your microphone and transmitted again.
Noise cancellation	Noise cancellation filters out unwanted background noise from microphone transmissions, improving audio quality.
Blur surroundings	This setting enables or disables background blur and sets the level of blur. When the feature Blur surroundings is on, an additional slider allows you to adjust the focus area.
Communication devices, microphone and speaker	Select the communication device, microphone, or speaker you want to use in the alfaview app from the corresponding drop-down list.
Camera	From the drop-down list, select the camera whose video you want to stream to the alfaview app.
Show all settings	For more settings, open the All settings window.

Room list

The Room list gives you an overview of all the alfaview rooms to which you have access authorisation. Your favourite rooms are displayed at the top of the tab.

• From the room list, select the room you wish to join.
• Click the Enter button. You will be connected to the main room.
• By clicking on the context menu of a room, you can open a list of all groups. This allows you to join a sub-group directly, rather than being connected to the main room.
• You can also use the context menu to view the participants in a room and subgroups.

Leave room

Click the Leave Room icon to return to the Welcome screen.

Status menu

The Status menu provides various functions and information about the room.

Status / Feature	Description
Number of participants	Get an overview of all participants in the alfaview room who have the role of admin, presenter, or participant. Click the icon to open the Participants list.
Number of spectators	The number of viewers in the room is displayed separately. If you want the viewers to be displayed in the user list, click the icon to open the settings and select the Show speactators in user list check box.
Mini window	The floating Mini window allows you to follow what is happening in the alfaview room via a small, detached window. All the functions of the main menu are available.
Switch to speaker view / gallery view	In Speaker View, the person speaking is always displayed as a large video in the centre of the stage. The other participants appear as small videos in a row at the bottom of the stage. In Gallery view, all participants’ videos are evenly distributed across the stage. The size of the video images is adjusted according to the number of participants in the alfaview room. Click on this function to select how the participants are displayed on the stage.
Raise hand	Get the attention of the moderators in the alfaview room. To do this, click the Raise hand icon. The icon will appear next to your name in the participants list and the moderators will be notified.
Search users and rooms	To find a person or room, use the search box.
Sound off and on	You can mute alfaview. To do this, click on the Mute audio output icon. When the icon is crossed out and the button is orange, alfaview is muted.