Name of the Web 2.0
Tool: Fuze (formerly FuzeBox)
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| Fuze Start Page |
URL of the Tool: www.fuzebox.com
Please select the
one, primary category for this tool: Communication tool that encompasses
collaboration, presentation, and discussion capabilities
Please describe this
tool in your own words (a minimum of 150-250 words).
Fuze is an online meeting/videoconferencing tool that boasts
enhanced HD video and the ability to connect up to 12 HD video conferencing
streams at one time. Much like other web
conferencing tools, this system also offers the capability to have side chats
among participants. The easy-to-use tool is available on mobile (Android and
iOS) devices, as well as desktop systems (OSX and Windows) and is meant to
organize information and participants into a mechanism that offers the same
capabilities of a face-to-face meeting.
Fuze joins a wide array of other online meeting tools already available
online, but the HD stream seems to be the biggest draw for this tool. A user can download the system using a simple
registration process that will then allow engagement with internal and external
clients and share content in the Fuze cloud space in nearly
all formats. Video multimedia files are also supported, but do take significant
space according to online reviews of the system. Fuze meetings can be scheduled using
Google calendars and Outlook.
Fuze also offers some very useful aspects to online meetings
that others often do not. These consist of compatibility with various user platforms,
the ability to record meetings (this would assist with revisiting or sharing
meeting information for those that may not have been able to attend), offering
meetings in a consistent environment that offer the ability to attend from
anywhere and on various devices with a simple login, and most importantly as
listed above the ability to share and publish content for participants to see
as the meeting is progressing. This
would be extremely beneficial for companies and learning institutions that have
students or employees in a various parts of the world.
Download and install
a program or plug-in for the tool to work properly?
The first step in obtaining access to Fuze is to create an
account. The tool requests your email
address and then sends a link to that address to activate the account. Once the email is received, a very brief form
is completed and then you must download Fuze to your desktop or device. I tried to download the system to my desktop
and unfortunately, was unable to due to security placed on downloading programs
to company computers/laptops. I was able
to download the system to my iPhone through the app store and the interface is
very clean and straightforward to use. I
was also able to watch a demo that showcased the usefulness of the system in a
variety of uses. One use, based on
meetings that connect the learners and individuals in my workplace (healthcare
providers), the capability to share slides and scans would be most beneficial
during a meeting.
What do you need to
know before using this tool? (What skills do you need to have?)
Anyone that has ever participated in an online
videconference or online meeting previously will find this tool useful and easy
to use. One must also realize that while
most of the great features about the product come free with registration, there
are 2 additional options Pro and Enterprise that offer additional resources
that include unlimited free toll audio (compared to only the first 60 days with
free plan), the ability to record and share meetings, webinars up to 125
participants, branding, and other corporate-specific items that benefit the
company and user.
What do you need to
have before using this tool?
To effectively use the tool for videoconferencing,
participants will need a microphone and a webcam. Accessibility to files for download (if
necessary), as well as the ability to link to Google or Outlook calendars would
also be useful in planning for future meetings.
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| Plans and Pricing Options for Fuze |
How do you use this
tool? (Write the basic steps using a numbered list)
1. Visit www.fuzebox.com
2. Enter email address and click on “Get Fuze – It’s Free”
box.
3. Check email that the activation message was sent to
(based on what was entered) and follow the instructions to download.
4. As a meeting organizer, one can go in and create a
meeting and invite participants by sharing the meeting number with them via
email or calendar request.
5. To join a meeting, participants should click on “Join
Meeting” link at top of the screen and enter the Meeting # and click “Join”. This number is established when a meeting
organizer has created a meeting.
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| Join a meeting login page |
6. Participate in the online meeting. The user will be able to view online
documents/presentations and see the up to 12 participants of the meeting in HD
video. Users must ensure that webcam and
microphone are working properly to participate in the meeting affectively.
7. If the Pro or Enterprise versions of Fuze are purchased,
the meeting organizer can then share the meeting recording and enduring
materials with other users. The
basic/free download does not offer this capability.
Locate or create your
own example of an educational resource created with this tool
Without a meeting to participate in (with users), I was
unable to demo the tool or create a weblink to review. However, I do plan on using this site for
future meetings.
Please describe a
scenario of how you might use this tool in a teaching environment.
I find that Fuze could be a very useful tool in a couple of
different ways regarding educational teaching and learning. First, the tool offers the ability for online
learners to create an educational community where meeting times are established
and documents are shared to effectively coordinate projects and ideas. I am quite confident that having this tool
for an online community of learners that find it difficult to meet face-to-face
due to geographical or other constraints would find this to be a useful
resource. Second, this resource could be
use for instructors to provide additional support or teaching that would be
useful to those that need additional support or guidance. From the comfort of a learner’s desktop or
mobile device, they are able to connect to the “meeting” and engage with other
classmates, learners, and instructors.
This is not unlike other programs that offer web conferencing, but it
does provide very unique tools and HD technology that could come in handy when
sharing specific information that utilizes this technology. In the healthcare environment, there is an
opportunity for physicians, nurses, residents, and other allied health
personnel to share valuable teaching modules that allow interaction not
available in many situations. If the
group chooses to purchase the Pro or Enterprise version, the ability to create
enduring meeting materials and a recording of the discussions could provide to
be invaluable to learner groups and teachers.
One use, based on meetings that connect the learners and
individuals in my workplace (healthcare providers), the capability to share
slides and scans would be most beneficial during a meeting.
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| Ability to show digital images and discuss using online visual "pointer" |
What are the
advantages and disadvantages of using this tool in a formal or informal teaching
environment?
Advantages: accessible on mobile or desktop devices; clear,
streaming HD video; compatibility with various operating systems; ability to
share content and save it to Fuze Cloud; easy to register; the free service
provides up to 12 participants at once; the ability to see meeting metrics on several aspects of the online
meeting
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| Meeting Metrics/Demographics |
Disadvantages: free/basic service doesn't provide some of the
beneficial resources like meeting recording/sharing
Would you recommend this Web 2.0 tool to others, or suggest that they
explore a different tool?
I would absolutely recommend
Fuze to others for educational and corporate meeting use. While I have not had the ability to fully
test its functionality (I do plan to do so soon), I am quite confident that I
could use the system to coordinate and provide an excellent online meeting
concept that allows many in our organization to utilize the capabilities to
participate in meetings that otherwise they may not be able to due to distance.
This would also be useful for
physician and healthcare providers to provide content and resources for
meetings that encourage learning in healthcare specialty programs. This includes sharing of digital images, mock
patient records for educational purposes, and additional opportunities for
learning to occur.
For the online video presentation of Fuze, visit: http://vimeo.com/89051951
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