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'60 in 60' Techshow session features tips to improve video meetings, boost well-being

By Lyle Moran

March 15, 2021, 8:58 am CDT

Fittingly, the first all-virtual ABA Techshow concluded Friday with a “60 in 60” session that highlighted a number of tools and tips lawyers can use to ensure their videoconferencing meetings feature solid audio and video quality.

The weeklong event was held remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the four presenters during the traditional final session offered technology tips that will be helpful as many attorneys continue working from home.

One of the microphones recommended for video calls was the Blue Yeti USB, which Roberta Tepper, Techshow 2021 co-chair and lawyer assistance programs director at the State Bar of Arizona, said offers studio-quality sound.

Her fellow co-chair Allan Mackenzie, founder of efficient.legal, shared that the Logitech USB Headset H390 he uses is very affordable and effective.

“About every other Zoom meeting people ask me what microphone I’m using because it’s the clearest they have ever heard,” Mackenzie said.

Ivan Hemmans, Techshow co-vice chair and senior manager of technical development at O’Melveny & Myers, said the SoLID Lavalier microphone is another affordable option that produces higher quality sound than the built-in microphones on desktops or laptops.

He also mentioned several tools that could help session attendees boost the quality of their videos for meetings and webinars. One webcam Hemmans touted was the Logitech C920 HD Pro, which he says is much more available now for purchase than it was early on in the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he referenced Reincubate’s Camo, which is an app that allows the user to utilize their iPhone as a webcam for video calls.

Mackenzie brought up how Zoom backgrounds used on video calls might not show up seamlessly behind the person using one. His recommended solution: adding a green screen. He listed several options ranging in price from $12.99 to nearly $160 that can be found on Amazon.

On the personal side, Brooke Moore, Techshow co-vice chair and founder of MyVirtual.Lawyer, said Facebook’s Portal Mini has helped her communicate with her parents remotely during the pandemic.

Follow along with the ABA Journal’s coverage of the ABA Techshow 2021 here.

The speakers also provided plenty of ideas for tools attorneys can try to help them enjoy their downtime and find some peace of mind.

For those into hiking, Tepper suggested the AllTrails website, which offers thousands of trail guides.

“If getting outdoors is the way you cultivate your calm, this is the app for you,” she said.

Tepper also said the Medito app is great for those who have not meditated before or are eager to get back into meditation. The Noisli app also provides a nice mix of sounds, she said.

Mackenzie recommended Radio Garden as a tool to listen to radio stations from around the world and said it’s led to him listening to a lot of tunes from Zimbabwe.

Among the apps touted to help lawyers wind down and get some solid sleep was Philips’ SmartSleep Sleep and Wake Up Light Therapy Lamp highlighted by Moore.

Here’s the full list:

1. Blue Yeti USB microphone

2. Green screens for Zoom

3. Ember smart mug

4. SoLID Lavalier microphone

5. LED Flashlight Gloves

6. Otter.ai—transcription tool for Zoom

7. Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker

8. Logitech C920 HD Pro webcam

9. Medito App for meditation

10. CarbonKlean Peeps eyeglass lens cleaner

11. Wireless four-in-one charging dock (Many different types available)

12. RetiCAM tabletop tripod

13. Goody for sending gifts

14. RadioGarden

15. PhoneSoap>UV light sanitizing device

16. iPhone/iPad tripod mount (many different types available)

17. Mealime meal planning

18. Logitech H390 USB Headset

19. reMarkable 2 tablet and marker

20. Reincubate Camo webcam app

21. AllTrails

22. ActiveWords

23. LARQ Bottle PureVis self-cleaning water bottle

24. Selfie ring light with tripod stand (several models available)

25. Noisli app

26. Gooseneck phone and tablet holders (many different models available)

27. SmartSleep Sleep and Wake Up Light Therapy Lamp

28. GVM G100W Bi-Color LED Video Light Kit with Lantern Softbox

29. Allrecipes

30. Jabra Speak 410 portable USB conference speakerphone

31. Q Portable Charger

32. HDMI video capture card: Elgato Cam Link 4K or IPXOZO Audio Video Capture Card

33. VOCH Night Light Bluetooth Speaker

34. USB Clock Fan with Real Time Clock and Temperature Display

35. “Carpool Karaoke” The Mic

36. Add an HDMI Capture Card to your DSLR/Camcorder

37. BlissLights Sky Lite Laser Galaxy Projector

38. Fujitsu Scansnap ix1400

39. LED Light Up Face Mask

40. Blackmagicdesign ATEM Mini

41. Bose Frames Audio Sunglasses

42. MS Outlook Tip: When you send or reply to an email, have the return replies go to someone else.

43. Clubhouse invitation-only audio chat app

44. UGREEN Adjustable Desktop Cell Phone Stand

45. Dodow sleep aid device

46. Sceptre 35-inch curved ultrawide monitor

47. Cozi family organizer app

48. Reflector 3 wireless screen-mirroring application

49. WAYAYA Fire-Breathing Dragon Light

50. Expanscape seven-screen laptop

51. Facebook Portal Mini

52. Mesh network (eero, Google Nest, Orbi WiFi 6, Deco W3600)

53. Qwerkywriter typewriter-inspired mechanical keyboard

54. Tip: Office 365 Bookings

55. Birdie personal safety alarm

56. Camtasia Windows/Mac screen recorder and video editor

57. Whistle GO Explore Pet Tracker

58. MS Word Tip: CTRL-SPACE removes font formatting but leaves paragraph formatting intact. CTRL-Q leaves font and other character formatting intact but reverts paragraph-level formatting to normal style of current document. CTRL-SHIFT-N returns the selected text to normal formatting.

59. Blue Snowball iCE USB Mic

60. Glide Gear TMP 100 iPad Teleprompter