Google recently introduced Hangouts, which is enhanced video chat for Google+. Since it has proved to be an especially useful tool, and with the approval of the ACLTP (Advisory Committee on Library & Technology Policy), we are turning on Google Hangouts.
An active Google+ account is required to use the Hangout enhancements. Enabling Google Hangouts will replace Google Chat in Gmail, but you can revert to Google Chat. We have configured Hangouts so, by default, it will not save the history of conversations. It is possible to save the text of Hangouts on a per session basis, but Google does not allow video and audio to be saved, except by using a Hangout on Air. Hangouts can be used both within the Wellesley community and with people outside of the Wellesley, as long as they have Google+ accounts, and are an easy way to collaborate with people at other institutions.
Google often makes changes to their tools, and they are usually welcomed improvements. For example, Gmail and Google Docs (Drive) storage have been combined and now equal 30GB. For more updates in Google, visit our website: https://www.wellesley.edu/lts/techsupport/google. Any changes of particular interest and relevance to our community will be added as we learn about them.
To: Faculty, students, staff
From: Veronica Brandstrader, LTS, x2171
More info: Computing Help Desk, x3333 (faculty/staff), x7777 (students), helpdesk@wellesley.edu
