5 ms·

Agree, but I want to add something: the usability of Zoom is good, even for casual computer users. Strategically, they focussed on what they considered to be th

Agree, but I want to add something: the usability of Zoom is good, even for casual computer users. Strategically, they focussed on what they considered to be the things that would give them sales. Not saying it is good, but it certainly worked for them (at least until now).

sdoering 7y ago
I agree. My SO ist currently studying from home due to the pandemic. A lot of professors and tutors use what they find first. There is no standard. She already had to use MS Teams, Slack, Jitsu and Zoom. Her take was that Zoom was by far the most usable tool. And most of her 20 years younger co-students agree. Sadly most people don't even know about the problematic status of Zoom. And if one tells them, most do not understand what's so problematic about that.
- fossuser 7y ago
  Partly because it isn't really problematic for students and teachers that are trying to use VTC. When the alternatives don't work, it doesn't really matter how secure the alternatives are.
- sneak 7y ago
  The students are all forced to agree to these abusive third party TOS simply to receive the education to which they are entitled/for which they have already paid. That’s a bait and switch on the part of the university. “You’ve already paid, but now you have to give up your civil rights against this third party you’ve never heard of to get the service.” There should be liability for the schools for doing this. A class action, perhaps?
  - riquito 7y ago
    There's a pandemic, schools and professors try what they can to keep the courses running and not ruin their students' year, and your reaction is "sue them"?
    - sneak 7y ago
      They’re pulling a bait and switch. There are video technologies they can license so that they can keep things running without forcing students into having to enter into abusive third party agreements. They can hire people to set up simple first-party HLS streaming systems—it can be done in a day. There are tons of non-abusive alternatives. Zoom makes malware. Can you imagine being given the option by a university to whom you have already paid tens of thousands of dollars: “install this malware or you don’t get to come to class”? You could say the same about Amazon and their backlash against workers. “There’s a pandemic, and this company is doing what it can to keep the supplies moving, and your reaction is “sue them”?” Yes, that is the appropriate reaction if they break the law. A pandemic does not justify abusive, coercive behavior. If anything, it makes it more abusive.
    - izacus 7y ago
      Pandemic really shouldn't be an excuse to just sell out students to any party that used more marketing money. There's a reason why (at least in this part of the world) the educational products receive additional scrutiny and need to comply to additional privacy and security directives.

sdoering 7y ago

I agree. My SO ist currently studying from home due to the pandemic. A lot of professors and tutors use what they find first. There is no standard. She already had to use MS Teams, Slack, Jitsu and Zoom. Her take was that Zoom was by far the most usable tool. And most of her 20 years younger co-students agree. Sadly most people don't even know about the problematic status of Zoom. And if one tells them, most do not understand what's so problematic about that.

fossuser 7y ago
Partly because it isn't really problematic for students and teachers that are trying to use VTC. When the alternatives don't work, it doesn't really matter how secure the alternatives are.
sneak 7y ago
The students are all forced to agree to these abusive third party TOS simply to receive the education to which they are entitled/for which they have already paid. That’s a bait and switch on the part of the university. “You’ve already paid, but now you have to give up your civil rights against this third party you’ve never heard of to get the service.” There should be liability for the schools for doing this. A class action, perhaps?
- riquito 7y ago
  There's a pandemic, schools and professors try what they can to keep the courses running and not ruin their students' year, and your reaction is "sue them"?
  - sneak 7y ago
    They’re pulling a bait and switch. There are video technologies they can license so that they can keep things running without forcing students into having to enter into abusive third party agreements. They can hire people to set up simple first-party HLS streaming systems—it can be done in a day. There are tons of non-abusive alternatives. Zoom makes malware. Can you imagine being given the option by a university to whom you have already paid tens of thousands of dollars: “install this malware or you don’t get to come to class”? You could say the same about Amazon and their backlash against workers. “There’s a pandemic, and this company is doing what it can to keep the supplies moving, and your reaction is “sue them”?” Yes, that is the appropriate reaction if they break the law. A pandemic does not justify abusive, coercive behavior. If anything, it makes it more abusive.
  - izacus 7y ago
    Pandemic really shouldn't be an excuse to just sell out students to any party that used more marketing money. There's a reason why (at least in this part of the world) the educational products receive additional scrutiny and need to comply to additional privacy and security directives.