Webinars (Web based seminars) allow audience members to engage with verbal/visual presentations and speeches via the internet.
The webinar platform, Zoom, allows the audience and other panelists (such as the webinar host) to hear the speaker, view the speaker’s screen and view the speaker’s webcam feed, should they wish. Whilst presenting a webinar, anything visible on the speaker’s screen, such as a PowerPoint presentation, is visible to the whole audience.
Audience members are muted by default, unless the organiser chooses to ‘un-mute’ a member who may request the opportunity to speak their question directly, rather than typing it in for the host to ask on their behalf.
The speaker uses a microphone and headphone set for the best sound experience for the audience. However, nowadays most computers have very good in-built microphones which can also be used. If the speaker’s computer has a webcam attached or integrated, and if the speaker chooses, then the audience member may see a thumbnail image of the speaker as well as their presentation slides during the webinar presentation.