Google hangout review - tool 2

It's official now - I'm too shy to interrupt the 'Gods of MOOC'. Last night I participated in a Google Hangout on the topic of 'MOOC + Business' organised by Jay Cross. Very interesting. I'll talk later about my thoughts on the actual subject, but let me first keep my promise to Jane to review a new tool every month.
This month: Google Hangouts.

Google Hangouts is -as the name might give away- one of the online services of Google. It is deeply integrated in their Google+ social network site and allows up to 10 people to have a video conference together. It works via a simple plugin in your browser and your webcam and headset.

It was not the first time I did a hangout. But it had been a while, and up to now I never used it at its full capacity (10 people) and with a live 'on air' stream to YouTube. I was amazed at how good this tool has become over time. It has a reasonably intuitive interface, the video and audio is of sufficient quality, and it comes with goodies such as overlays (funny virtual hats anyone?), a backchannel chat, etc. Very impressive.

Here is the thing you should know about Google Hangouts : this is a tool for OPEN conversations. So if you are looking to 'control' conversations, you're better off with Webex or Breeze or other products that let you assign presenter roles, give you a lot of control of what others can (not) do, etc. To illustrate this point:

• There is no strict control of who gets into the hangout and who doesn't - since it is limited to 10, the first 10 invitees to join are in. 
• Everyone can mute all other people. (Now that's an open conversation! :-) )
• Hangouts are integrated in Google+, so it is difficult to have a private talk - before you know it its on your Google+ profile, random people might suddenly get in if the invitation is open, and with a few more buttons it is broadcasted live on YouTube and recorded there automatically for the world to enjoy.

So if this is the conversations you want to have than do try out this tool. It has great learning potential to discuss and reflect on topics, to broadcast panel discussions or Q&A sessions or interviews, to have (group) coaching talks, etc. And it is all free - you just need to sign up for a Google+ account.

I'm going to use it more.

(Part of Jane's take the 10 tools challenge)