Remote Control

The Remote Control feature allows you to control another user’s shared desktop, or alternately, it allows another user to control your desktop. In this fashion, you may open, present, and edit files that reside on another user’s workstation. Note that remote control must be requested, so attendees cannot simply take over another’s workstation without their permission.

Requesting and Using Remote Control

A Host may request remote control, the ability to control the desktop shared by another user. This allows the controlling user to run the presentation or demonstrate something using another user’s desktop, applications, and files.

Requesting Remote Control

Only a user with Host rights can request remote control. Naturally, you cannot request remote control of yourself.

1. To initiate a remote control request, do one of the following:
   • Select the user in the users list and click the Remote Control button.
   • Right-click a user in the users list and select Remote Control from the context menu. From the submenu, select Request Remote Control.
2. A request for remote control is sent to the user. They may accept or decline. In addition, if the potential controllee is of Participant status, requesting remote control automatically promotes them to Presenter status. The promotion occurs because being controlled means that you must share your desktop, and the Participant status does not grant the right to use the sharing features.
3. If the user accepts the request, you receive control of their shared desktop. If the user was not sharing their desktop when they accepted, the Your Assistant Collaboration Module begins to share their desktop now.

Operating Remote Control

How remote control appears and operates depends on whether you are the controller or the controllee. In either case, remote control does not give the controlling user exclusive control of the controlled workstation; the controllee can still use their keyboard and mouse normally. However, the controlling user has the same level of control using their keyboard and mouse. If both the controller and controllee provide input simultaneously, the controlled workstation will attempt to satisfy both inputs at the same time, resulting in confusion.

As the Controller: when you receive remote control of another user’s desktop, the Your Assistant Collaboration Module shows the shared desktop in a window over the shared objects pane, as normal. However, when you mouse over the shared desktop, you are given control of it; clicking icons will open files and applications, typing will edit text, etc.

As the Controllee: when another user takes control of your desktop, the Collaboration Module will automatically minimize in order that what is being shared is not simply another copy of the Collaboration Module. The name of the controller will be visible in the top right corner of the screen.

Ending Remote Control

Regardless whether you are the controller or the controlled party, you can stop the stop the remote control session using the following method:

• Use the stop remote control keyboard shortcut (default: Ctrl + Shift + R).

Alternately, if you stop sharing the desktop, the remote control is also broken:

1. Maximize the Your Assistant Collaboration Module. Note that if you are the controlling party, this means you must maximize the controlled user’s Collaboration Module (as your own will already be maximized).
2. Click the Stop Sharing button on the tool bar to stop sharing your desktop. This will stop sharing the controlled desktop and end remote control.

Receiving a Remote Control Request

Any time during a conference, you may receive a Remote Control popup request from another attendee. Click Yes to relinquish control of your shared desktop, or No if you wish to retain control.

Giving Remote Control to Another User

If you wish to provide another user the ability to control or present materials on your desktop, you may give them remote control. This is useful if the user cannot request remote control themselves because they are not a Host.

You must have Host status in order to give another attendee remote control.

1. Share your desktop as normal.
2. Right-click the attendee you wish to submit control to in the users list and select Remote Control from the context menu.
3. From the submenu, select Give Remote Control.

The selected user will be granted remote control of your desktop. Remote control granted in this manner is ended in the usual manner (see Ending Remote Control, above).