Testing the strength of a Zoom connection

During a Zoom session, you can get stats on the strength of your connection to help anticipate if the video and audio will be stable throughout the call.

In a Zoom call, click on the menu for the video icon and select 'Video Settings'

On the left side menu, you'll be able to click on 'Statistics'. It will give you metrics for the audio, video, and screen sharing connection.

Latency (or the data speed from source to recipient) of more than 100 milliseconds); packet loss (data that doesn't reach its destination, which is what can cause screen freeze, make the video pixelate or seem jumpy) of more than 2%; or jitter (how the latency goes up and down over time) of more than 30 milliseconds, will indicate that you’re going to have a problem with the connection. 

There’s also an option in Zoom to do an advanced test of a specific domain.   During a Zoom session if you press SHIFT + ALT CTRL + D, Zoom's Network diagnostics tool will come up. It has an array of tests that you can run.

On the 'Advanced Test' tab, you can run a test targeted at a specific domain for a meeting.

An MTR test is a mytraceroute test, which combines a ping and traceroute test. Ping simply measures how long it takes to send and receive data from another server. Traceroute tracks each host the data goes through from the source to the destination.

In reviewing the results for a MTR, keep in mind how RTT compares to latency. Latency is the speed going one way, and RTT is round trip time - how long it takes the data to go there and back again.

Scrolling text hidden behind deposition video in OnCue

Trial techs everywhere have switched to OnCue's trial presentation software, and my experience using it in court has been very positive. It does however have a minor glitch, which I think many will want to be aware of. In version 4.3, if when working in the designation editor, while showing ranges from the same designation list (a list defined as multiple deposition designations for a single deponent) in presentation mode, you toggle off scrolling text for a designation range from the same list by clicking the green arrow / red X lined page icon at the right above the waveform:

. . . and then publish the designation line numbers for the closed captioning text can peek out on the left:

It's a minor problem which can easily be corrected by pressing T to toggle off the scrolling text. Pressing T when you see this error won't bring back the scrolling text first. It clears the hidden cut off text 'behind' the video. If you press T a second time it will display the scrolling text again.

The problem seems to occur, when one designation range from a list has been presented with scrolling text; the scrolling text setting for another designation is turned off; the designation range is cleared from the presentation screen; and then the next designation is presented. If you do NOT clear the previous designation, the error does not occur.

Also keep in mind that if you toggle off the scrolling text for a designation range, the update won't take effect at all unless you first select a different designation range. Just toggling off the text and then publishing the range will leave the closed captioning text in place.

This problem did not happen in all deposition videos I tested, but did frequently reoccur in the videos in the OnCue demo case. I just post here about it, because it's good to be aware of potential problems and not be surprised in the courtroom.

Using DAX formulas in Pivot Tables

When calculating data in an Excel pivot table, you're not limited to the listed options in the value field settings under the summarize value field by selection. There are lists of calculations including the sum, average, max, and minimum values for data in the pivot table. You can also input DAX, or Digital Analysis Expression, formulas in the table, which will return a table as a result. A pivot table doesn't include median values in the list of preset values, but you can enter a DAX formula which will add it to the table.

Follow these steps explained by Bill Jelen here.

1. When selecting the data range for the pivot table select the option to add the data to the Data Model.

2. With the data set up this way, you'll see that in the PivotTable Fields box, you have the option to 'Add Measure' when you right click on the Range.

3. Give the new measure a name, and then enter MEDIAN as the formula selecting the field you want to analyze.

4. Set the appropriate number format, and use the Check DAX Formula tool to confirm that the formula will function.

5. The MEDIAN DAX formula is now listed as a new field for the Pivot table can be added to the displayed values.

Note that in this data set, the zero values are not an error. This is just showing that in each of the selected years most players had no stolen bases - except for 1908, when a majority of players had at least one stolen base.