Most business requires us to be in an office, so we can have that coveted face to face with our peers. As work starts to evolve, more of the work force are becoming freelancers, or adopting more flexible schedules including work from home (WFH). Luckily, gamers have trained themselves pretty well for entertaining ourselves and communicating with our friends online. But, if you haven’t invested in the things you’ll need for a good telecommuting setup, here’s a good primer for the things you’ll need to be remotely productive.
Internet Connection
The most important thing you’re going to need in a remote setup is reliable internet. If people aren’t able to get in touch with you, you’re going to have a real hard time making this remote thing work. A lot of companies use chatting services such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, or Google Hangouts. These are very convenient ways to communicate, so that groups of people can get together without the usage of a phone (although these apps are readily available on smartphones).
A Computer, Laptop, or Tablet
Can you imagine trying to view Powerpoint presentations on a tiny phone screen that determine the fate of your company? Yeah, it’s probably not a great idea. You’re either going to want a tablet with a decent screen size or a PC to work effectively. Phones are fine for video calls, but you’re likely going to want something with a bit more functionality when work is involved.
Microphone
You’re likely going to have to have some sort of voice communication capability while you’re in conference calls with coworkers. We tend to ues headphones or even Airpods on these calls, even when the sound of your voice can be muffled. This doesn't allow for great conversation, as your teammates can barely hear you. A microphone gives you the ability to give voice to your input immediately.
It’s important to note that having a microphone while you’re on a conference call might allow for unwanted input, as well. To prevent against that, you’ll want to a microphone that has noise-cancelling capabilities, and lets you know easily whether you’re muted or speaking. The wireless HyperX Cloud Stinger has a swivel-to-mute noise-cancelling microphone, and the HyperX QuadCast has an LED indicator that lets you know whether you’re broadcasting.
Headset
Just like no one wants to hear someone's conversation on speaker, nobody wants to hear your meeting. Especially if multiple people are involved. Instead of irking the nerves of everyone at the local Starbucks, use a headset to ensure that your meetings stay private, and you stay isolated from outside distractions.
If you’re going to need to wear a headset for meetings, you better make it a comfortable one. HyperX makes a number of headsets with ultra-comfortable memory foam, perfect for situations like these, and for those marathon gaming sessions. After all, now that you don’t have to commute, you’ve got some more time for gaming!
