What's new in BigBlueButton? 

This article will cover recent updates, meeting interface enhancements, and new features that have been added to the BigBlueButton client as of December 3rd 2019, which include:

• Notification for late joins
• Who's talking indicator
• Adjust presentation /webcam ratio
• No audio warning on recording start

Notification for Late Joins

You can now enable alerts for when a user joins a live BigBlueButton session late/after the notification is enabled. Choose to enable audio notifications, pop-up notifications, or both.

This setting only applies to the live/current meeting and must be applied in the live session by the user. It does not apply to all users once applied.

To enable alerts

Open the Settings Menu 

Select Application - by default the audio and pop-up notifications are turned off. You can choose to have audio alerts only,  have pop-up alerts only, or enable both.

Turn the selected setting on to enable, then be sure to click save to apply the changes. 

Now anytime a user joins the current session you will receive an audio alert, pop-up alert, or both. You can always disable this setting at any time.  

Who's Talking Indicator

The BigBlueButton interface now displays the current speaker(s) or user(s) transmitting audio into the live session.

When a user is speaking or has an open mic and is transmitting audio, the BigBlueButton interface will (by default) display the user'(s) name in the upper left hand corner of the presentation area. 

The following animation shows the Who's Talking indicator when two individuals are speaking:

There is no limit to the number of names that will display in this area, however, the size of your device screen or browser window will dictate how many names are visible at one time.

Adjust Presentation/Webcam Ratio

Users can now adjust the ratio between the presentation area and webcam(s) in a live BigBlueButton session.

When a webcam or multiple webcams are shared in a live session, users now have the ability to change the ratio between the presentation area and the webcams being shared. 

NOTE: This function is only available when webcams are being shared.

To adjust the presentation/webcam ratio

Hover your cursor over the top of the presentation area/under the webcam(s) displayed until a resize icon appears. 

Drag the cursor down to enlarge the webcam(s)/reduce the presentation area. Drag the cursor up to enlarge the presentation area/reduce the size of the webcams.  

See below:

NOTE: adjustments to the ratio are not applied to all users in a session - only your local view. 

No Audio Warning on Recording Start 

BigBlueButton will now warn the moderator via toast message if they click the Start/Stop record button without any active microphone joined to the session.