(Pocket-lint) Slack includes an audio-only function meant to simulate a colleague or colleagues dropping by your office to discuss a problem or offer advice. Slack’s Huddles feature is designed to “re-create the spontaneous and casual discussions you miss from the office,” the company says.
Slack Huddles Are What?
Slack has developed a feature called Huddles, which it calls a “lightweight audio-first way to start live conversations,” to facilitate brainstorming, catching up with coworkers, debriefing after a big meeting, and striking up casual conversations amongst coworkers. As the name implies, huddles may be initiated in any Slack channel or direct message with the click of a button. Any participant in that channel or DM can choose to join the huddle or leave it at any time.
A huddle is a great way to get everyone together for a quick discussion without having to worry about juggling schedules or appearing on camera.
Can You Explain how Slack Huddles Function?
Up to 50 people can join a Slack Huddle at once. After a huddle has begun, anyone can join the discourse. If a conversation starts via a direct message, you will be invited to join.
From your computer, you can participate in a huddle and toggle English live captioning on while sharing your screen (more languages are in the works). Keep in mind that people from other organisations need access to Slack Connect channels and DMs in order to start or join Huddles.
- Huddle Up
- Desktop
- Launch Slack on your computer.
- Start a conversation in a new thread or direct message.
- To listen to music, use the sidebar’s headphone toggle.
- Initiating a huddle allows you to do the following:
- You can silence your microphone by clicking the icon.
- If you want to show what’s on your screen to others, just click the screen icon.
- Select individuals to include in the huddle by clicking the “Add People” button.
To Activate Real-Time Captioning:
On the bottom left of your screen, you’ll see the names of the people currently talking. Click on their name to hear what they have to say.
Access the menu by selecting the ellipsis (…).
You can activate captions by selecting that option.
Mobile
Launch the mobile app for Slack.
Send a direct message or start a new channel.
Select the antenna in the upper right hand corner.
It is possible to do the following once the huddle has begun:
You can turn off your microphone by tapping its icon.
Choose your huddle members by name and invite them individually by tapping the Add People icon.
Disband the Huddle
Desktop
If you’re in a huddle and you want out, click the headphones icon in the sidebar’s lower right corner.
Mobile
To join the huddle, select the channel or DM you want to participate in, and then tap the antenna icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Then select the Exit button.
Engage in a Huddle after being invited to do so.
When you’ve been invited to a huddle, a notification sound will play, and the invite will appear in the sidebar’s bottom right corner.
Desktop
A notification will appear on your sidebar; click the Join button to join.
The Following Privileges Are Yours After Joining:
To silence your microphone, just tap the corresponding icon.
Mobile
Select the banner alert at the very top of the screen.
Alternatively, you can accept the invitation and then click Join.
After signing up, you’ll gain access to a variety of benefits, including:
Mute your microphone by tapping the corresponding icon.
Drop in on a current Huddle
A blue antenna icon next to a channel’s name in your sidebar indicates that someone has started a huddle in that channel or DM.
Desktop
To listen to a channel or direct message while viewing it, use the headphones toggle.
The following privileges are yours after joining:
To silence your microphone, just tap the corresponding icon.
Mobile
If you want to tune into a certain channel or DM, you can do so from the Home tab by tapping the antenna icon.
Join by pressing the appropriate button.
If you want to use Slack Huddles, you need to know who you can invite.
The 30th of June, 2021 marked the beginning of the gradual rollout of Slack Huddles to users on paid plans. It’s time for Huddles to be available to everyone.
