Use annotations to enhance your presentations in Google Meet

What’s changing 

Google is excited to introduce annotation tools in Google Meet. Presenters and their appointed co-annotators can use these tools to highlight content or make other notations over presented content. Annotations will be on by default when you begin presenting — you can open the annotations menu to access various tools such as a pen, disappearing ink, sticker, text box, and more.

To assign a co-annotator, from the people panel or by hovering over a user’s video tile, select more options (three-dot icon) > add as co-annotator. For more information about who can co-annotators, see the “Additional details” section below.

Annotating and co-annotating are available for select Google Workspace editions (see availability section below). Anyone can view annotated content during a meeting.

Who’s impacted

End users 

Why you’d use it

Annotation tools can help you better showcase content and engage with your audience while presenting content in Google Meet. They can be useful in a variety of situations, including:

• Guiding large groups of users through content, such as a new software training
• Capturing information in real time, like jotting down brainstorming ideas
• Building on concepts in the classroom, like creating a sentence structure or highlighting key information to help students think through a problem.
• Demonstrating steps to solve a math equation.

Additional details

At the time of launch, please note that:

• Android users can use annotations when they present their screen and select the Entire Screen option. Android co-annotation will follow in a future release.
• iOS users cannot use annotations when presenting. They can use annotations if they are appointed a co-annotator.

Google will provide more information here on the Workspace Updates blog as functionality for mobile devices expands.

Meet hardware availability 

Annotations will be available on Series Desk 27 and Board 65 devices during a future release. When support is added, you’ll be able to add these boards as a co-annotator.

Getting started

• Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.

End users: This feature will be available when you initiate a presentation in Google Meet. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using annotations in Google Meet.

Source: Gimasys