As a major tool for collaboration and customer support, screen sharing tools have remained important but essentially unchanged over the past couple decades. But now, the technology is finally changing shape. A startup called Screenhero takes the technology to the next level by allowing both users to use their cursor, instead of just one.
The two cursors on the screen are labeled with each user’s name to prevent confusion, and both people have the ability to manipulate theirs independently. There is also support for basic keyboard commands, which is unusual for software of this type.
The setup process is very simple and only needs to install a small application on each user’s computer to run. To sign up all that is needed is the basic name, email and password form to be filled out, and then an email is sent to the person the user wants to contact. If that person is currently online with the product running, the connection is made and communication may begin. Otherwise, a link is sent to their email with instructions on creating an account.
The service is augmented with text and video chat tools, which make it much similar to follow what is going on. Older versions of this technology did not include these features and required the use of a mobile phone (or other phone) to communicate through the process. However there is no file sharing capability, but that can easily be solved by using a cloud storage service in conjunction with Screenhero.
Screen sharing can easily be paused, but there is no way to turn it off for one of the users. For this reason it is limited to its advancement, which for certain users who must deal with unruly people will be inconvenient.
Screenhero is currently available as a free beta download, but plans are for it to move into the commercial market within the year.
Edited by Alisen Downey