What does uMeet do?
uMeet is an online support system especially designed to allow you to deliver support groups over the internet while retaining all of the important features of a traditional face-to-face support group.
This online support group features instant group chat technology to allow meeting participants to communicate in real time.
Unlike a traditional support group, communication is text based, but this is the largest departure. Because uMeet has been especially designed and developed with a grass-roots perspective from within the community and voluntary sector, many of its most valuable features are those that allow the traditional face-to-face support group environment to be emulated online. This means that organisational policy should not change, and users of all services - face-to-face, telephone, online etc. - get the same high standard of care and support.
There is built-in functionality to allow for facilitator training, qualitative research and even legal board meetings.
uMeet is an evidence-based solution and a forerunner of best practice for online support.
Who is this product for?
This product is ideal for organisations and individuals who are already hosting support groups and wish to extend their user-base, reduce cost, maximise accessibility or cater for their service users who are geographical dispersed. It is also ideal for those who want to make their service more inclusive, by, for example, encouraging participation from young people, or males, etc. It is also the ideal tool for those who wish to roll-out a support-group service, but who don't know how best to go about it.
Are there any system requirements?
UPR products are hosted on our servers, meaning there is no software to install or system requirements to worry about. All you need is a modern web browser and Internet connection. Due to its efficient standards-based design, our products run fast, even on dial-up.
Features
uMeet's features have been carefully chosen to always help you, while never getting in your way, with just the right amount of tools at your disposal.
Safety & confidentiality
We understand that given the potentially sensitive nature of session content, issues around safety, anonymity, confidentiality, and their limits are of paramount importance. These issues have been our primary focus in developing uMeet. We have dedicated some long hours to to ensure that best-practice within the support group is supported by intuitive software and well thought out policy decisions.
uMeet was built with measures that actively discourage unwanted users from participating and encourage best-practice behaviour from users to facilitators and staff. Further, we have investigated the potential for misuse in uMeet and the data suggests that our safety measures are effective. That is why we standover our claims of a safe, anonymous, and confidential service.
Secure communication
All data and user information is well protected and our Plus and Premium accounts also include Secure SSL. SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer, what it really means is that everything you do on uMeet is safely encrypted from prying eyes. It's the same technology that online banks and e-commerce sites use to keep your credit card information safe. If you have any additional queries with regard to security and user information let us know, we're more than happy to chat with you and address any safety concerns you might have.
Nothing to install, nothing to learn
This is a genuinely simple, super-easy-to-use web based application. You don't need to download, install, or configure anything (no IT department required!). All you need is a modern web browser and an internet connection.
Just for good measure, however, theres always help at hand and we've put in short training videos on every section should you wish to take a tour of all its features.
All the characteristics of a real-world support group
We have, in as many ways as possible, replicated a real world support group setting. Our online support group technology has been modelled closely on traditional support-group practices. In addition, some of the features one may expect to find in other chat rooms are not available here, such as the ability to "whisper" (talk to one participant to the exclusion of everybody else) and the ability for participants to create and occupy new rooms, as these practices do not tend to happen in traditional face-to-face support.
Automatic transcription of sessions
The transcript from every session is automatically saved for training purposes, qualitative analysis, and also to have ready-made meeting minutes. You can turn this feature on or off at any time.
Messageboard
The messageboard area is a quick and easy forum for facilitators or moderators to post comments about sessions or users. This makes hand-over between sessions smooth and communication between staff easy.
Flexibility of use
uMeet is not just a support group. It can also be used for Q&A sessions with special guests from virtually anywhere in the world, this is the beauty of the internet. It can be used for training sessions, role-play and even board meetings can legally be held online.
