How Ditto and Zoom Rooms work
Ditto software runs on compatible receivers such as Apple TV and Windows devices. Organizations connect these receivers to their displays via HDMI. Ditto users wirelessly share content directly from their devices to the receiver-connected displays, such as TVs, projectors and interactive whiteboards.
Zoom is primarily known as a videoconferencing service, but it also accommodates in-person meetings via Zoom Rooms. At minimum, Zoom Rooms requires a Mac/Windows/iPad/Zoom Rooms Appliance running Zoom Rooms software connected to a room display, and in most cases, a Zoom Rooms controller such as an iPad or Android tablet. Zoom Rooms that host hybrid meetings also require cameras, speakers and microphones as well as various cables, adapters and network connections.
Want in-depth tech specs and important details about Ditto and Zoom Rooms that are not found in this article? Get them here.
The End-User Screen Sharing Experience
Key screen sharing takeaways
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Ditto-enabled displays are always ready to receive shared content; Zoom Rooms require extra steps via a Zoom controller to wirelessly share content
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The Ditto connection process is uniform for all device types; Zoom Rooms users must navigate various connection processes for different device types, and some devices require workarounds to share
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Ditto is designed for in-person collaboration; Zoom specializes in videoconferencing software
How Ditto users share wirelessly
Ditto users share via the Ditto Connect app or Ditto Connect webpage. A Ditto room code is shown on Ditto-enabled displays. Users simply enter that room code into Ditto Connect to begin sharing wirelessly. Ditto provides a single, consistent sharing method across various device types.
Discover complete details about how Ditto works.
How Zoom Rooms users share wirelessly
To share a screen, Zoom Rooms users must either tap the Presentation button on the Zoom Rooms controller or start a Zoom Meeting, then select the Share Content option.
Users then share wirelessly to Zoom Rooms displays via a number of different methods depending on their device type and the availability of certain Zoom Rooms features. For example, Mac and Windows devices can use "Direct Share" via proximity detection when available or by entering a sharing key or meeting ID into the Zoom desktop app. iPhone and iPad users share via native Apple AirPlay, which requires support for Bonjour traffic on an organization's network. Users can also begin the sharing process via a web browser. Zoom also notes the option to share via a physical HDMI cable.
It's not possible to share an Android or Chromebook screen during in-person Zoom Rooms meetings without a workaround. In order to share these device screens, users need to start a Zoom Meeting videoconference in the Zoom Room. The Android/Chromebook devices must then join the videoconference via the Zoom app and utilize the videoconference Share Screen function in the app.
The mix of native sharing protocols, apps, browsers, sharing keys, meeting IDs and proximity detection may make the connection experience more difficult to navigate for some end users.
