++blog

content/u/blog/work-from-home-work-remote-with-matrix/contents.lr

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+title: Remote Working with Matrix
+---
+pub_date: 2020-03-15
+---
+author: ungleich
+---
+twitter_handle: ungleich
+---
+_hidden: no
+---
+_discoverable: no
+---
+abstract:
+Workin from home or remote and using the Internet to stay in touch
+---
+body:
+
+## TL;DR
+
+* Go to https://account.ungleich.ch, create an account, it's free
+* Verify your account by email
+* Go to https://matrix.ungleich.ch, login with your new account
+* Type **/join #covid-19:ungleich.ch** if you want to talk about
+  topics related to the virus.
+* Talk to people. You are not alone.
+* Create your own rooms as needed (as in above channel if you need help)
+* Stay home
+
+## Coronavirus, remote working and how to not go crazy
+
+The covid-19 virus forces a lot of us to think differently, behave
+differently and work differently. Whether you have to work from home
+or whether you do it voluntarily, you might want to stay in touch with
+other people. With your teammates, colleagues or other people.
+
+## Isolate in real life, stay connected digitally
+
+One of the most important things to do at the moment is to not further
+spread the virus. Here in Switzerland, we try to reduce the risk by
+social distancing. No shaking hands, coughing and sneezing into your
+elbow and in general to stay away from other people.
+
+If you are not used to staying alone or isolated, this can be a tricky
+thing to do. Luckily, we do have the Internet that allows us to talk
+with each other, without causing a danger to each other.
+
+While there are a variety of tools out there to stay in touch with
+each other, we propose to use the **matrix** chat for a variety of
+reasons:
+
+## Matrix is federated. Federated = open to talk to others
+
+Matrix is federated. As opposed to Whatsapp, Telegram, Hangouts,
+Skype or Slack, Matrix is open to connect to others. Let me guide you through
+how it differs to other systems:
+
+If you create an account on https://account.ungleich.ch and then go to
+https://matrix.ungleich.ch afterwards, you can talk to anyone in the
+world, who is also using matrix. Not the one from ungleich, but maybe
+the one from https://matrix.org. Or from somebody completely
+different.
+
+Matrix is not a closed system. If you decide that you want to write to
+somebody on a different server, you can do so.
+
+Matrix also allows you to **call** other people or have **video
+conferences**.
+
+## A matrix channel dedicated to COVID-19
+
+So coronavirus. Social distancing. We created a channel dedicated to
+the coronavirus to discuss the topic. If you created an account above
+and joined https://matrix.ungleich.ch, you can join the channel by
+typing **/join #covid-19:ungleich.ch** or use the
+[matrix.to](https://matrix.to/#/#covid-19:ungleich.ch) service.
+
+The covid-19 channel is open for everyone. You can discuss how you
+feel, whether you are affected, infected, bored or ask questions about
+how to behave. Beware though, we are **not** a medical team. This is
+more the type of alcoholics anonymous style, not a digital hospital.
+
+## Your own matrix server
+
+If you are newly into remote work and you want or need your
+your own matrix server,
+this is something that we provide. You can checkout the
+[Hosted Matrix Chat](/u/products/hosted-matrix-chat/) for details. It
+allows you to manage your own chat rooms and to control whom to invite
+to what.
+
+If you just need a place to talk with your friends, you can
+do so freely on https://matrix.ungleich.ch.
+
+## Future of the coronavirus
+
+No one of us knows at the moment how things will continue with the
+covid-19 virus, but we wish everyone to stay safe. And hopefully above
+chat helps some of us to not stay too alone, even if we are alone at
+home.
+
+Stay safe!