Switchboard’s shared cloud browsers unlock collaboration for any web-based app or website.
Instead of screen-sharing a browser from your computer or watching a browser on someone else's computer, cloud browsers live in your rooms and are interactive for everyone.
When you open a new browser, you can control how other people in the room can interact with it. By default new browsers are set to View Only. Click to change the setting in the top right corner of the browser.
View only: Anyone can see but only you can interact with this browser. Others can open their own personal view or request that you share control.
Shared control: Anyone can interact with the browser while you are in the room.
Note:View only works great when you want others to sign into their own account for tools like Notion and track who did what. Shared control works when you want others to interact via your user.
When you leave a room, your browsers are visible but non-interactive. Users can still open their own view to keep working while you're not in the room.
How does security work?
We use a series of clever features to keep your private information private.
First, the cloud browser automatically enters a private mode when entering sensitive information like passwords. After you login, the browser is shared with the room again automatically.
Second, when you leave a room you are automatically logged out of any browsers and their contents are blurred. This prevent other participants from viewing sensitive information when you are not in the room.
In multiplayer sites, each participant in the room is prompted to login to the site if they want to interact with it. This maintains whatever permissions you already have in place for that site.
Example: If you open a Google Doc in the browser where you have edit access, you can edit the doc like normal. When another participant in the room tries to click in the browser to edit, they will be prompted to log in. That participant might only have comment access on the Google Doc. In that case, they will be able to add their comments after signing in, while you can still edit in the same browser.
Lastly, we do not store any of the credentials you inter in the rooms on our servers. Instead, we direct the browser to check your local browser to confirm your permissions. You can find more privacy and security information in this article.
How do I add a browser to the room?
Browsers can be added from the Browser button in the bottom toolbar, or by right clicking in the room and going to Add App>Multiplayer Browser.
If you have a URL copied in your clipboard, you can also use cmd+V (or ctrl+V) open that URL in a new browser in the room.
How do I resize the browser?
There are several ways to change the size of a shared browser window or any content in your room.
- Drag at corners: Drag the sides or corners of a window to increase or decrease the size of a browser window just like on your personal desktop.
- Zoom: Use multitouch gestures, a trackpad, a mouse, and a keyboard to zoom in or out, modifying the viewable size of a browser window. You are able to zoom using the zoom settings menu located in the bottom right corner of the room toolbar.
- Double click header: This shortcut enlarges and positions the window in the center of your personal view.