Helpouts has a familiar look (to any Google+ user) with an easy to learn service attached. The desktop UI grabs a couple cues from the social site and the video sessions use, Hangouts video calling. You also have access to all of Hangouts' features such as screen-sharing as well. You can choose to find a Helpout in one of several categories ranging from: "Arts & Music" to "Computers & Electronics" to "Home & Garden". There's even a "Health" section which Google states will be HIPAA compliant. This will be done to maintain security standards, comply with federal regulations, and keep privacy concerns at a minimum.
After choosing a category, users will then be presented with a card-list view of each individual planned Helpout. The Helpouts will either be free or paid, and the pay ranges from $2.00/min to $45/hour and anywhere in between or outside. Google does take a 20% cut of the profit from the paid Helpouts which adds to the reason why there isn't an iOS app available. Lastly, after choosing a Helpouts you then get to select a time to arrange your meeting with the 'instructor', the whole setup is as legitimate as Google can make it.
Google is opening up the service to anyone and they will allow anyone to host their own Helpouts, well with an extensive background check and more, for security and risk reasons. Yet, even so, the VP of Engineering for Google, Udi Manber, hopes that the service will shoot off, mainly because "in the end, convenience and efficiency always win."
Try out Helpouts today and let us know how the service helped you and how it can be improved or changed.
Sources: Helpouts.Google.com, Play Store: Helpouts, Google+ Page: Helpouts
via: Official Google Blog
