Kolab shows you where other participants are on the canvas in real-time. When cursors are enabled by your facilitator, you'll see colored cursors with name labels showing exactly where others are working.
Understanding Presence
What Presence Shows You
- Who's online - Participants currently in the space
- Where they are - Their cursor location on the canvas
- What they're selecting - Colored selection boxes around elements
Why Presence Matters
In physical spaces, you naturally know who's around. Kolab recreates this awareness:
- Avoid conflicts - See if someone is already editing an element
- Find collaborators - Know where people are working
- Coordinate work - Spread out across different canvas areas
- Feel connected - Less "working alone" isolation
Cursor Visibility
How Cursors Work
When your facilitator enables cursors, you'll see:
- Colored cursor - Each participant has a unique color
- Name label - Shows who the cursor belongs to
- Smooth movement - Cursors glide smoothly between position updates
Cursor Visibility is Controlled by Facilitators
Cursor visibility is a space-wide setting that only facilitators can change. As a participant, you cannot turn other people's cursors on or off.
If cursors are distracting, you can:
- Ask your facilitator to disable them
- Focus on a different area of the canvas
- Zoom in to reduce visible cursors in your view
Cursors in Different Modes
Cursor visibility depends on the space mode:
| Mode | Cursor Behavior |
|---|---|
| Conference | Cursors are always hidden (focus is on video) |
| Sidebar | Cursors visible if enabled by facilitator |
| Interactive | Cursors visible if enabled by facilitator |
In Conference mode, cursors are automatically hidden regardless of the facilitator's setting, since the focus is on the video grid rather than the canvas.
Real-Time Collaboration Indicators
Selection Indicators
When someone selects an element:
- A colored selection box appears around it
- The color matches their cursor color
- This helps you avoid editing the same element
Live Editing
When someone is editing text or drawing:
- You see their changes appear in real-time
- Their cursor shows their current position
- Changes sync automatically across all participants
Participant List
Finding Other Participants
Look for the People or Participants panel in the sidebar to see:
- Who is currently in the space
- Participant names and avatars
- Online status
Performance Considerations
Kolab automatically adjusts cursor update frequency based on the number of participants:
| Participants | Update Rate |
|---|---|
| 1-5 | 60 updates/second (smooth) |
| 6-15 | 30 updates/second |
| 16-30 | 20 updates/second |
| 30+ | 10 updates/second |
This adaptive throttling keeps the space responsive even with many participants.
Common Questions
"I can't see anyone's cursor"
- Check the space mode - Cursors are hidden in Conference mode
- Ask your facilitator - They may have disabled cursors
- Verify others are on canvas - They may be zoomed to a different area
- Zoom in - Cursors may be small when zoomed far out
"Cursors are distracting me"
Since only facilitators control cursor visibility:
- Ask your facilitator if they can disable cursors
- Work in a different area of the canvas
- Zoom in to focus on your immediate work area
"I can't find a specific person"
- Check the participant list to confirm they're online
- Send them a chat message asking their location
- Ask them to describe which area of the canvas they're in
"My cursor isn't showing for others"
- Make sure you're moving on the canvas (idle cursors may fade)
- Refresh your browser
- Check your internet connection
Related Guides
- Navigating the Space - Getting around the canvas
- Using the Canvas - Canvas interaction basics
- Communicating - Chat and other communication