Video Conferencing & Collaboration Tools
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[edit] Overview
There is an excellent article on "Web Conferencing" in the Wikipedia. Here are several excerpts...
- Web conferencing is used to hold group meetings or live presentations over the Internet. In the early years of the Internet, the terms "web conferencing" and "computer conferencing" were often used to refer to group discussions conducted within a message board (via posted text messages), but the term has evolved to refer specifically to "live" or "synchronous" meetings, while the posted message variety of discussion is called a "forum", "message board", or "bulletin board".
- In a web conference, each participant sits at their own computer, and is connected to other participants via the internet. The most basic feature of a web conference is screen sharing, whereby conference participants see whatever is on the presenter's screen. Usually this is accompanied by voice communication, either through a traditional telephone conference, or through VoIP, although sometimes text chat is used in place of voice.
- A webinar is a seminar which is conducted over the World Wide Web. It is a type of web conferencing. In contrast to a Webcast, which is transmission of information in one direction only, a webinar is designed to be interactive between the presenter and audience. A webinar is 'live' in the sense that information is conveyed according to an agenda, with a starting and ending time. In most cases, the presenter may speak over a standard telephone line, pointing out information being presented on screen, and the audience can respond over their own telephones, preferably a speakerphone. The word 'webinar' is an example of Portmanteau, combining web and seminar.
The Video Development Initiative (ViDe) compiled a comprehensive Webconferencing Cookbook (March 2005) (http://www.vide.net/cookbook/cookbook.en/). The guide is very worth referencing, and includes the following sections...
- Uses of Videoconferencing
- Uses, applications, and case studies have been pulled together into this section. The case studies have been updated to include projects on middleware and directories, MPEG in the classroom, satellite videoconferencing, K-12, and some data collaboration.
- Popular Collaborative Technologies
- We continue to cover H.323 but also take the opportunity to introduce several other technologies for videoconferencing. We've updated information on VRVS, Access Grid, MPEG and motion JPEG, as well as web clients. We've introduced SIP as the newest, popular kid on the block.
- Emerging Collaborative Technologies
- This section describes a few things we continue to track such as satellite videoconferencing and data collaboration. We include discussions of new work in middleware and we highlight some experimental systems that are in R&D today.
- Basic Requirements for Successful Videoconferencing
- Basic and add-on components are featured in this section. We also go over tips on selecting and tuning your PC. A new section on testing your system and the connection has been added.
- Best Practices and Etiquette
- Here we give tips on how to look and sound your best through technical discussions on the audio and video environments and the basic "rules of the road" when in a videoconference.
- Practical Videoconferencing Examples
- So you're wondering what these interfaces look like? Stop by here for a preview. We now include H.323, SIP, and some data collaboration examples.
- Network Matters
- This section describes the typical network connection needed for good videoconferencing. It includes a list of typical problems seen when the network connection is incorrectly configured or experiencing problems. Tips on who to talk to at your site and tools to monitor your connection are suggested. This version discusses firewall/NAT use and home networks using cable modem and DSL.
- Advanced Components and Management
- This section describes the complex equipment whose role includes multipoint conferencing, gatekeeper security, and signaling translation. This version includes a section on "Middleware for Videoconferencing". Good topics for new site administrators are here, such as profiling your users' needs and other deployment issues.
- Related Topics
- This section covers various peripheral but valuable topics such as developing a room for videoconferencing, multicast, and broadcasting and archiving videoconferences.
- K-12 and Classroom Specific Needs
- This is a new section that devotes significant attention to the K-12 environment and other classroom or teaching venues. Tips on engaging students are prominent along with guidelines and checklists for successful use in the classroom. The K-12 case studies give good examples of projects that bring interesting and fun resources into the classroom.
- Glossary
- Videoconferencing related terms.
[edit] Guidelines
The selection of web/video conferencing and collaboration tools is greatly dependent on the needs of an institution or organization when balanced against the functions, features, and requirements of the web conferencing and collaboration tools. Some of the key considerations are...
- Does any special software or plug-in need to be installed on a computer (for presenter or attendee)
- Is the tool used specific to a single computer platform or operating system
- How do you create and generate materials for the collaboration tool
- Can the user interface be customized
- What hardware is needed to deliver a presentation or webinar
- Is the tool offered as a hosted service or a local installation within your institution
- Does the tool require the presenter to use a designated, pre-wired computer, or can your own laptop be plugged in
- Can the tool produce a live session while also recording it for subsequent on-demand playback
- Can the recorded session be delivered on packaged media, such as CD-ROM and DVD-R/DVD-Video
- Are specialized servers required to deliver a session
- What is the level of presenter interaction with attendees (chat, Q&A, polling, shared desktop & driving, white board)
- Can the presentation be edited after the live/recording session
- What sort of management utilities are folded into the solution
- How is the solution licensed (simutaneous users, server, playback software) and what are the costs
A partial evaluation of Web Conferencing and Collaboration Tools has been assembled by the New Media Integration Group within Media Solutions at the University of Utah (http://www.media.utah.edu/webcollabtools/). The specific solutions reviewed include...
- WEBCASTING TOOLS
- Envivio Mindshare
- Caststream
- Avacaster/Avalite
- On24
- WEB CONFERENCING TOOLS
- Acrobat Connect Pro (formerly Breeze)
- Horizon Live Classroom
- WebEx
- Microsoft Live Meeting
- Marratech
Links are included to the original vendor web sites. Tools are compared and contrasted. A summary evaluation is provided.
[edit] Resources
- ViDe (Video Development Initiative) Webconferencing Cookbook (March 2005)
- http://www.vide.net/cookbook/cookbook.en/
- Adobe Acrobat Connect (online, live, and on-demand, any platform)
- http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatconnect/
- Adobe Acrobat Connect Overview Presentation
- http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatconnect/overview/
- Adobe Acrobat Connect Free Trial
- http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatconnect/ (click on "Free Trial" option on right hand "Next Steps")
- Apple iChat AV Classroom Collaboration Solutions
- http://www.apple.com/education/solutions/ichat/
- http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/ichat/
- Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, Inc.-- CATV/SMATV/Broadband Communications Equipment for Voice, Video, & Data System Design
- http://www.blondetongue.com
- Breeze Meeting (Adobe Connect) -- 50 User License for University of Utah campus users
- Adobe® Acrobat® Connect™ software helps you lead meetings with new power and precision. Instantly communicate and collaborate with colleagues using custom, always-on meeting rooms, and connect and interact with clients using features like screen sharing and whiteboards.
- http://breeze.utah.edu/
- Contact Nancy Lombardo or Susan Roberts at Eccles Library (801-581-8771) for use
- Codian-- Manufacturer of video conferencing infrastructure products
- http://www.codian.com/
- ePop-- Multiparty Video Conferencing, Web Conference & Online Meeting Software (Windows-based only)
- http://www.wiredred.com/
- HaiVision Systems, Inc.-- Telepresence, virtual classroom, medical systems, and point-to-point communications
- http://www.haivision.com
- Horizon Wimba online synchronous and asnynchronous class solutions
- http://www.horizonwimba.com/
- iLinc Communications-- Web Conferencing Software and Audio Conferencing Solutions
- http://www.ilinc.com
- Internet2 Commons-- The Internet2 Commons Remote Collaboration Services provide a large-scale deployment of tools for one-to-one, one-to-group, and group-to-group collaborations enabling the Internet2 research and education community to hold distributed working groups, classes, meetings, and events.
- http://commons.internet2.edu/
- LifeSize-- Integrated suite of high definition video communications products
- http://www.lifesize.com
- Marratech-- Video Collaboration, e-Meeting & Web Conferencing on the Internet
- http://www.marratech.com
- J. Willard Marriott Library overview of Marratech
- Microsoft Office Live Meeting
- http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/livemeeting/default.aspx
- ON24-- Webcasting & Rich Media Marketing Solutions
- http://www.on24.com/
- PolyCom - Point -to-Point and Multi-Point
- For Point-to-Point assistance, contact Nancy Lombardo at the Eccles Library (801-581-8771)
- Multiple sites - Three or more sites requires use of the Utah Telehealth Network's bridge.
- Each videoconferencing site must be registered and tested with the bridge.
- For Multi-Point assistance, contact the Utah Telehealth Network (801-585-2426)
- Sonic Foundry-- Mediasite online training, briefings, and course recordings
- http://www.sonicfoundry.com/mediasite/introduction.aspx
- SKC-- Telephony & Conferencing Solutions
- http://www.skccom.com/
- Skype or Google Talk with Festoon
- Free. Festoon is a plug-in bringing users of different messaging services together in group voice and video calls. Users can also share content. One-to-one calls or large groups are possible with Festoon.
- http://www.festooninc.com/
- VBrick Systems-- Delivering & managing video over IP networks
- http://www.vbrick.com/
- Video Furnace-- Video-over-IP solution making video just another application on the network. It delivers live broadcast and on-demand TV-quality video to any network-connected viewing device, such as desktop and notebook computers, without requiring any client player software
- http://www.videofurnace.com
- VidMid-VC -- Internet2 Middleware Initiative Video Conferencing Working Group
- http://middleware.internet2.edu/video/index.html
- WebEx Web Conferencing, Video Conferencing and Online Meeting Services (hosted)
- http://www.webex.com
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