Since transmitting video involves the movement of a large amount of data at a rapid rate, useful videoconferencing usually requires an Internet connection faster than that available via modem. If you are working in an environment with a high-speed connection to the Internet like ISDN, a T-1, or better, then videoconferencing may be for you.
Videoconferencing allows you to collaborate with others across your local network or the Internet. If you are co-authoring a paper with someone, you can view and talk to each other, as well as share graphics and text via a common white board. The white board allows collaborators to view an image of the same document or graphic and mark it up using colored pen and text tools. If two people want to look at a spreadsheet together, collaborators could circle specific cells that they would like to discuss.
The video portion allows collaborators to see facial expressions, which adds an additional layer of information absent from email or phone conversations. However, since the video data rate must to be constrained to a level sustainable by the network, the video frames need to be small (usually 160x120 pixels), are somewhat distorted by compression artifacts, and are updated at a jerky 10 frames per second (compared to the 30 frames/second of television).
You will need some form of camera or camcorder to send live video transmissions. Your family camcorder may suffice. Your computer may also need a video port or card. Most of the latest Macintosh models and some PCs include a video port. There are several cameras and cards made specifically for videoconferencing; links to information on these products are included below.
Your actual experience will depend on your camera, computer, network connection, and even what is in the background. Fast computers and networks, and noise-free cameras will allow you to use larger frame sizes and higher frame rates with fewer compression artifacts. A plain background reduces the complexity of the image and allows each frame to be more highly compressed. If you and your collaborators are on the same high-speed local network you can expect much better results than when working with people across a slower Internet connection.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: There are several international standards for various types of videoconferencing and collaboration. Hardware and software that support the same standard should be able to communicate across platforms. We have not had the chance to test cross-platform or cross-product compatibility, but we hope to include that in a future update of the Scout Toolkit.
There are a number of desktop videoconferencing products available; the two most promising cross-platform products are based on either White Pine's Enhanced CU-SeeMe, or Apple's QuickTime Conferencing technologies.
Enhanced CU-SeeMe:
Enhanced CU-SeeMe is the most popular desktop
videoconferencing program. It is currently available for Windows, Windows 95,
Macintosh and Power Macintosh. It allows point-to-point communication, multiparty
connections of up to 8 people, and sending and receiving Webcasts.
CU-SeeMe allows connections via TCP/IP. White Pine also sells CU-SeeMe Reflector
software which allows you to setup meeting places and create Webcasts across
the your local network or the Internet. We will provide more information
on CU-SeeMe and Enhanced CU-SeeMe after futher testing.
QuickTime Conferencing:
QuickTime Conferencing or "QTC" is a soon-to-be
cross-platform media standard upon which other hardware and software products can
run. Apple includes the underlying QTC software including "Apple Media
Conference" with the standard system software of a PowerMac 7500, 7600, or 8500.
The QuickTime Conferencing software is also included with other third party
products and bundles such as Connectix's "VideoPhone" and Intelligence at Large's
"Being There." A Windows version of QTC is under development.
QuickTime Conferencing technology is currently part of the Mac CoolTalk conferencing plug-in for Netscape Navigator 3.0. The Mac CoolTalk plug-in will allow you to videoconference with any other Mac user running QTC- based software including CoolTalk, Apple Media Conference, Intelligence at Large's "BeingThere" and the Connectix "VideoPhone." The plug-in also currently allows you to audioconference with CoolTalk users on other platforms. Netscape CoolTalk videoconferencing will probably become cross-platform once QTC is ported to Windows.
The current version of QuickTime Conferencing allows point-to-point communication, multiparty connections of up to 6 people, and support for sending and receiving Webcasts. QTC allows connections via Appletalk or TCP/IP. Installation and use is surprisingly easy. You can choose from several different audio and video compressors as well as different frame sizes and frame rates.
In our own test, we successfully dragged and dropped spreadsheets and graphics from ClarisWorks into the shared white board, and both parties made notations with the various markup tools.
Apple will soon ship an updated QuickTime Conferencing 1.5, which will include Farallon's Timbuktu Pro for file transfer, and application and screen sharing.
Press Releases:
Apple: Apple Computer and Netscape develop standards-based Internet audio conferencing
Apple: Apple Extends QuickTime Conferencing Technology to Windows Platform
Camera Vendors:
Connectix - QuickCam
Digtal Vision - ComputerEyes and TelevEyes
VideoLabs - FlexCam
Original CU-SeeMe Sites:
Cornell's Original Free CU-SeeMe