[Web4lib] video conferencing suggestions

Ms Norma Jean Hewlett hewlett at usfca.edu
Tue Oct 20 22:56:05 EDT 2009 

We use Skype for online meetings with my distributed workgroup (9 people
in 5 different locations). 

Advantages:
- It's free.
- It's a hosted online service, so it's very easy to start using it.
Just go to www.skype.com , create an account for yourself, download
their software.
- It's pretty easy to set up a conference call.
- It's easy to learn how to use the interface.
- It runs on most office computers, so there's no need for a lot of RAM
or a high-end video card.
- It has both voice and typed text, so it's possible to run a back
channel while somebody is speaking.
- It does not require you to request permission before speaking, so it's
easy to have a real conversation between several people.
- We find that voice coverage works very reliably. This provides a free
alternative to conference call meetings. 
- We are able to display a still photo of each person who's in the meeting. 

Disadvantages:
- Video conferencing works if it's between two people, but not for a
group. This is probably a bandwidth problem, not a Skype problem. 
- People sometimes forget to close their mike when they are not
speaking. We've had people forget their mike is open and start helping a
patron, which make the entire reference transaction clearly audible to
everybody in the meeting. (This is a problem with a lot of voice
conferencing tools, not just Skype.)
- So far we haven't found a good whiteboard tool to use in our meetings.
- Somebody needs to set up the conference call and keep checking to make
sure everybody is still in the call. 
- Sometimes we have to restart the conference call in order to add
someone new or restart somebody who's lost their connection.
- I also use Skype for some personal calls, and every once in a while I
hear crosstalk from another conversation or things just don't work
right. So far this hasn't happened in our online meetings.
- Because it's a hosted online service, there may be some potential
privacy issues. So far, nobody seems worried about them.

Jean Hewlett
Regional Librarian
University of San Francisco




----- Original Message -----
From: Mary Beth Faccioli <mbfaccioli at yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 5:14 pm
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] video conferencing suggestions
To: Cary Gordon <listuser at chillco.com>, Robert Balliot <rballiot at gmail.com>
Cc: "web4lib at webjunction.org" <web4lib at webjunction.org>

> I did a fairly extensive review of products for my organization 
> within the past year.  We went with Adobe Connect and I'm very 
> satisfied.  That said, every organization has different needs, and 
> I think it's true that no system meets them all.
> 
> A couple things based on info already given. I believe every system 
> will have echo if someone uses speakers instead of headsets, and 
> its a best practice not to do that - I don't think this has much to 
> do with the quality of the system.  Also, you will have bandwidth 
> issues with video no matter what system you use - video takes 
> bandwidth regardless.
> 
> I'm not sure about other systems on this feature, but Connect 
> allows you to adjust bandwidth settings on the host and participant 
> sides, which may be a feature for you to explore in various systems 
> since you are looking to use video.  
> 
> I think DimDim would be fine for your first need.  I would be 
> hesitant for the second need.  One of the primary things I learned 
> in the evaluation process (which I guess I already know from most 
> areas of life) - you get what you pay for, and you can't really 
> expect this freeware to work like something from, say, Adobe. (I 
> know DimDim is open source but it doesn't have the community 
> support that would make open source a reasonable option in this case).
> 
> On the sophistication factor I highly recommend Connect - the 
> system of "pods" or little windows that you can drag into whatever 
> position you want is really slick.  Plus you can get an education 
> discount that's significant. And, you can use Presenter and 
> Captivate content, use Flash applications, etc. - all very nice.
> 
> The "top three" systems are considered to be WebEx, GoToMeeting and 
> Adobe Connect, for what that's worth.  Again looking at the 
> sophistication need.
> 
> Good luck!
> 
> Mary Beth Faccioli, MLIS
> Instructional Design & Technology Consultant
> Colorado State Library
> 
> --- On Tue, 10/20/09, Robert Balliot <rballiot at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > From: Robert Balliot <rballiot at gmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Web4lib] video conferencing suggestions
> > To: "Cary Gordon" <listuser at chillco.com>
> > Cc: "web4lib at webjunction.org" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
> > Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 3:24 PM
> > I like DimDim.  There is no
> > download required unless you are the host and
> > screen-sharing,
> > There are many features - including white board and
> > chat.  They have a free
> > premium
> > thirty day trial along with a free version.
> > 
> > 
>
*http://www.dimdim.com/products/dimdim_editions_pro.html*<http://www.dimdim.com/products/dimdim_editions_free.html>>

> > The only downside that I found was audio echo from people
> > using speakers and
> > mikes
> > instead of headsets.
> > 
> > R. Balliot
> > http://oceanstatelibrarian.com
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 3:02 PM, Cary Gordon <listuser at chillco.com>
> > wrote:
> > 
> > > We use GoToMeeting for multi-user conferencing, and
> > Skype for
> > > one-to-one conferencing.
> > >
> > > The problem with video, as opposed to voice and
> > screen/presentation
> > > sharing (which is sprite based) is that it is
> > relatively high
> > > bandwidth. Generally we only do video in a small
> > window, and usually
> > > turn it off when it isn't essential.
> > >
> > > On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 12:01 PM, Kimberly Silk
> > > <kimberly.silk at rotman.utoronto.ca>
> > wrote:
> > > > Hi everyone,
> > > >
> > > > I'd like to get opinions and suggestions on
> > different videoconferencing
> > > solutions. In my organization, we have 2 scenarios in
> > which we want to use
> > > videoconferencing:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 1.       A
> > quick-and-easy setup for classroom use when we have 3
> > > locations to hook up together. I'd love to use
> > something plug-and-playish
> > > like NetMeeting or Adobe Breeze. As long as the sound
> > is good, we can
> > > tolerate mid-range video. The key here is that it
> > should be easy to set up
> > > and appropriate for individuals to join in the
> > conversation using their
> > > laptops w/ camera and microphone built in.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 2.       A more
> > sophisticated setup that can be used by our lead
> > > researcher to speak to larger groups, conferences,
> > summits, etc where he can
> > > use videoconferencing instead of traveling. For
> > instance, he does a lot of
> > > radio interviews and they are very good quality even
> > when the radio station
> > > sets up a portable studio here, as opposed to having
> > to travel to the
> > > studio. Is there something similar available for
> > videoconferencing?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Many thanks!
> > > > Kim
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > Kimberly Silk, MLS
> > > > Data Librarian, The Martin Prosperity Institute
> > > > Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University
> > of Toronto
> > > > MaRS Centre, Heritage Building
> > > > 101 College Street, Suite 420
> > > > Toronto, ON M5G 1L7
> > > > Office: 416-673-8586
> > > > Mobile: 416-721-8955
> > > > Email: kimberly.silk at martinprosperity.org
> > > > Skype: kimberly.silk
> > > > Twitter: kimberlysilk
> > > > Web: www.martinprosperity.org
> > > >
> > > > WHO'S YOUR CITY? Find out at 
> http://placefinder.rotman.utoronto.ca> > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Web4lib mailing list
> > > > Web4lib at webjunction.org
> > > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Cary Gordon
> > > The Cherry Hill Company
> > > http://chillco.com
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Web4lib mailing list
> > > Web4lib at webjunction.org
> > > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> > >
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Web4lib mailing list
> > Web4lib at webjunction.org
> > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
>      
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> 
>

More information about the Web4lib mailing list