Implementing Intercom-like Videoconferencing? 46
Tangential asks: "I run a small (~100 person) consulting company with developers located in several locations (including SOHO's.) We run a VPN, so network connectivity isn't an issue. I'd like to improve day-to-day interactions between everyone here and I'm thinking of setting up (for lack of a better term) a video-intercom. I want people to be able to see and converse with each other at their desks, much as they would if they were all in the same office. Some of the folks here use Windows and some of us use Linux. I'm looking for a software and hardware solution that will operate pretty well between them and not swamp my systems staff. I need it to carry both the audio and the video connection and it is safe to assume that all workstations and laptops here are at least 1 GHz units. I'd especially like recommendations on which cameras to use on the Linux boxes."
George Jetson! (Score:2)
In a head office, far, far away... (Score:2)
Eyeball (Score:2)
Re:Eyeball (Score:3, Informative)
There seems to be a Linux server, but no Linux client.
Re:Eyeball (Score:2)
Simply download and build the right mpeg and mp3 encoders, string them together with netcat over the vpn, code up a wish script to direct it all, and voila! Instant AV intercom!
Bah, who needs end-user software when you don't need end-users?! LINUX FOR EVER!!
Re:Eyeball (Score:1)
it's all about having fun.
I have a 100 IT consultant (Score:2, Funny)
gnomemeeting and netmeeting (Score:5, Informative)
I used to think all the videoconferencing stuff was just geek love, but after working with it over the last couple weeks, I think it really does add something useful to the interaction.
Re:gnomemeeting and netmeeting (Score:2)
Re:Trolls? (Score:1)
Great, just like McDonald's (Score:2)
Me: I said FRENCH FRIES!!!
for a Windows environment.. (Score:2, Informative)
I know in a windows environment you can get up to 25 people in one "room" at once and 30 video frames per second. Would like to see how the linux solution works out myself.
Hope this helps
Video Conferencing....... (Score:2, Informative)
Intercall offers "Complete Conferencing Solutions" for all audio, video, and web conferencing.
Three-way (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Three-way (Score:2)
I'm still waiting for the first Voltron-sim network game where the robots are controlled by individual players and can team up to form a giant robot. Now there's a game that needs to be made.
Interactions (Score:2)
Rus
Videoconferencing solutions (Score:3, Funny)
We charge a nominal fee of $1,000 per consultant per day and expect our research will take a minimum 28 staff-days.
Implementation of discovered solutions is extra, as is bandwidth consumed during research.
Re:Videoconferencing solutions (Score:2)
Webcam (Score:4, Informative)
When the cam arrived, I just plugged it in and started gnomemeeting. It worked.
It works very well in low light, which is handy if you like to work in semi darkness sometimes.
Rik
Grouplab Notification Collage (Score:3, Interesting)
I suggest using the Notification Collage [ucalgary.ca], which supports casual communication between close groups of collaborators (smaller teams within your company). It's an extremely lightweight application that has a clean install/uninstall process, and is easy to run (and leave running) all day.
Close collaborators can maintain awareness of each other using video snapshots, as well as desktop snapshots (both automagically taken at set intervals), and can communicate with sticky notes and chat items. They can share photos and stuff with each other too.
I should point out that I belong to the lab that created this little app. To be fair, it is a research prototype, but it is quite neat. We all run it in our lab to stay in touch because a few of us telecommute.
Asterisk (Score:2, Interesting)
VIC + related applications may do what you want. (Score:4, Informative)
The VIC tool, which provides peer-to-peer video streaming via multicast or unicast can be used to transmit video images to others whilst RAT handles the audio side.
It's free, there's source, and it works. We use it here regularly for conference calls with other institutions in the UK and the US.
Swamping staff? Swamping bandwidth more like.. (Score:2)
It all depends how good an "image" (pun intended) you wish to project. We eventually decided on Polyspan FX and they are superb, but very expensive! I'm currently testing a Polysp
verbiage (Score:2)
Don't you mean "conversate?"
Polycom (Score:1)
flash com server (Score:1)
Macromedia's product blurb indicates that the product is very capable of multi-way video and stuff.
Why in hell? (Score:2)
is actually useful. URL sharing (including Real
or divx clips) is cool. But I don't *want* my
boss to know that I'm bonking his secretary.
VoIP? (Score:2)
Re:VoIP? (Score:2)
Re:VoIP? (Score:2)
picking a camera (Score:2)
Well, video web sites would probably be good too, I'm just a still image person, so I haven't spent much time looking into video.
You should be concerned with quality when it comes to imagining equipment, and the best judges of image quality are those people whose livlihood dep
Re:picking a camera (Score:2)
No offence to my own profession, but as someone whos worked in both industries, I can say that most IT people are clueless when it comes to VC applications. "Whatya mean switched ISDN connection? Whats wrong with the intarweb?".
Just an observation.
Flash Based (Score:1)
The stress on the server with a dozen concurrent video and audio, including some over wireless connections, was negligible. With the computers o
Yahoo! Messenger (Score:1)
Xerox research? (Score:1)
but then you'd have to either contact them to use it or develop your own based on it. They lloked at alot of the issues raised by this type of software like privacy and the like and why it works, it was trans-atlantic too.
the only reason I know about this is because of a HCI module I did at university last year.
Windows Media Encoder (Score:1)
Of course, windows only...