Low-Cost Video Conferencing

Rules of the Road
1) If you could sit up close, it will make it easier
for others to be seated after you.
2) There will be a two-page hand out AFTER
this session with all the links shown.
3) Probably no hang-around session (the next workshop will be in a
hurry to set up … as I was) ….maybe a chat in the hallway?
4) Some of you will know more about this subject than I do …
please refrain from any attempt to prove it. Thanks.
5) Finally, hold your questions and comments until the end or when
asked for. Why? … Cuz there will hopefully be a couple of live
demos and we may run out of time.
6)Thanks for your cooperation (I'm not being a Smart Alex, honest!)
I just want to finish on time.
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Low-Cost Video
Conferencing
APCUG Conference, Las Vegas, Jan. 4, 2006
[email protected]
Huntsville PC User Group, Huntsville, Alabama
Gwinnett SeniorNet PCUG, Lawrenceville, Georgia
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Can Video be used to aid User
Groups in their goals?
How about?:
• Remote guest speakers
• Home bound members
• Broadcast to other PCUGs
• Watch APCUG National sessions like
this one
• …Add your ideas here
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What would you expect to see?
What is the quality?
How big would the picture be?
Would it be in color?
Low cost, how low?
Is the motion smooth enough?
Can you control the other end?
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You’ll need …
–Hardware: Webcam, and/or
camcorder, mike, sound system
–Software: an instant
messenger or special program.
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Webcams
Camcorders
Microphones
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The camera makes a difference in
what you see!
Intel Pro PC Webcam
Creative Live Motion Webcam
(Wide Angle)
….I tried to get Brad Pitt or Paul Newman, but they were booked.
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You’ll see video from
the most “jerky”, but
still clear enough….
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Yahoo Instant Messenger (IM)
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To the smoothest
and best…
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NetVidea (nanoCorp) Video
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To the most fun,
Festoon!
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Festoon and Skype
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Festoon and Google Talk
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Skype/Festoon Screenshot
from SIG Meeting Showing a Google Map
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Fun with Festoon
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Then there’s the free
MSN, Yahoo and AOL
Instant Messengers
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MSN Instant Messenger
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Yahoo Instant Messenger
Hardware SIG Meeting
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AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
Note the smaller picture size!
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…and let us not forget
the chat cam
programs. These you
have to pay for.
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iSpQ Chat Quick Message
by nanoCorp
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iSpQ by nanoCorp
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CUWorld
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ICUII
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…and a free one
Dwyco CDC32
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Dwyco CDC32
v
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Dwyco CDC232
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…plus my favorite for personal
contacts (one on one.)
Simple and easy to use,
ZoomChat
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Zoom Chat
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YakForFree
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Finally, the one with the most
promise, the newly released
beta version of Skype Beta
2.0.
It has video and audio, all free
so far. A nice feature is the
variable picture size.
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Skype vs.
2.0
with built-in
video
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Skype with Video, Beta 2.0
(example of poor lighting)
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Software Programs
The following screen shows a
list of programs that we
tested along with some pros
and cons of each. There is
no particular order.
Note only two do not have
free versions.
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Software Name
Cost
Pros
Cons (If Any)
Skype vs. 2.0 Beta with Video
Free
Good audio, good variable size video, fun addons.
NetVidea, use with Skype
A nanoCorp product
Free
Best Video of all, smooth. Has feature to show
portions of the desktop
Festoon video & Skype audio
www.Skype.com
Free
Good video, many users at once. Fun features,
too. Can show desktop.
Festoon video & Google Talk
www.google.com/talk
Free
Good video, many users at once. Fun features,
too. Can show desktop.
MSN IM
http://mesenger.msn.com
Free
Good video, easy install. Full screen mode.
Two-way video only, no
multi-users
Yahoo IM
http://messenger.yahoo.com
Free
Can have multiple people in a conference.
Variable screen-size
Jerky video, difficult to
multi conference.
AOL IM
http://www.aim.com
Free
Seems reliable, smooth video. audio
Small size video screen
ICUII Chat
http://www.icuii.com
$40/y
Easy to use. Multi-users. Needs to have
specific ports opened.
Video fair. Not free
iSpQ (Eye Speak) Video Chat
www.ispq.com
$29/y
Good video, multiple users, chat rooms. Need to
open router ports.
Not free.
Dwyco CDC32
http://www.dwyco.com
Free
Multiple user. Zap Mail.
Jerky video
YakForFree
http://www.yakforfree.com/
Free
Good smooth video, good audio. Multi-user with
limitation of smaller picture.
Slightly smaller video
window,
Zoom Chat
http://snipurl.com/zoomchat
Free
Easy to use, reliable, one on one. Rated 5-stars
by Download.com.
One on one, no multi-36
user.
No audio, must use Skype
or Google Talk
VisionGS.com’s streaming
video may be of interest to
some of you who want to set up
a streaming webcam to monitor
your home, cat feeding station,
driveway, backyard, spouse,
whatever,
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VisionGS Interface
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Snaps from VisionGS
VisionGS is FREE
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Comments for a Better Conference
1) Use good feedback-free non-echo sound.
2) Allow sufficient time to get setup before your
program.
3) Train several people to use equipment.
4) Ensure good communication between users as to
when, where, how the audio/video system is set up.
5) Have the ability to communicate off-line with each
other. Suggest using cell phones with headset to talk
to the cameraman. Use cordless speaker phones for
audience audio.
6) Use Big fonts in slide shows and browser. Fill the
screen!
7) Dropouts of voice and/or video during live sessions.
Monitor closely and re-establish the connection.
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