Duke

• Telecommunications
• Web & Multimedia
  • Web Services
  • Multimedia Services
    • Digital Media Resources
    • DukeCapture
    • DukeStream
    • iTunes U & Podcasting
    • Video Conferencing
    • Web Collaboration
      • Adobe Connect
      • Elluminate Live!
      • Teleconferencing / Audio Conferencing Services
    • YouTube
• Mobile Applications
• Cable TV

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Web Collaboration is a technology that allows two or more users to collaborate in real time over the Internet. Commonly referred to as web conferencing, it can be used to communicate with others in a variety of ways and with many features. Examples include:

• Synchronous distance education
• Meeting with geographically dispersed colleagues
• Remote helpdesk/troubleshooting
• Webinars
• Virtual office hours
• Remote Speakers
• Text Chat
• Live audio and video
• Whiteboarding
• Screensharing
• Polling
• Session recording
• Voice over IP

Related Resources - Peripherals

Click here to view a list of resources for web conferencing.

What resources are available for web conferencing at Duke University?

There are several different web conferencing solutions being utilized throughout the Duke community. Interactive Technology Services continuously researches hosted web conferencing. Each solution is evaluated for ease of use, full featured functionality and cross platform compatibility among other criteria. General information and links to specific information about our currently researched solutions can be found below. We will continue to test and pilot new solutions and add up to date information on upcoming pilots here.

Important Note: Since OIT does not host this service on our own servers, any information of a confidental nature, including, but not limited to HIPAA or FERPA protected information should not be transmitted or recorded using any of these services.

Adobe Connect

• Flash based client
• Highly customizable layout
• Excellent video quality
• Great solution for one-to-many webcasts
• Integrated phone teleconferencing through Premiere Global Services
• Supports up to 100 users per meeting

For more information please see our Adobe Connect web page.

Elluminate

• Java based client
• Designed with a strong virtual-classroom focus
• Robust platform for collaborative meetings
• Licensed by concurrent users / participants

For more information please see our Elluminate web page.

Adobe ConnectNow

As part of Adobe's free online word processing tool, Buzzword, Adobe ConnectNow offers free video and audio teleconferencing (including international calling capabilities). It is limited in functionality as compared to the commercial version of Connect, such as being limited to only (3) participants. More information on the limitations of ConnectNow can be found here.

Webex

Webex is Cisco's Java based web conferencing tool which offers multipoint video (up to 6), voice over IP and integrated audio teleconferencing functionality with 24 x7 live support via telephone. Webex can also be purchased on a per minute/per use basis either directly through WebEx or via Premiere Global Services branded services ReadyCast which requires no advanced sign up or set up.

• Information on Webex and HIPAA

dimdim

Dimdim is a Flash based, free, easy and open web collaboration software with a robust set of features. Dimdim scales to thousands of meeting attendees, provides great availability and comes in multiple hosted and onsite configurations including downloadable open source and a free hosted version. Dimdim does not require attendees to install any software and is an way to share documents and desktops, chat, talk and view others online. It's feature set is somewhat limited compared to commercial alternatives (single video, no desktop sharing for Mac and LINUX), but it is free. Check out the list of features for more information.

argoo

Currently in beta, argoo offers free, Flash based video chat similar to social networking giant stickam.com. You can create private or public video and text based chat rooms on the fly. Creating a room is easy and give you a URL you can forward to your invitees. No account is required and it provides embed code for you to embed the "room" into your existing website.

GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is an online web conferencing application that allows the user the ability to host unlimited meeting, withnlimited duration for up to 15 attendees per meeting - at a flat fee.  GoToMeeting uses both the telephone & headsets for audio.  At the time of writing this description (03-03-09) GoToMeeting does not support the use of video.

The set up is easy and requires very littile trainig to get started.  Creating and scheduling meeting are straight forward and the user has the ability to schdule meetings inside applications such as: Outlook, Excel, Lotus Notes, & Word.