Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 23:23:48 -0500 From: Mark Mayo <mark@vmunix.com> To: Amancio Hasty <hasty@rah.star-gate.com> Cc: Atipa <freebsd@atipa.com>, freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: X Conferencing: was [hackers:] Architectural advice needed Message-ID: <19971208232348.27935@vmunix.com> In-Reply-To: <199712090358.TAA05407@rah.star-gate.com>; from Amancio Hasty on Mon, Dec 08, 1997 at 07:58:00PM -0800 References: <Pine.BSF.3.91.971208194814.4746B-100000@dot.ishiboo.com> <199712090358.TAA05407@rah.star-gate.com>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
On Mon, Dec 08, 1997 at 07:58:00PM -0800, Amancio Hasty wrote: > We have all the technology except for H.323 as for conferencing > implementation WinX is way behind and for that matter so far > for PCs FreeBSD is the preferred platform for doing audio/video/text > conferencing 8) Neat! I had no idea we had such a wide range of tools available for cool stuff like this. So I'm assuming "whiteboard" is what I was refering to as a blackboard (scratch pad). Can more than two users share a common white-board? I'll have to look into this one since it's exactly what I've been longing for!! I was aware of the bt848 stuff for video capture/display. Is "vat" the video conferencing tool? Can it work on "normal" IP connections (i.e. non- multicast) ? Is "tel" a purely audio equivalent? Looks like as soon as exams are over I'll have some fun tools to explore/play with! Are there any sites out there outline the FreeBSD/Unix/X conferencing and chat tools? If not I think I'll compile a site with all the tools a typical user would need to get started. I'm excited! Finally, what exactly is H.323?? is it some sort of directory services standard, or what?? I'm pretty sure I remember that Netscape was using the H.323 stuff, but that Microsoft wasn't (although I do think they had an option related to it..). -Mark P.S. I think I'll have to start paying more attention to the -multimedia list 8-) > > Cheers, > Amancio > > > > > > > > > > One thing that would have really helped us out that I now see in the > > > win95/Mac netscape and mickeysoft conferencing tools is the > > > "blackboard" thing - you can scribble and write on a blackboard > > > that is shared by all members of the conference. I don't think this is > > > present in the Unix version of Netscape 4.0 though... Bummer. > > > > What? You don't like ASCII art?? :) > > > > > One thing is for certain, conferencing tools will almost certainly > > > represent a pretty big market in the years to come. Especially once we > > > start getting ADSL and cable modem rollouts so you can have an audio/video > > > link happening. The FreeBSD project, IMHO, is a shining example of what > > > can be accomplished through the Net, and the success is remarkable given > > > the relatively primitive tools used! > > > > > If it doesn't already exist, an X conferencing tool certainly seems like > > > a neat program "waiting to be created" by some spirited programmer > > > out there! :-) > > > > Well, X11 has a pretty big advantage over the rest, since the format is > > so standardized and networkable. Try setting a DISPLAY environment on NT. > > > > FreeBSD has all the tools: Bt948/QuickCam/etc drivers, vat/tel, X11, irc, > > etc. All it needs is an API and some compression (sxpc?). The only > > "feature" the commercial apps have is MMX compression, which does very > > well for audio/video compression. Is MMX under NDA only? > > > > I know such a package would be a big value-add to FreeBSD workstations. > > > > Kevin > > > -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mark Mayo mark@vmunix.com RingZero Comp. http://www.vmunix.com/mark finger mark@vmunix.com for my PGP key and GCS code ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Win95/NT - 32 bit extensions and a graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an an 8 bit operating system originally coded for a 4 bit microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company that can't stand 1 bit of competition. -UGU
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?19971208232348.27935>