Open Distance Learning (ODL) Resource Page

Draft

Content

• The ACO*HIST ODL-project
• The ACO*HIST ODL-test
• Technical specifications
• The Test-group
• Perform a test
• Links to related projects and resources
• Project report

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The ACO*HIST ODL-project

The ACO*HIST ODL-project goal is to make researchers, teachers and students to collaborate without the limitation of physical distance and barriers in order to improve research and teaching in history. There will not be made any difference between teaching and research. The purpose or type of the collaboration or the meeting will decide whether an actual meeting on the Net is teaching or research. The focus in this early phase of the project will be to get things running and the simple questions are: What software and hardware do I need ? How do I install the software and how do I use it? What can we do in a netmeeting? What are the limitations? In the next phase of the project the focus will be towards teaching and research.



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The ACO*HIST ODL-test

The first part of the test is simply to get a group of persons to make a netmeeting. What is a netmeeting? A netmeeting allows a group of persons connected thru Internet to speak in real-time (Internet Phone), to work together and collaborate in real-time using a whiteboard, a chat functionality and also to share applications. With the whiteboard and the chat function the each member of the group can write or draw on a virtual whiteboard, and with application sharing one user can share his or her application with the rest group. The shared application will be visible to all the members of the group.

What do you need? Techical specifications

Requirements for a Netmeeting
Hardware	Minimum	Recommended
Processor	Pentium	Pentium 100
Memory	16 MB	32 MB
Hard disc	-	-
Sound Card	Sound Blaster or compatible	Sound Card with full duplex audio (e.g. Sound Blaster 16).
Internet connection	28.8 bps (modem)	ISDN or better (T1)
Operating System	Windows95	Windows95 or Windows-NT 4.0
Other equipment	Speakers/Microphone	Earphones with microphone
Software
WWW-browsers
Netmeeting software	Netmeeting 2.0 beta 2.	Netmeeting 2.0 beta 2.

In the test Microsoft Netmeeting 2.0 will be used. There are other products available offering the same functionality but for the time being Netmeeting 2.0 gives the best overall performance.

The Microsoft story on Netmeeting 2.0 part I:

The built-in Internet phone support makes it easy for you to call family and friends around the world over the Internet. Multiuser data conferencing support allows two or more users to work together and collaborate in real-time over the Internet or corporate intranet using application sharing, whiteboard, and chat functionality.

The Microsoft story part II

NetMeeting 2.0 for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 builds on Microsoft's commitment to industry standards by adding H.323 audio support. Broad industry support for the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) H.323 standard will provide interoperability between real-time conferencing products, gateways, multipoint conferencing bridges, and other communication services.

Microsoft Netmeeting Homepage
Download MS Netmeeting 2.0 beta 2 (NT4.0 or Windows95). Or download Netmeeting 2.0 beta 2 for Windows95from UK or Sweden
Download Netscape Navigator 3.0 Or download Netscape 3.0 for Windows95 from Sweden

What next?

1. Check that your computer fulfill the specification above.
2. Download and install the software
3. When you install Netmeeting remember to register to the uls.microsoft.com
4. To Run Microsoft NetMeeting
   1. After the installation is finished, if a dialog box appears asking if you want to restart your computer, click Yes.
   2. Start Microsoft NetMeeting as follows:
      • Click the Start button, and then point to Programs.
      • Click Microsoft NetMeeting.
   3. When you open Microsoft NetMeeting for the first time, a wizard appears that helps you get ready to use NetMeeting.
      If you cancel this wizard, you will not be able to use NetMeeting.
5. Send an e-mail to arne.solli@hi.uib.no
6. Let us try

The most relevant part of the NETMEET.TXT file

Below I have cut-and-pasted the most relevant parts of the NETMEET.TXT file. Any problems? Please read this section first.

PLACING A CALL

You can place Microsoft NetMeeting calls to multiple users. Any person in a meeting can place Microsoft NetMeeting calls to other people. In addition, other people can join a Microsoft NetMeeting call in progress by calling one of the participants.

When you run Microsoft NetMeeting, you are automatically logged on to a User Location Server. This server maintains a list of the people currently running Microsoft NetMeeting and their IP addresses.

You can use this service to locate people to meet with by double clicking their names in the main NetMeeting window; or, if the person you want to call is logged on to the same server as you, you can call the person by typing their e-mail address into the Place A Call box in the NetMeeting window. You can also use the Place A Call box in the NetMeeting window to type either the computer name or modem phone number of the person you want to call.

In the Directory, the Refresh button refreshes the list of people logged on to the User Location Server. The Stop button stops opening the list of people logged on to the User Location Server.

Placing an advanced call

To place an advanced call you have to know the TCP/IP number to the person you want to call. By this method you can make a call without going into any uls.
1. Choose Call
2. Choose Place advanced call
3. Choose Network (TCP-IP) as Call using
4. Write my ip-no in the Address field: 129.177.208.XX (e-mail me to get the last two numbers)
By this method the call process goes faster and you don't have to go into any ULS

RECEIVING A CALL

You are ready to receive an incoming call if you are currently running Microsoft NetMeeting and have not selected Do Not Disturb on the Call menu.

SHARING AN APPLICATION

Any person in a meeting can share an application with the other participants. When you share an application, other people can see the application. When you Collaborate, other people can see and use the application.

NOTE: Windows NT users cannot share applications, but can use applications that others have shared.

When you share an application and collaborate, remote users can use the File Open and File Save dialog boxes in your application to access or delete files on your computer or network.

To stop someone from using your shared program while you do not have control of the cursor, press ESC. To stop someone from using your shared program while you do have control of the cursor, click the Work Alone button. It is not recommended that you leave your computer unattended while sharing an application and collaborating. Maximizing shared applications when computers in the meeting have different screen resolutions might not work properly. It is recommended that you wait at least 20 seconds after initiating or joining a new conference before sharing an application.

WHITEBOARD

The Whiteboard enables you to draw simultaneously with other users. Everyone in the meeting can see what is drawn on the Whiteboard. When one person in a meeting runs Whiteboard, it appears on everyone's screen.

If you make several changes without pausing in the whiteboard, other users might be prevented from making changes.

CHAT

Chat enables you to type messages for other users to see. When one person in a meeting runs Chat, it appears on everyone's screen. Chat files are stored with the .csv file extension. If Microsoft Excel, or another program that can read files in .csv format is installed on your computer, it can be used to open chat files. To open a Chat file with Chat, run Chat, click the File menu, click Open, and select the file to be opened.

FILE TRANSFER

Files dragged onto the listing of people in the meeting are sent to all the people in the meeting. To send a file to a specific person, right click that person's icon in the list of people in the meeting, and then click Send File. To send a file to everyone in the meeting, click the Tools menu, and then click Send File. To cancel sending a file, click the Tools menu, and then click Cancel Send.

AUDIO COMMUNICATION

Check your audio-settings by open the Volume Control program (Programs -> Accessories -> Multimedia -> Volume Control). Check controls for recording and play. It is often preferable to mute the microphone in the play section, or else you will get terrible feedback.

By default, audio communication is enabled for TCP/IP calls. To place an audio-only or data-only call, open the Advanced Calling dialog box, select Network (TCP/IP), and choose the appropriate option. Audio is supported only over TCP/IP and between no more than two people.

Sound quality can vary significantly depending on your sound card and microphone. To automatically adjust your settings, use the Audio Tuning Wizard.

Full-duplex audio enables you to speak at the same time as the person you are speaking to. If your sound card supports only half-duplex audio, or if you have not enabled full-duplex audio in NetMeeting, you and the other person in your call will have to take turns speaking.

Using full-duplex audio can require both more bandwidth and more CPU than using half-duplex audio and as a result may result in poor sound quality.

The Audio Tuning Wizard works only when you are not in a call with audio. If you are experiencing choppy full-duplex sound quality, try switching Microsoft NetMeeting to half-duplex sound quality. To do this, carry out the following steps:

1. Make sure that you are not on a NetMeeting call.
2. Click the Tools menu, and then click Options.
3. Click the Audio tab.
4. Clear the Enable Full Duplex Audio check box.

   HANGING UP

   When you hang up, you disconnect anyone you have called or anyone who called you. If the disconnected users have invited or accepted other users into the meeting, they are also disconnected.

   The ACO*HIST Testgroup

   • Andrea Damini: andrea.damini@kfunigraz.ac.at
   • Peter Denley: P.R.Denley@qmw.ac.uk
   • Arne Solli: arne.solli@hi.uib.no
   • Frode Ulvund: frode.ulvund@hi.uib.no

   

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   Links to other ODL-projects or ODL-resources

   Helsinki University of Technology

   HUMANITIES Historic Universities Multimedia Network for Innovation in Education System
   HUMANITIES Other collaborative learning projects

   Socrates Master Gopher Server

   Socrates, EU's action programme for education.

   

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   Project report

   What is ODL?
   ODL - Open Distance Learning. What about ODR - Open Distance Research? Netmeeting?
   Why ODL? Why ODL now? How to implement ODL
   Test results? These questions should be answered in a project report.

Dictionary

Full duplex:

You can speak and listen at the same time thru internet phone. The alternativ is half duplex. Half duplex is like communicating with Walkie-talkies.To get full duplex you need a soundcard with 16 bit DMA (Direct Memory Access). Sound Blaster 16 or a compatible card gives this feature, but if you have an old card the drivers need to updated.