1. How does WebCollab differ from videoconferencing solutions?

2. How does WebCollab work?

3. How many sites can participate in a conference?

4. What do I need to run WebCollab?

5. What format should images be in?

6. Can I use my own Web server with WebCollab?

7. If two sites participate in a conference, can both present images during a single conference session?


1. How does WebCollab differ from videoconferencing solutions?

WebCollab does not provide full motion video capabilities. Its emphasis is on static images that the user has created - drawings, plots, graphs, photos, slides, etc. WebCollab works on the assumption that it is more important to exchange visual data that is generated by the user rather than viewing the user on the other end. Therefore, WebCollab does not require any expensive hardware.

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2. How does WebCollab work?

WebCollab uses a client-server paradigm. The conference slides are diplayed in a client program. Users can either use the WebCollab application itself, or simply connect to one using a Web browser. In the latter case, the client program is dynamically loaded as an applet. Thus, apart from the person initiating the conference session, none of the participants need to install any software.

All interaction in the form of cursor pointing, LIVE POINTER and annotation is also done using the client. All clients connect to a server which manages client state information such as the current image and annotations, as well as the list of images that make up a conference session. The images themselves are served using standard HTTP protocol on a Web server.

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3. How many sites can participate in a conference?

WebCollab places no limit on the number of computers that can simultaneously connect to it.

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4. What do I need to run WebCollab?

In order to run WebCollab, you must have Java VM on your machine.

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5. What format should images be in?

Currently, WebCollab supports GIF and JPEG images.

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6. Can I use my own Web server with WebCollab?

The WebCollab application comes with its own HTTP Web server for sending images to clients. However, you are encouraged to use a full-fledged Web server if possible. You can set up WebCollab to use this instead of the small built-in one.

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7. If two sites participate in a conference, can both present images during a single conference session?

Yes. Since images must be sent from each site, both sites must have a Web server running. This means that both sites can run the WebCollab application, or one site can run the application while the other site runs a Web server. Note that the images do not have to be pulled off the participating sites; they can be collected from anywhere on the Web. The only requirement is that the images be accessible through a URL.

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