D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig Modular Advanced Collaboration System A Framework for Collaborative

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Modular Advanced Collaboration System

A Framework for Collaborative ApplicationsOutline

Motivation & Aims

Structure & Components

Status & Contact


Motivation

strong demand on CSCW• group work, e.g., software development

• distance learning, e.g., universities

• lifelong learning, e.g., in companies

current systems• not sufficient control

• not easy to use

• not portable

Network


Aims

framework for collaborative applications• modular / flexible / extensible

• multiple applications / independent of content

ease of use• advanced GUI

• enhanced floor-passing mechanisms

portable• Java based

interworking• uses standard protocols

• MBone

– SAP / SDP / SIP

• ITU

– H.323 / T.120 / LDAP


Structure

4 horizontal layers variable number of applications

LRMP (Reliable Multicast)

VideoWB AudioTelSEE

Control (incl. ViSCO)

TelSEE-Window

WB-Window

Video-Window

TelSEEPanel

Control-Window

Video-Panel

ControlPanelDisplay

Control Applications Sessions

Tools

Network

AudioPanel

Network Glue

ViSCO

TCP UDP CORBA

Floor-Strategies

Floor-Mechanisms

Control-Interface


Control

control levels• system (access to microphone, speakers, camera, ...)

• session (user invite, session moderation, ...)

• users (access to slides in whiteboard, ...)

different session types• open (without access control)

• moderated (with access control)

• ...

different access strategies• open (anyone can speak at any time)

• agenda (predetermined order)

• round robin (by demand in dynamic order)

• ...


Applications

audio & video whiteboard

• motivated by experience from lectures in 97 & 98

chat development tool TelSEE

page control tele-marker ps import

tools options

whiteboard• full featured drawing

– e.g., object selection

• tele-pointer / tele-marker

• graphics and postscript

• object (access) control


TelSEE

CASE tool for distributed software development• support for users distributed in time and/or space

• synchronous and asynchronous work modes

features• real distributed/concurrent work on objects

• high interactivity

• private views

• platform independent

• multicast communication architecture

• extensible


TelSEE


Session List

MACS session list• MACS sessions

• MBone sessions

session list tab

basic operations session description

MACS sessions

MBone session


Users List

MACS user list• MACS user

• NetMeeting users (via LDAP from a ILS)

user list tab

basic operations user description

MACS users

NetMeeting users


Seminar

seminar scenario• few participants (ca. 10)

• equal rights, moderator optional

session tab

basic operations chat

visual control

available applications

equipment


Classroom

possible implementation

class represented as one entity• student “steps” in front of class

• advantages

+ high scalability

+ easy to realize

• disadvantages

– little feedback for teacher

further visualizations being investigated

teacher with class

student talking to class


Status & Contact

status• demo release V0.3

– classroom scenario under construction

– TelSEE included

next steps• further integration of floor control

• a release with classroom scenario

• test in seminar between Braunschweig and Hannover

further info• flyer

• MACS http://macs.ibr.cs.tu-bs.de

• To/oL http://www.tu-bs.de/afh/albrecht/tool/

Documents

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig Modular Advanced Collaboration System A Framework for Collaborative