Web Video Conferencing

Below are my attempts to use different web-conferencing options.

Dim Dim
This was unavailable to use. There was a message about them not accepting any new members.

Vyew
Next, I tried to use Vyew. At that time they were having technical difficulties.

Webhuddle
This was third on my list. I thought this was too hard to use.

Yugma
Finally, I found one! I liked this and downloaded it. The problem came when I tried to invite my group members from my e-mail. It would only take from an e-mail that is no longer in use. I used my school e-mail, which used to use Mozilla Thunderbird, but now we have the exact same e-mail address but use G-mail. For some reason it kept going to Mozilla which I couldn't use. I had a brainstorm when on the video-conference with Carolyn to use a different e-mail. So I did. It still went to Mozilla even though the e-mail address was totally different! I just don't get it. It is something I will talk about with my tech. coordinator. This was the only way to invite them to the session so, I gave up. If we can figure this whole thing out, I would like to try this in the future.

Acrobat.com for Adobe
So, I went to Adobe. I knew we used it in our class video-conferencing and we used it with my other group work for 811. Now, I was never the host before. So I went in using the free Adobe and set up the conference. The nice thing was it would use your e-mail address to invite people, which again did not work for me, but it also had a URL to send to people. This did work!! However, for the actual meeting it didn't work so well. First of all, Reaz could not get into the meeting. Tom and I were in and talking, but at that same time, Reaz couldn't get in. He sent us a screen shot that told him the meeting had ended...but it hadn't! So we ended up that day communicating with Reaz through Google Docs and e-mail. Also, I could not figure out how to record the meeting using the free version. Was anyone else able to do this?

The second time we used Adobe, the very next morning, it was also interesting. Tom and I got into the meeting just fine, and Reaz did get in, but we couldn't see or hear him. He could hear us, but we couldn't hear him. I also discovered at this time that the Host cannot type in the chat box. Tom and I had decided we would just go and use Skype. I was trying to type Reaz this message to make sure he heard us, but it wouldn't let me. Tom had to type the message.

Skype
This worked!!! We all got in, could hear each other very clearly, without an echo, and we also chatted. I have used Skype before but not with a group on a conference call. I had also not chatted before so this was a new thing for me. It worked very well and we got things done. I still want to see if I can get Yugma to work. I would like to try it so desk tops and screens can be shared during the conference. I will also be open-minded about trying different video-conferencing options, but in the back of my mind I will know if they don't work out there is always Skype! :)