|
|
CollabWorx Secure Virtual Meeting (SVM) is a framework for collaborative
computing-the "next big thing" on the Internet. SVM is built
on top of our general object and event sharing technology platform, the
CollabWorx Platform.
Is "collaboratory" a fancy term for video conferencing? No.
Video conferencing and "data conferencing" are naïve approaches
to computer-mediated human collaboration. They merely imitate functionality
provided by pre-digital era devices such as telephones and fax machines.
Migration of the human-human interaction to desktop computers opens radically
new opportunities, never possible before. The goal of the digital, computer-based
collaboratories is to provide an environment for people working at different
locations, in which they will be able to go about their business better
than as if they were working in the same office.
An efficient collaboration system must support two major components.
The first one is seamless access to critical business document repositories.
The other is the ability to share the documents and other data both asynchronously
and in real time. The Internet client-server technology solves the issue
of shared document storage, making obsolete earlier proprietary systems
(e.g., Lotus Notes). The CollabWorx Platform (CWP) enables arbitrary
forms of sharing of Internet-hosted objects and is hence an ideal solution
for the second component needed to build state-of-the-art collaboratories.
How is the CollabWorx Platform different?
Current commercial "conferencing" systems revolve around two
rudimentary components: video teleconferencing (usually peer-to-peer only),
sometimes supported by a textual chat and simple whiteboard, and application
sharing, implemented using a shared display technology. Application sharing
is of the most simplistic type: the entire application interface is replicated
on multiple workstations. The conferencing systems available today are
not extensible, not integrated, not secure, and they do not support coherent
session and floor control.
CWP Secure Virtual Meeting is a next-generation software solution
supporting secure, rich multimedia conferencing over the Internet. The
system supports a variety of application domains, from product presentations
to business meetings to on-line customer support. All collaborative application
modules are integrated under uniform, powerful and flexible session and
floor control mechanism. The system, arbitrarily extensible, supports
a rich collection of collaboratory application modules.
CWP Secure Virtual Meeting Collaborative Application Modules
- Textual and graphical chat tools: Chat rooms are created in
CWP SVM by a mouse click. One user can participate concurrently in multiple
chat sessions and there may be unlimited number of concurrent chat rooms
hosting different groups of guests. Support for private and public on-demand
in- and out-of-band communication channels is also provided.
- Audio/video conferencing application: This solution contains
is a multi-user
audio and videoconferencing agent, seamlessly and elegantly integrated
with other collaboration tools. It supports scalable codecs, from the
phone line to LAN quality. Standard version uses unicast; multicast
support is available as an option. Up to 8-ways audio/video symmetric
conferences. In broadcasting mode, the solution can accommodate thousands
of users in the audience.
- Collaborative web browsers: True shared browser easily handles
arbitrary content, including frames and active objects such as Java
applets and embedded plug-ins. Shared link clicks and transferable global
control are fully supported. Advanced support for shared DHTML with
interactive layer control and with form-sharing capability is available
as an option.
- Shared whiteboards: From very simple scratchboards to layered
drawing programs with read, save, and print support. All whiteboards
are concurrent, i.e., many users can draw concurrently.
- Application sharing: CWP Secure Virtual Meeting integrates
native application-sharing modules, using two different display sharing
technologies, with fully interactive, cross-platform application and/or
desktop control. Two independent modes are available: "Share a
Screen" and "Look over Your Shoulder." "Share a
Screen" module can share a screen of an arbitrary computer, not
necessarily participating in the SVM session, providing an extremely
flexible and powerful tool to include "live" information in
the conferences, such as views of real-time data-fusion applications
or output from supercomputing simulations.
- Collaborative audio and video playback tool: Java streaming
audio and video players for the Internet, and shared RealSystem player
with support for multiple codecs ranging from proprietary Real formats
to standard MPEG1 for intranets. Integrated with optional video server
and searchable video archives.
- Front-end instant messaging and awareness tools: CWP Secure
Virtual Meeting comes with an integrated instant
messaging front-end. CWP Instant Messenger supports Presence Manager,
extensive security features, and wireless gateway.
- Shared editor and debugger: Collaborative versions of XEmacs
and GNU debugger, as well as shared Telnet. These modules are used for
remote consulting and user support, as well as for on-line training.
Cross-platform support for Unix and MS Windows is provided.
- Shared databases access tools: Collaborative access to web-linked
databases and workbenches.
- Active Shared Objects: Patented technology supporting automatic
sharing of applets embedded in Web pages. Enabling technology for Interactive
Textbooks.
- Scientific Visualization Package: Interactive Java-based SciVis
package for collaborative static and dynamic (process) data visualization
and analysis.
- Command and Control applications: Modules such as a collaborative
map browser and annotator and 3D high-end virtual terrain fly-over with
streaming 3D capability, both with integrated GPS support. These modules
enable applications of our system in command and crisis management centers,
as well as in applications such as fleet management.
- Secure collaboration engine: Platform-neutral, high-performance,
robust Java server, scalable to hundreds of conference participants.
Includes centralized administration of server clusters, license and
security management tools, usage logging for troubleshooting and billing,
password and certificate-based authentication and admission policies,
and firewall support.
Solution bundling
The CWP Secure Virtual Meeting solution comes standard with modules 1
to 7 and 13, above. Additional solution modules are available as options.
Contact us for pricing and bundling options.
Product Extensibility
In addition, Application Programmer Interfaces are available for development
of custom collaborating modules in several programming languages, such
as Java (both applets and applications), C/C++, LISP, and JavaScript.
A set of multi-user network games is provided to serve as a programing
example. Contact us for the custom development services.
For users and developers of Java Enterprise platform we offer a platform
for graphical development of collaborative JavaBeans modules. For such
applications, no manual coding is needed to create new, collaborative
business applications.
|
 |
