[vmeet] Remote Visual Presentation for IETF Stockholm Meetings?

[Doug Otis <[e-mail]>]

Eliot,

The WebEx tool appears well optimized for telephone bridges.  WebEx  
offers most of what is needed to enable remote presentations, once  
feeds to the room PA have been addressed.  (Something like Asus Eee  
B202 and BTC 9019 wireless media keyboard w/joystick/mouse for Ubuntu/ 
Mac/Windows at about $300/room should satisfy necessary hardware wired  
to the room.)  WebEx does not require changes to facilitate remote  
only interim meetings.  In addition, optional video feeds may make  
WebEx sessions too demanding for some networks.

One issue lacking in the WebEx tools are mechanisms to facilitate  
typical microphone queues within most IETF meetings.  There is no  
queuing function provided by WebEx, and only the host can see who has  
their hand raised icon set.   The expense of telephone bridges may  
mean this will not address all audio needs.  One might envision using  
VoIP services such as Vonage, or Skype with a voice mail feature to  
implement a low cost remote microphone queue without burdening the  
WebEx telephone bridge while minimizing teleco related expenses.

To be better prepared  for Stockholm, it also seems there should also  
be experiments run using a system wired into a room PA and digital  
projector conveying the WebEx session.  This would better approximate  
actual use within typical IETF meetings.   It also seems any BCP  
document needs to cover issues created by mixed local/remote  
meetings.  While some might want a BCP for remote only WebEx meetings,  
this would duplicate the efforts of the vendor.  It is where the  
application is being used in atypical configurations, that additional  
information becomes essential.  This documentation might even include  
hardware wiring and various control use.

Once these atypical details are covered, the IETF should setup  
practice WebEx presentation services to ensure both local and remote  
presenters are better prepared.  Practice with this tool should better  
ensure that its use will not slow an IETF meeting's progress.

-Doug