The document discusses videoconferencing and collaboration tools. It describes how traditional videoconferencing is hardware-oriented and proprietary. Desktop videoconferencing like Skype are software-oriented but have limited scalability and extensibility. AccessGrid is software-oriented and scalable but is tied to a single, slow implementation. The document proposes using XMPP to provide an open, extensible alternative. It describes Vislab's Shutup client, which would provide necessary functionality and extensibility through plugins.

1. VideoConferencing and
Collaboration
Steve Smith
Video-Conferencing and Collaboration
Steve Smith
Vislab, School of IT
University of Sydney
December 1, 2005

2. Traditional VC
VideoConferencing and
Collaboration
Steve Smith
Hardware oriented
Proprietary, non-extensible
Non-scalable

3. Desktop VC
VideoConferencing and
Collaboration
Steve Smith
iChat, Skype, MSM, etc:
Software oriented, with supporting hardware
Limited scalability (hardware and participants)
Limited extensibility (proprietary)

4. AccessGrid
VideoConferencing and
Collaboration
Steve Smith
Software oriented, with hardware support
Hardware is scalable (laptop to room sized node)
Participants scalable (limited by network bandwidth)
Extensible: open-source, open protocols (sorta)

5. Problems with current AccessGrid
implementation
Tied to slow and non-extensible core library
Although protocols are open, only a single
implementation exists and is tied to controlling
organisation (ANL)
Consequently development is slow and many
’must-have’ features do not exist (scheduling, encrypted
sessions)
Has problems with communication scope that results in
additional tools being required (Jabber clients, mobile
phones), and poorly integrated.
VideoConferencing and
Collaboration
Steve Smith

6. Alternative: AG over XMPP
VideoConferencing and
Collaboration
Steve Smith
Vislab’s proposed solution; utilise existing standard
protocols
XMPP (aka Jabber) is an IETF ratified protocol
XML-based, fully extensible
Many existing clients and libraries to leverage
Provides basic security model for intranets

7. Shutup: Vislab’s extensible client
VideoConferencing and
Collaboration
Steve Smith
Provides necessary functionality and allows for plugins
Intended to be highly extensible and simple to use
Highly portable (uses Python, and GUI is pluggable)

8. Screenshot (Main)
VideoConferencing and
Collaboration
Steve Smith

9. Screenshot (Config)
VideoConferencing and
Collaboration
Steve Smith