Mconf web conferencing: An Open Source Multi-conference System Presented by Kasandra Isaac SANReN Engineer

Points of discussion Advantages/Disadvantages of video conferencing 4 groups of video conference systems SA NREN’s goal with video conferencing offering The spectrum of video conferencing solutions What is Mconf? Why web conferencing? Solutions explored?

Points of discussion…cont. Why Mconf web conferencing? Mconf features How to access the service Who can use it? Rules of use Possible future developments

Video conferencing traits Advantages Saves Time and Money Sharing Information is Easy Facilitates long-distance Programs Increased productivity across dispersed workforces and teams Support for environmental initiatives – reduces carbon footprint

Video conferencing traits Advantages Improved hiring and retention of top talent as teams can now be dispersed Sustainable competitive advantage – share knowledge more widely, resulting in faster and more informed decisions that reduce the time to market for new products and services.

Video conferencing traits Disadvantages Technical Problems Lack of Personal Interaction High cost of Setup

4 groups of Video conference Systems 1. Room: Hardware, eg. Polycom, Lifesize, Vidyo

2. Telepresence: Cisco telepresence

3. Desktop: Installs and launches system on computer eg 3. Desktop: Installs and launches system on computer eg. Vidyo, Zoom, Skype

4. Web: Run within a browser: Adobe Connect, Big Blue Button, Mconf 4. Web: Launches from within your browser eg. Adobe Connect, BBB, Mconf 4. Web: Run within a browser: Adobe Connect, Big Blue Button, Mconf

The SA NREN’s goal To facilitate research and education collaboration initiatives through video conferencing systems: Vidyo (300 concurrent user licences available for a year) Mconf web conferencing Two systems are currently available to cater for the majority of video conferencing collaboration needs Choice available to users

What is Mconf? A research collaboration tool that is web based It can also be set up as a room based video conferencing system Open source conferencing system for web and mobile devices (Beta phase) Distance education, Remote meetings, Broadcasting events Based on Big Blue Button web conferencing Began as a research project at PRAV: Projects in Audio and Video, Brazil Development funded by Brazilian NREN, RNP

Why web conferencing? Browser based application – No download or plug-in required for basic participation in a meeting WebRTC audio technology (latest video conferencing technology craze) Will replace current Adobe Connect installation that was a trial installation hosted by SANReN

Technology Selection Criteria for Selection: Proven in Use: By trial, Success of other NRENs, Functionality Maintenance and Support Ease of Use Ease to take into production Cost

Solutions explored Many… Adobe connect Jamvee Blackboard collaborate Skype Google hangouts Commercial products were not a viable solution.. Open source: BigBlueButton and Mconf

Why Mconf web conferencing? Compares well with Adobe connect use and features Mconf modified for R&E use in the Brazilian NREN community Open source – No licensing cost for use Excellent support from Mconf Development team R&D Project investment by Brazilian NREN, RNP Opportunity available to collaborate with the Brazilian NREN, RNP Opportunity to contribute to development of Mconf due to open-source nature

Mconf’s distinguishing features 1. Mconf’s web portal Provides access to Mconf web conferences Allows users to create and participate in web conferences Provides user authentication through federation identity management Permission control to access web conference rooms – public/private settings Follows a social network model with spaces (communities) that have events Users have their own web conferences that they can share with other members or even invite non-members

Mconf’s distinguishing features 1. Mconf’s web portal (continued) Each space also has a web conference room that its members can use to interact Events can be used to schedule web conferences inside a space Document repository Wall for each room Direct support for Mconf admin with Mconf Development team

Mconf’s distinguishing features 2. Mconf-Live Global Network Global Scalability and monitoring Global pool of Mconf-Live servers is available for use

Concept of spaces vs rooms A web conferencing room is a tool within a collaboration space The concept of spaces is useful for an NREN community as it can represent: National projects Teams/communities across national/international boundaries It can also represent a specific course/lecture

Within each space, you have access to the following tools: A web conference room Set preferences for web conferencing room List of recordings for meetings in that room A message wall List of users within the space Publish news items Invite people to participate in the space

Summary Each member has a: Personal meeting space with a personal meeting room And can generate project/community specific spaces with a project/community specific room and other collaboration features

Use of collaboration spaces The use of collaboration spaces are helpful to keep all members up-to-date Members can select how often they would like to receive digest emails from collaboration spaces that they belong to

Requirements for using the meeting room Basic service is compatible in all browsers Mozilla Firefox is best suited to support the desktop sharing and recording feature WebRTC will be used for audio in all WebRTC supported browsers Fall back to Flash audio for unsupported WebRTC browsers Java V 1.7.0 update 51 for desktop sharing

How do participants enter the meeting room? There is a unique “url” per meeting room The participant clicks on the “url” to enter the meeting The participant will follow audio test prompts to connect correctly to the meeting Can connect to “listen only” or to be an “active participant”

Features of the web conference Roles of presenter and participant are interchangeable throughout the meeting More than one presenter More than one person can contribute to writing on the whiteboard or annotating a presentation during the meeting session Theoretical maximum meeting size 80-100 users Large amount of functionality within the meeting room

Possible meeting room layouts: Default Custom layout Video chat Webcam Lecture Lecture assistant Presentation

Desktop sharing Audio tests Webcam Recording feature

Presentation screen

Summary of Mconf features Real-time communication with audio and video Screen and presentation sharing, chat, and shared notes during the session A web portal to collaborate and communicate effectively with members of a space Use in all modern web browsers and operating systems Federated Identity integration

Demo of recording feature

How to gain access to the production service Register at https://mconf.sanren.ac.za Federated sign-in is recommended Registration process will be open to non-federated users until 2016 after which your institution must be registered to to gain access to the service

Mconf Production service Available at https://mconf.sanren.ac.za Who can use it? The South African Research, Education and Innovation community. Rules around use To aid in Research, Collaboration and Education Strictly non - commercial use only

Possible future developments: Ongoing development by Mconf Technologia: Mconf development team funded by Brazilian NREN, RNP Further mobile client development Due to open source nature – there is an opportunity for the South African NREN community to contribute towards Mconf’s development To create an HTML5 client, in order to have web conference in other mobile platforms such as iOS and Windows Phone To allow interaction with room systems like Polycom, using H.323 or SIP

Summary Mconf will be a free web conferencing service offered to the research and education community Mconf production service is being hosted by TENET This will replace the Adobe Connect installation hosted by SANReN The service can be used from within a web browser, as centralised collaboration service for the NREN Preferred method of accessing the service – Join SAFIRE federation

Thank you for listening Questions?