[pp.int.general] PPI GA Prague / Video Conference System for remote delegates

[Wolfgang Preiss]

Hello Pirates,

Pirate Streaming has the honor to support PP CZ with the livestream and 
video conference system at the general assembly in Prague. I won't 
participate in the debate where the GA shall take place, from my point 
of view it will be Prague, and my planning is accordingly.

At the last GA in Friedrichshafen, we were using skype for the remote 
deligates to participate, which was a good start, but can be done better.
Main Problem was here, that the deligate had to follow the live stream 
and had to use skype dial-in additionally, and had to check that the 
sound of the live stream is turned off, while being in direct contact.

We want to do better than this at the next GA and I am currently testing 
a new video conferencing system.

After I know there are members who have restriction about flash based 
systems, I wanted to discuss this, after it is you who need to use this 
system.

Requirements:
You need broadband internet acces, a system supporting flash, a webcam, 
and for best results an audio headset. If you are following the GA as a 
team a normal microphone and loudspeakers will do, if your soundsystem 
has a good echo control. You need a webbrowser with enabled cookies. You 
don't need additional software.

How the system works:
The conference system is fully moderated. On the screen will be the main 
video, a chat, a filesystem to upload files to be accessed by anyone 
joining the conference.
The moderator can choose a user to let him open his camera stream, so he 
can be seen and heared by the other members.  The members videostream is 
either placed on the main video or as a separate video next to it.
The main video shall always contain the livestream being sent

The livestream video can be accessed by anyone, only remote deligates 
however may join the video conference.

The video of a deligate can be chosen to be sent via livestream, but 
this independent from the conference system

Additonally the same sceen the deligates see is being presented on 
beamer for all visitors in Prague to be seen. The sound is being played 
there too of course.

I want to give that a field test of course. Currently I am running a 
demo version of the software, which has the restrictions to kick out any 
user after 15 min and only allows 10 users in one conference room.

I know many of you are currently visiting friends and family and maybe 
do not read this list before next year so I want to have more tests.

The first test shall take place tomorrow Dec 27th at 8pm CET - 7pm GMT - 
2pm EST if I get some feedback here till tomorrow. If there are some 
interested people I will start up the conference server and post the 
login link here.
If you prefere another time, please let me know.

Thank you

Wolfgang
Pirate Streaming