Joining the TRIN group in EVO

Use in Taxonomy

As a collaboration tool, Evo allows taxonomists to share video feeds from microscope cameras, look at common whiteboard, each other, and share documents. Trials show promise for the application of Evo for remote diagnosis of identity... allowing experts to work with problems across the continent.

Bottom is my view. Top is what everyone else sees when I share the desktop

.

As it is not peer to peer, meetings can involve several experts.

Future work.

Evo is a little fiddly to set up - as with most audio visual conference systems. The ability to distribute preconfigurations would help, as would some simple protocols to test readiness of the audiovisual peripherals.

Features

By joining a group within EVO, you will be able to

• hold video conferences (password protected),
• record proceedings,
• use the electronic white board,
• share screens
• instant message & chat.
• share pictures and annotate them online
• record meetings
• control access to meetings.

The evo java client must be running. It is firewall friendly. Hosted in part by aarnet.

Sharing my Desktop.

Contributors to the meeting can see each other (well in this case the top of JP's head).

The whiteboard is a space where all contributors to the meeting can draw OR UPLOAD Pictures to be annotated. The results of can be saved.

1. Simple Drawing tools (including text)

2. upload image / download whiteboard

3. switch between board pages.

Feature list (from Evo website)

• Instant messaging functions and presence information (i.e. available, busy, ... )
• Private or group chat during a meeting * Meetings-by-invitation, ad-hoc meetings, booked meetings, and permanent meetings
• Playback and recording functions (of the entire session [video, audio, whiteboard, Instant Message, Chat,..])
• Shared files, high resolution sharing of any screen area, and whiteboard functions
• Support for several standard videoconferencing protocols: H.323(Polycom, Tandberg, ...), Session Initiation Protocol (RTP) used by most of the collaborative applications. * Automatic TimeZone? adjustment and Multi-Language support (English, French, Slovak, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Finnish, and Chinese) * Firewall-friendly and support for Network Address Translation (NAT)
• End-to-End encryption of all the media (video/audio/chat/IM/ ...)
• A new video application based on OpenGL? where all the live video windows and other objects are embedded in, and may move in a three dimensional space. (This application, which uses the graphics processor unit (GPU) to offload the main CPU and leave it free for other work, is currently available on Windows only, support for other operating systems will follow soon.)
• A integrated telephone gateway allows users to join an EVO meeting through the normal phone system

How to join & setup evo

1. Register http://evo.caltech.edu/evoGate/
2. Download EVO (java) client (will suit windows, Osx, Linux) by clicking on the "Start" Button
3. Save Koala somewhere (recommended). I find it useful to save the client to somewhere I can access it without going via a webpage.
   How you do this depends on which browser you use. Mozilla, Safari & Chrome will allow you to "save as" after a right click. MS Internet Explorer may save the file to the temporary internet folder where you can retrieve it (to get there type "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\" into a windows file explorer (look for koala.jnlp or similar).
4. Before you run Evo check webcam and audio settings. Make sure no other application is using the webcam when you start Evo.
5. Next time just run the Koala (you don't need to go via the webpage)
6. Click on search for communities button.
7. Seach for "trin". Add it to your "subscribed" communities.
8. click on search for users button.
9. Add collegues as "EVO" buddies
10. set your default Video Settings
    
11. Selections for an off the shelf web cam. Note the options determine the default state.
12. Configure audiovisual settings to suit
13. Make sure the video and audio transmit buttons are ON.

Navigating the Evo screen

1. switch video on or off (actually gives a guide to how to do so within the meeting screen)
2. switch screen sharing on or off
3. switch sound and microphone on or off
4. switch the whiteboard on or off
5. Tabs for the various groups in the evo "universe"
6. A represention of who is in the meeting
7. leave a meeting (you are currently part of)
8. For typed conversations (similar to IRC & suchlike)

Troubleshooting

1. Network or firewall

Dynamic ports are just ports greater than 1024. If your interested a full explantation is at .... http://www.ibiblio.org/security/articles/ports.html

Settings required for evo are as follows

Mandatory:

While EVO works fine in a Network Address Translation environment (NAT), the local or institute firewall (if any) should permit communication on the following port. IN/OUT - UDP/TCP : 46015

Optional:

Allowing these TCP outgoing ports will offer the possibility to your Koala client to estimate in real-time what are the best Panda servers to connect to in function of your location, network parameters (bandwidth, packet loss...) and load.
- OUT - TCP on specific IP
1) LUSs Services: 4042, 4043, 4044 evo01.cern.ch (192.91.244.138) evo01.caltech.edu (131.215.116.151)
2) Proxy Services: 60001, 60002, 60003 evo01.cern.ch (192.91.244.138) evo01.caltech.edu (131.215.116.151)
3) Topology Services: 10090 evo01.cern.ch (192.91.244.138)
4) SMTP service: 25 vrvs01.caltech.edu(131.215.116.52)

IN/OUT - TCP on specific IP

1) File Sharing: 80 evo02.cern.ch (192.91.244.139)

ARCS_Firewall_Consultation_copy.pdf

Quick start Videos

videos help people learn about some of ARCS services http://www.arcs.org.au/support/videos

Slow Performance

"In Vievo under “video parameters” you also select the H264 encoder as ON. Should you notice performance issues and you have a slower processer eg Celeron then please turn OFF. The 264 encoder improves video quality but at the expense of higher processing requirements."

Manual

http://evo.caltech.edu/evoGate/help.jsp?EvO_Manual::en -- GarryJolleyRogers - 04 Sep 2008