The VideoBridge project aims to realize permanently available affordable group communication possibilities, preferably live and in both directions with high quality video/audiostreams via the internet

Equipment

/PresentationChios

Tasks

What do we need?

Jeff will help Franz translate Dorfwiki into english http://www.dorfwiki.org/wiki.cgi?VideoBridge (German and English) Mostly done. "Description" there is bilingual!

Objective

We want local circles in CommunityLearningCenters (and thats the basic idea of unity center) to enjoy via broadband simultaneous events and meetings every day at low price.

Crucial to this is a VideoBridgeTechnology that uses a VideoCamera, a SoundSystem, a Projector and InternetAccess to connect two locations so that the entire wall becomes a view into the other location, and vice versa. This opens up a new and stimulating kind of collaboration which, we imagine, helps us overcome the "Provinciality" of our villages.

In particular, we came up with a business model that we want to present to Telcos. The idea is that the telco or internet providers offer a VideoBridgingService which includes in the package the basic technology that is needed. This is similar to a DSL provider providing the DSL modem and folding the cost into the service. The advantage is that the service user does not have to buy the technology and worry as to how it will evolve in the future. In particular, the user can start out using the current proprietary hardware standards but be free to switch over to open source standards when they become available and usable.

We're thinking of global villages as having a focal point - the VideoBridgeRoom - where people can come to engage each other and the world with absolutely any issue on their mind, and learn where to get a response and how to get involved.

Our responsibility would be to assist the village centers and their institutions in setting up work agreements that equal fair use - and initiate a widespread, meaningful and and productive use of this GlobalVillage technology. We can act as clearinghouses for Content and understanding and offer our existing networks as a base.

VideoBridges and Africa

JeffBuderer: Our longer term plan envisions videobridging tools used as collaborative, training and eductional tools to foster communications between UnityCenter themed projects. When fully developed such projects will be more than simply telecenters but prototypes for sustainable development in the communities where they will be built. Additional videobridging tools will be developed that will enable low cost video communications. This may evolve to the point where it will be a source of revenue for the centers by offering low cost videoconferencing services to the diaspora, businesses and NGOs.

Let us explore how Franz's work can be applied in the field to promote sustainable development on a practical level such as in relation to our planned Winneba Open Digital Village in Ghana.

What role can the videobridge tool play in relation to our efforts to promote open source communities in Africa such as the Winneba Ghana Linux Users Group and Samwel's recent efforts as well as those of others in Africa in our networks.

Historical Notes

Discussion

ThomasKalka: I would like to understand the motivation to this ambitious goal better. In my opinion three easier goals could be more easy to implement and cheaper to operate:

• have a shared screen computer available on the net to be able to teach
• have a collection of teaching videos and other materials
• have a infrastructure to distribute these

AboutThisPage

• PageType=Endeavor
• EndeavorLeader=FranzNahrada
• EndeavorTeam=HelmutLeitner, FranzSteinwender, Rubert, JeffBuderer, AndriusKulikauskas, RytisUmbrasas
• EndeavorSummary=We want local circles in CommunityLearningCenters (and thats the basic idea of unity center) to enjoy via broadband simultaneous events and meetings every day at low price.
• Question = What role can the videobridge tool play in relation to our efforts to promote open source communities in Africa such as the Winneba Ghana Linux Users Group and Samwel's recent efforts as well as those of others in Africa in our networks?
• WhoAskedTheQuestion = JeffBuderer ?
• WhenWasTheQuestionAsked = 2006 ?
• AnswerSoFar = None
• ProposalLeader=FranzNahrada, AndriusKulikauskas
• ProposalSummary=Cofinancing requested from the EuropeanUnion for experimenting with VideoBridges in Austria and Lithuania.
• ProposalStatus=20,000 EUR co-funding received through the GlobalUtopias project.