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<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>[I guess this reply is mostly
targetted at UK AG users, but that's not too terrible,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>is it, and others may be
interested in this approach.]</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>Yesterday I saw a demo, here at
RAL, of one approach to a shared whiteboard.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>Disclaimer: I have nothing to
do with the firm that showed it, although the person</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>giving the demo actually worked
at RAL about 15 years ago. I am not advocating</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>use of the system, but
disseminating knowledge about it. However I would</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>happily host a demo on the AG
in the future if people are interested - RAL is</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>quite a convenient site for
this as the firm is in Bristol which is only just over</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>an hour from here along a
motorway.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>The system is called
Quorum. It is based on tablets, the A6 sort, connected</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>via USB. There is a hub,
also called Quorum, to which the tablets connect.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>Although the hub is a standard
PC, it only uses VGA out, and Ethernet connection</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>if required, but nothing else
(apart from a very optional printer).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>The hub organizes material into
books of pages. The books can either start</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>as blanks (like a flip chart or
sketchpad) or can be primed from any application</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>that can </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>'print'. [An explanation of that
... To preload a book with material, you</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>specify the Quorum as a printer
(they provide a print driver that downloads</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>from the Quorum) and you
'print' to the Quorum. The pages are read-only,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>but can be scribbled
over.]</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>The system is simplicity itself
to use. Starting with local use (all users on tablets</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>in one room connected to one
Quorum) someone (anyone with a tablet) opens</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>a book and anyone then writes -
the only menu is fixed, shown as an underlay</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>on the tablet and allows you to
turn pages, select a colour or select ERASE.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>The eraser on the tablet pen
(the 'other' end) also works. Books can be saved</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>as PDF documents for subsequent
FTP or printing.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>Remote sites are accommodated
by means of a web interface using a Java</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>Applet. You call up the
URL, type in your name (e.g. "Chris Osland" or "RAL")</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>and ask to connect. At
the system with the Quorum, a box pops up asking </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>whether "Chris Osland" or "RAL"
can join in, and someone/anyone clicks</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>YES or NO on their
tablet.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>Quorums / Quora (the firm still
hasn't decided which plural to use) can be</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>linked together as well - I
didn't see that demonstrated.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>There is no fancy stuff at all
- nothing to allow rectangular boxes, ellipses,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>rubber-banding, exact text or
anything - just what you can do with a tablet</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>and stylus and a palette of
about 8 colours. If you use the eraser, you</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>erase whatever you pass over,
whether you wrote it or someone else did.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>One aspect I liked was the
priming of pages; as a result of the approach</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>they have taken, everyone is
guaranteed to see the same, and no-one</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>needs any software - no
problems with PowerPoint changing fonts, or</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>someone not having Lotus Notes
or whatever: if it can be 'printed' it can</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>be used.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>Anyone interested can look at
<A
href="http://www.quorumtools.product/product.htm">www.quorumtools.product/product.htm</A>
.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>Hope that didn't read too much
like a sales pitch and may have given some</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>people some ideas.
Personally I have all but given up looking for a</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>public domain shared whiteboard
that is stable, maintained and cross-</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>platform since the 'wb' / 'wbd'
system doesn't seem to have been taken</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>up by the community and
everything else appears too restricted.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>Maybe someone can tell me I'm
wrong.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>Cheers</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=840450609-04092003><FONT size=2>Chris
Osland</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<P><FONT
size=2>____________________________________________________________________</FONT>
<BR><I><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000 size=4>Chris
Osland</FONT><B></B></I><B></B><B></B><B><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></B>
<FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT><I>
<FONT face=Arial size=2>Office tel:</FONT></I><FONT face=Arial size=2> +44 (0)
1235 446565</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Digital Media and Access
Grid </FONT><I> <FONT
face=Arial size=2> Medialab tel:</FONT></I><FONT face=Arial size=2> +44 (0) 1235
446459</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>BIT
Department </FONT><I></I><I>
<FONT face=Arial size=2>Access Grid room tel</FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>:</FONT></I><FONT face=Arial size=2> +44 (0) 1235 445666</FONT>
<BR><I><FONT face=Arial size=2>e-mail:</FONT></I><FONT face=Arial
size=2>
C.D.Osland@rl.ac.uk </FONT><I>
<FONT face=Arial size=2>Fax:</FONT></I><FONT face=Arial size=2> +44 (0) 1235
445597</FONT> <BR><B><FONT face=Arial size=2>CLRC Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory</FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2> (Bldg. R18)</FONT> <BR><FONT
face=Arial size=2>Chilton, DIDCOT, Oxon OX11 0QX, UK</FONT> <BR><I><FONT
face=Arial size=1>[The contents of this email are confidential and are for the
use of the intended recipient only.<BR>If you are not the intended recipient do
not take any action on it or show it to anyone else,<BR>but return this email to
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<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Darin Oman
[mailto:darin@ucar.edu]<BR><B>Sent:</B> 03 September 2003 19:26<BR><B>To:</B>
ag-tech@mcs.anl.gov<BR><B>Subject:</B> [AG-TECH] Electronic
Whiteboards<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I know this subject has been brought up before, so I
apologize if this is a bit redundant. Anyway...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Is anybody using electronic whiteboards during Access Grid
meetings? If so, what are you using and how are you sharing what's being
written on the board with remote participants?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Thank you,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Darin Oman</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>