I have an Adobe Connect account that we can use, off-hours (anytime after 6pm EST)...it can be accessed via Mac, PC, or Linux (Ubuntu 10.4).
I'm running 11.10 myself in dual-boot, so would have to come up with a workaround. If you're running Ubuntu in a Virtual Machine, it's pretty easy - all you have to do is open your host OS, then open Ubuntu, then share your desktop.
One thing that I'd like to note: I think we may want to think about using this tool to augment the regular meetups; it's unlike most online meeting tools in the sense that it's persistent software - you set up a room, make changes, add content - and when you return, the content remains intact. So, what I was thinking is that we may want to consider using the online room as a sandbox of sorts, linked to whatever topics were covered in the meetups. Have regular "office hours" in between meetups where people can come and learn by collaborating. These can be recorded, then posted for anyone unable to attend.
Leveraging this technology would be great and would open the group up to participants who can't attend the regular meetings (cough! like me! cough!). Let's figure out a plan, then we can move forward, get people accounts, familiar with the software, etc.
Thoughts?
Comments
Yeah I am very familiar with
Yeah I am very familiar with Adobe Connect. I use it almost daily. Somewhat buggy and goes down but the capability it has is awesome (be glad when they support the XML versions of office products though!).
I do like the idea of the in-between meeting collaboration. The time frame also works for me since I do all my Drupal work at night (I have a day job).
Brady
@fastglassllc
@derailedonline
I created a Poll. Virtual vs
I created a Poll. Virtual vs in-person meetups. http://groups.drupal.org/node/189244
I personally do not want to nix the in-person meetings. For me, the meetup is more than a learning/sharing event, it is social. After each event, we mosey to the restaurant next door to continue our drupal conversations and also talk about "normal" things. Because of this time together, the people that I see once a month have become my friends. I value the monthly in-person meetups.
There are challenges in having alternating meetup days from securing the space on an odd schedule to people remembering which month it is. Perhaps a flat-out change is a better option. We should poll the group for a better day perhaps. However, there is no way a single day can accomodate everyone.
Live streaming and/or virtual interaction sounds interesting. I don't think it will be easy though. And, I don't mean the technical setup, but the logistics of getting the whole group on screen and having the audio loud enough that when virtual people interact, the whole room directs their attention to the screen. And, we would need two computers running... One with the presentation/webpages and the other showing showing the virtual people.
I propose we do a simple test this week. G+ hangouts have a limit of 10 people, but it requires limited technical preparation. I can bring a second computer and external camera (and even mic).
Michelle Lauer
michellelauer.com
Tonight: Virtual Test Part I?
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