Subscribe to RSS feedRecently I've been thinking it might be fun to set up some sort online weekly colloquia in quantum computing. Fun? Well, okay maybe that's not quite the right word. But it would be an interesting experiment. So I went out looking for good live webinar/videoconferencing software and well...I was a bit disappointed. Sure there are a lot of videoconference companies out there...which almost all have limited version for use for free. But these limited versions almost all seem to restrict to only a few participants. Anyone know of some software which might be appropriate for attempting to setup an online colloquium? Has anyone seen a setup where this has worked before? Oh, and is there any interest in such an online colloquium?
The Quantum Pontiff
Theoretical Musings
Search
Profile
Dave Bacon is a theoretical ski bum who is also a pseudo professor. His research is on quantum computing, his scientific passions extend to everything in physics, mathematics, computer science and beyond, and his personal pleasures include making wine, playing poker, skiing, camping, and daydreaming (although not all of those at the same time.)
Nothing he says on this blog should be construed as having anything to do with his employer or his dog.
Recent Comments
- Michael Nielsen on D. Bacon Beard
- job search on Quantum Postdocs and Beyond
- The Emotion Machine on Science Fiction Prototyping
- supra shoes on Science Fiction Prototyping
- abc on Seattle Signs
- Fred Bacon on Mmmvelopes. Tasty Tasty Mmmvelopes.
- Federer on Science Fiction Prototyping
- Kevin McCarthy on Science Fiction Prototyping
- brian on Mmmvelopes. Tasty Tasty Mmmvelopes.
- Jeff Watson on Mmmvelopes. Tasty Tasty Mmmvelopes.
Recent Posts
- D. Bacon Beard
- Mmmvelopes. Tasty Tasty Mmmvelopes.
- Science Fiction Prototyping
- Igon Value Problems Over Dilettante Matrices
- Cormac Interview in the WSJ
- Guess the Dow, Win Chow!
- Geek Synth
- Glorious Dawn Record
- A Tactic Named Sue
- Seattle Signs
Other Information
The use of Occam's razor on this website is strickly prohibited.
Cows are well approximated by a sphere.
Cows are well approximated by a sphere.
« Life Sized Katamari Controller | Main | Astrometry Finds Planet »
Online Weekly Colloquia?
Category: Quantum Computing • Science 2.0
Posted on: May 28, 2009 1:30 PM, by Dave Bacon
Share:
Share this: Facebook Twitter Stumbleupon Reddit Email + More
TrackBacks
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/111063
Comments
Rob Spekkens is quite interested in running a virtual conference at some point, so we have looked at a variety of software in this general area and tested several of them. You might want to join our friendfeed group about this at http://friendfeed.com/virtual-conferences-for-scientists where we often post updates about new software.
Currently, I think the best open-source option is DimDim. You can install it on your own servers for an unrestricted number of participants or you have to pay to use the hosted version with unrestricted participants. On the proprietary side, the most popular options are the various offerings by Citrix (e.g. GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar, GoToVisitMyGranny, etc.) or Adobe Connect. They are solid but cost $$$$$.
DimDim and Adobe Connect have been installed on the servers at Perimeter Institute, so you can probably ask Rob if you want to take them for a test drive. They may even be interested in hosting the colloquium if you don't have a server you can use for it.
Personally, I would be quite interested in an online Colloquium in qinfo and/or qfoundations because I have been off work due to illness for a long time and it is quite hard to keep up with what is going on without going to seminars and conferences. However, I also think that a virtual seminar series on Science2.0/Open Science might work better, since people who are interested in such things are likely to be positive about online meetings.
Posted by: Matt Leifer | May 28, 2009 2:45 PM
http://www.stickam.com/ allows up to six video spots at a time, with any number doing text chat at the same time. Leo Laporte and G4TV use it, so it can't be all bad :)
Posted by: sep332 | May 28, 2009 3:31 PM
In the past I have used both Skype and Yahoo Messenger to give my course lectures while I was out of town. Not ideal, but they worked. I've also run across Scriblink.
In regards to trying something that requires a server, if PI can't do it, I could do it at Saint Anselm. In fact I'm sure our instructional technology people would love to try something like this since they're always looking to have faculty try out innovative things.
Posted by: Ian Durham | May 28, 2009 3:49 PM
Sounds like an excellent idea. I would definitely be interested. Would you consider archiving them?
Posted by: Joe Fitzsimons | May 28, 2009 8:02 PM
By the way, isn't it 'colloquia' and not 'colloquiums?'
Posted by: Ian Durham | May 28, 2009 8:05 PM
This is actually a really cool idea. I wish I could help, but all I can think of is Google Chat (probably too ghetto for you :).
Posted by: Jon | May 28, 2009 9:36 PM
Nice idea!!! As you will probably know at Imperial College the seminars are already filmed and streamed on the web, using technology from RealStreamer, I think. A central weekly seminar where anyone can give talks over the web would certainly be very cool. One might need some sort of "editor board" perhaps.
Posted by: Daniel Burgarth | May 29, 2009 3:28 AM
Actually, now that I have thought more about it, I wonder how it would actually work. If there are local people in the audience, then the speaker should concentrate on them. And if not, then what feedback does the speaker get? This is worth starting small, to see what works and what doesn't.
Posted by: Jon | May 30, 2009 5:33 PM