Proposal
Remote Meetings Project

Three basic needs have been identified that can be met by a single
development project. This is an opportunity to fill needs of both the
Region 3 Excom and our sections' membership.

The needs:

* We currently have small, remote groups of members in Region 3 that
  are inactive due to a challenge to find speakers and presentations

* We have speakers who are willing and able to present timely
  presentations to sections and chapters but cannot travel to the
  sections to make the presentations in person

* We have Excom members that are not able to attend live meetings due
  to travel restrictions or time / financial shortcomings and need to
  participate in the meetings or even make presentations at that
  meeting. One pressing example will be at the meeting in Jamaica in
  April 2003.

The proposed solution:

In view of the needs expressed above, we are proposing the
investigation of a practical means for delivering live IEEE meetings
(technical or profes sional lecture-style meetings and discussions) to
remote members. The needs are (minimum set):

Presenter to remote participants:
Audio (lecture)
Application sharing / control (e.g. PowerPoint)


Participants to Presenter:
text "chat" (for questions)

Options if available would include audio back to the presenter from
participants, whiteboard (2-way if possible).

Per the current e-conf philosophy and methodologies in R3, we wish to
keep costs down, using free, shareware, or group licensed software
(particularly at the participant level). We are not opposed to
technologies that require the purchase of server software that can be
installed on IEEE servers.

Phase I is a feasibility study. We intend to test the viability of
commercial packages such as NetMeeting and CU-SeeMe and other served
systems on "guest" servers to determine the suitability of the
packages using typical connections (dialup, DSL/Cable, and direct). We
propose using these methods, once tested by the committee, for remote
meetings in the Eastern NC Section for its two inactive subsections as
part of a rejuvenation program. Once these tests are completed, a
proposal will be presented by January 2003 for a Phase II, anticipated
to include funding for any server software deemed necessary for
continued development.

Costs:

Web cameras for test computers $300
Software (CU-SeeMe for test computers) $300
Audio upgrades for test computers $200
Possible commercial server fees for testing $400
Temporary accounts (cable / DSL - if needed, or hotel ISP hookup) for test 
locations $500
Local travel as needed for testing $300

Total maximum cost for project: $2000

Phase I to be completed with full report and recommendations for further 
development (if warranted) by SoutheastCon 2003.


Charles J. Lord, PE, CQMgr
c.j.lord@ieee.org