We intend a survey of collaboration tools focussing on their value to ARL. Some tools will be installed in this process for detailed evaluation. Other tools will use either their functional description or the experience of users for the evaluation.Installation of PC tools will be on a laptop with good Multimedia and Windows 2000.
We have designed a template for the evaluatio and an initial list of tools to be looked at.

---------------- Template ------------------------
Name of Collaboration Tool:
URL's to find out about it
Capability or Capabilities
        Framework or end-user capability
        Mode: Synchronous/Asynchronous
              Shared Event/Display
        Audio-Video Conferencing
        Chat Room/Instant Messenger
        Whiteboard
        Shared Documents of various types
        Shared File Systems
        "Specialized" Conferencing, Calendar, Visualization ...
Cost
Requirements/Limitations
        bandwidth requirements
        Number of participants
        peer to peer / client-server
        only shares web pages
        requires Lotus Notes
        requires Windows
        requires certain peripherals/hardware
Ongoing People or other Support Need
Need for further development of Tool to be useful
Experience in using it
_______ End Template ___________________________________

Draft List of Tools ********************************
PVS from NCSA -- Initial Install on Laptop
MicroSoft NetMeeting  -- Initial Install on Laptop
Tango  -- Initial Install on Laptop
VNC  -- Initial Install on Laptop
Real Server, Producer, Slideshow  -- Initial Install on Laptop
Windows Media  -- Initial Install on Laptop

Access Grid Evaluate and Install at 2 Special sites at ARL


WebEx http://www.webex.com/ This and 6 following from ERDC (Wayne Mastin)
Placeware http://www.placeware.com/
Evoke Communications http://vsnetcall.vstream.com/
Centra http://www.centra.com/
Vialog http://www.vialog.com/
ACT Teleconferencing http://www.acttel.com/
Astound http://www.astound.com/
Convene http://www.convene.com/


WLS
XMX
MBONE
Blackboard
WebCT
Web-MC http://webmc.fsu.edu/
vQuad http://www.vquad.com/
Angel from Indiana University ( http://angel.iupui.edu/ or http://cyberlearninglabs.com/ )
Lotus Learning Space

CUSeeMe
PictureTel
PolyCom

Pure Asynchronous
        Derek multimedia database
        gnutella/napster
        Microft Exchange Server (Furmanski is expert)
        WebDAV

bulletin board/mail list
        egroups.com
        hypernews

User support/helpdesk system -- Remedy (Web +Oracle)

Shared event Browser

Collaborative Visualization
        DICE AVS (
        Using VNC NetMeeting or custom

"Science Whiteboard"
TekExplorer

Calendar (including multiple handheld and scripted multiple update)
Conferencing Management

Instant Messenger -- Security?
        AOL(IM ICQ)
        WebWisdom
        Public Domain
        Meta instant messengers (manage multiple profiles)

Chat Room? (Scientific Support)

NCSA Portal by Doug Fein

Known Sources of Information ***************************
ERDC Evaluation
        Placeware and others to come

Training Conference Reports (Mary B Walker, Jen Moses ARL)
OSC Survey
UIUC Survey