Virtual Presentations

We live in a great high-tech world! It is now possible for experts to give presentations to remote groups without traveling. Newsletter reader Dick Cleaveland recently did just that: he gave a presentation to a genealogy group that was located many miles away. He used a combination of Skype and LogMeIn.

He writes:

The readers of your newsletter might be interested to know that I recently gave a presentation to a meeting of the Roots Users Group of Arlington, VA. Given that I have been an active member for several years, that, in itself, is not particularly surprising. The punch line is that I gave it from my summer home on the shores of the Atlantic, many miles away from the meeting place.

Presentations at the RUG meetings are normally given with a computer-projector setup for illustrations. In this case I logged on to the computer from my laptop at the beach and took over its control, using a remote operation program called LogMeIn. This was accompanied by voice transmitted between the computers using Skype, an internet telephone system that has computer-to-computer capabilities. Both of these services are completely free (although there are some costs for added capabilities that we didn't need).

I had full control of the computer; I could bring up illustrations, read email, search the web and so forth. On my machine at the beach, I saw a complete copy of the RUG computer's screen. The only hitch was that my copy of the screen lagged the other by about a second if there was a change to a significant part of the screen, such as when a new program was brought up. The subject at hand was how to find sources of information about The Master Genealogist (TMG). I demonstrated how to sign up for and read RootsWeb mailing list messages as well as how to search the mailing list database; how to access the Wholly Genes website forum; how to find and use the two major TMG tips web sites (run by Lee Hoffman and Terry Reigel); and illustrated the features of the RUG web site. As an added bonus I called up the podcast of your interview with Bob Velke and let it run for a few minutes. I could get questions from the floor over the Skype connection. For the first minute or so of introduction, we used webcams at both ends so that they could see me and I could see the audience, but since that hook-up was incompatible with the remote computer operation, it was only used for a short time.

An added feature is that the sessions can be recorded (voice only at the present) and could be posted on our web site for podcasting. Unfortunately, I forgot to start the recording for this session, so the practicability of this aspect remains to be proven. The recording program is a Skype add-on which does require purchase.

Although in itself it could be viewed as an interesting and successful experiment, the technique opens the door to a great number of possibilities. RUG has well over 500 members world-wide, but our presentations have been limited to the relatively few in the Arlington area. With the remote-control computing we could have presentations done by any of our members, regardless of location.

As a sidelight, it's also worth mentioning that the meetings of our Executive Committee are now held using the conference call capabilities of Skype, allowing the members to remain at home during the meeting, avoiding the need to travel. And I can attend from my residence in Delaware!

Dick

Thanks for the report, Dick.

Is this the wave of the future? Given ever-increasing travel expenses and inconveniences, coupled with the ever-decreasing costs of technology, will we see more and more "virtual meetings?" In fact, we now can hold meetings and seminars in a manner not possible only a few years ago. Dick Cleaveland and the Roots Users Group of Arlington did so by using all free software with no toll calls involved.

If you want to read more about Skype, you can read my earlier articles at http://tinyurl.com/3yn9bq. I plan to write about LogMeIn and other remote access programs in the near future.

Comments

[Martha]

This app is not valid for Apple computers.

[Jason Presley]

LogMeIn does have a Mac version in preview at the moment:

https://secure.logmein.com/products/mac/

And there's always any of a dozen varieties of VNC that can do the same thing for free.

http://www.pure-mac.com/remote.html

[Dick Eastman]

---> This app is not valid for Apple computers.

You can find similar applications for Macintosh. I use Chicken of the VNC on my Mac laptop and desktop systems to perform the same results. In fact, I can even remotely control Windows systems from the Macs and Macintosh systems from the Windows computers.

Chicken of the VNC is available free of charge at http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/networking_security/chickenofthevnc.html and that web page also gives more details. Notice it says "you can use Chicken of the VNC to interact with a remote computer as though it’s right next to you."

- Dick Eastman

[Caroline Gurney]

I took part in an Ancestry.com "webinar" a few months ago. The webinar was interactive, with the presenters surveying participants on a number of issues and giving instant feedback on the answers. Participants were able to submit questions at any time during the webinar and, at the end, the presenters answered the most popular ones. The presenters were in Utah and I am in the UK but, over a fast broadband connection, it was as if the presenters were in the next room.The only problem I encountered was having to stay up late at night because of the time difference. I am an experienced Ancestry user but I nonetheless learned a lot from the webinar and my searches have been considerably more effective since I took part. I think there is scope for much more of this sort of thing in the genealogy world.

[Renee Zamora]

I've attended some excellent free online seminars with Family History Live Online (FHLO) http://www.familyhistoryliveonline.com/ They use the ReGL Viewer to allow you to view the presentations. They will send you a link to download the syllabus materials. There is also a free chat during the presentation so you can ask your questions. It's been great fun attending an all day conference this way - and way cheaper! I haven't checked the prices but I believe they are set up to allow organizations to use their service for their own conferences or classes.

[Peggy LeBlanc]

I imagine distant members of our local Family History Committee here in Nova Scotia would like to participate in this manner in our meetings. Some are on the west coast and anywhere in between on the continent. I'll bring this up at our next meeting. Thank you for this, Dick.