With the widespread of the use of the Internet, we can connect our home computers to the Internet to browse and download useful information. Especially with the Internet Phone software, this really makes a lot of computer users save a great deal of long distance telephone charges. In addition, they can have real-time conversation or send voice mail to relatives living in other countries. Moreover, when computer user installs a QuickCam camera, video images can be sent or transmitted by the Internet.
As CU-SeeMe being introduced, the transmission speed and new functions have brought new hope to videoconferencing. Originally, CU-SeeMe was developed at Cornell University. There is a commercial version called Enhanced CU-SeeMe which is available at White Pine Software.
CU-SeeMe is a program which allows you to send and receive video images by using either Windows or Mac over the Internet. Thus, it is a cross-platform videoconferencing program. CU-SeeMe allows one-to-one, one-to-many, or group conferencing, and it lets you view up to 8 participant windows. For one-to-many and group conferencing, you need to connect to a Reflector. To new CU-SeeMe user, please read the Reflector etiquette.
For Hardware requirement information, please click here.
Download CU-SeeMe for Windows.
Download CU-SeeMe for the Mac.
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In order to evaluate the CU-SeeMe software, I participated at a demonstration at a local computer store.
After using the CU-SeeMe software, I felt that the functions and stability were quite advanced. Even if you use a 14.4kbps modem, the speed of transmitting video and audio is acceptable. However, a 28.8kbps modem with a full-duplex sound card is recommended. The demonstration used a Connectix Color QuickCam to transmit video images to the other party; as the other party also used a color QuickCam, we saw that the color images were quite good. I believe that the QuickCam will become Internet User's newly required hardware. The current price of a black and white QuickCam is under $100, and a color one is around $260 to $300. In the Enhanced CU-SeeMe version, there are Chat Windows and White Board available to the users. If you are an Internet Phone user, you will enjoy the CU-SeeMe software which allows you have face to face communication. When you are using the CU-SeeMe on one-to-one conferencing, you only need to know the other side's IP (Internet Protocol) address, you then have direct audio and video communications. We also tried to use a dedicated line in the demonstration, the result was excellent; the video images were more stable and audio sound was more clearer.
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Applications for CU-SeeMe are many and for example, meeting for employees in different geographical locations; teaching a class of distance learning MBA students; or simply talking to your mom and dad living in other country.
Here are several possibilities for application to Electronic Commerce. First, we can now purchase many things from the Internet, but we cannot really talk to a salesman to complete the purchase. On the other hand, the CU-SeeMe software can bring a live salesman to our computer screen, and we can talk to this person about what we like and what we do not like. This may avoid certain areas where computer program cannot be pre-set to limited options. A live salesman is a must in such kind of sales transaction.
Second, companies recruit their employees from other provinces or countries most often, for instance, Microsoft. Usually, a preliminary interview is being held at a local agent or representative office. When a potential candidate is being selected, an offer to visit to the headquarters and have further interviews by senior management is extended. Now, with the use of CU-SeeMe software, companies can save a great deal of money in the recruiting process. Potential candidates can be invited to a local agent and have their interviews by using CU-SeeMe videoconferencing. Then at a later stage, more serious candidates should be interviewed at the headquarters.
Third, as you went to a wedding and took some photographs for the newlyweds, you need to take the film to the photo-developer. With the help of CU-SeeMe, the photo-developer can talk to you on-screen, and let you pick the photos that to be processed; and also you can tell the photo-developer all the email addresses of those recipients. Then you can use any form of electronic money to pay the bill. Thus, there is no need to return to the shop for pickup if digital photo is selected.
Lastly, hospital can use the CU-SeeMe to consult with specialists who are located elsewhere. For certain cases, there is no such medical specialist in the area or region; doctors can hold a videoconference with the needed specialist in other area of the world. This will save unnecessary traveling time and costs for patients eventually.
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CU-SeeMe Desktop Videoconferencing Software
Bill Woodland's CU-SeeMe Info Page
Michael Sattler's CU-SeeMe Home Page
Ben Anderson's CU-SeeMe FAQ
Enhanced CU-SeeMe's Impact on the Internet
CU-SeeMe Resources
Official CU-SeeMe Friends Cool Links
Welcome to Global Videoconferencing Solutions
