EVO FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I get to use EVO?
Firstly, use of EVO by Australian researchers is FREE. All that is required is for you to register as an EVO user. To do this (current as of 19/8/2008), go to the EVO website and click on the "Register" button.
2. Is there any software I need to install?
Yes and no. Yes- you will need to ensure that you have Java running on your machine. No- the EVO client application is downloaded for you the first time you use EVO and also installed automatically, and any updated versions of the client will be downloaded and installed automatically as they are developed. The only installation you are required to ensure yourself is that Java is installed on your machine.
3. What support is available?
The ARCS HelpDesk is available to Australian researchers. Whilst HelpDesk staff will endeavour to provide a solution to your problem, please be aware that there may be some issues- particularly with regards to networking- that will be the responsibility of your local/institutional IT support.
4 . What does EVO allow me to do?
In the simplest context, EVO is a video-conference tool. That is, you may have virtual meetings with colleagues at other locations, where each participant enjoys two-way audio and video from all the other participants.
EVO is also a video-collaboration tool. Extra functionality includes the ability to
- send part or all of your desktop as a video stream to the meeting
- use a shared whiteboard
- transfer files
- send multiple camera streams
- use text chat for information exchange, or as an aid to smooth running of the meeting
- H.323 connection capability
- record a meeting, if desired.
Thus, users can talk to and see eachother, as well as share information by other means.
5. Is EVO cross-platform?
Yes. EVO works on Linux, Mac and Windows. At present (19/8/2008) the vievo video-interface appears differently in Windows as compared with under Linux/Mac, but with essentially the same functionality. Mac users may also have some issues with proxy authentication at some institutions.
6. What hardware do I need?
This depends somewhat on your intended use. We'll consider three options...
- personal (single-user) : laptop or desktop computer (most current machines should have suitable specification), a camera (built-in or external webcam should suffice), headset with headphones/microphone
- 2-3 users : as above, but using some sort of small echo-cancelling microphone/speaker unit for audio send/receive
- 4 or more : computer as above, but now need a larger display- either a large monitor, or one or more projectors. A higher-quality camera, possibly a pan-tilt-zoom type, is a bonus, and may require a video capture card on the computer. Audio via a larger echo-cancelling microphone/speaker unit, or else a room audio system that incorporates echo-cancelling hardware.
In essence, you'll need a reasonably good computer (more RAM, and faster, the better), a camera that can give a good image of your local participants, a display suited to the number of people viewing it locally, and an audio system that avoids or eliminates feedback between local audio input and output.
7. Can I use EVO at home?
Yes. Of course, the speed of your connection will be an important factor. There is only so much data transfer rate that a particular broadband connection can achieve in both directions.
A nominal value of 384kbit/s should be allowed for each sent and received participant stream. That is, your upload speed should be at least 384kbit/s. For download, the data rate will depend on how many participants are sending video and audio in the meeting.
If your connection is struggling with the data rate, you will experience low frame rates in video, and possibly also break-ups in the audio. You can adjust your sent video quality to suit your upload speed if required, and other participants may be asked to lower their transmitted video quality to lower the meeting's total bandwidth.
8. Are there any security options?
Yes- please refer to making EVO more secure.
9. Are there other sources of information on using EVO?
Certainly. Here is a list of just a few...