Random thought: collaboration gets harder

Collaboration gets harder; nowadays we think that we depend on software to achieve this.

HansRontheWeb, april 27, 2009.

Random thought: working in ICT sometimes is like...

Working in ICT sometimes is like living in a toystore, play, play, play!

HansRontheWeb, april 23th 2009

I realized this (again) when working on a hands-on lab.

Some points of attention in using Microsoft LiveMeeting and RoundTable

This is the third MIIG workshop at Capgemini that is facilitated with Microsoft LiveMeeting and RoundTable.



(Please see the screen above. All attendees see this LiveMeeting screen showing the shared screen, all attendees and the speaker in a separate window in the left top corner.)

We have to say: it works great so far!

However, some points of attention should be kept in mind:

• Talk one at a time, ideally, only the microphone of the speaker should be enabled
  
  
• If some of the attendees have a cold, the mike and cam keeps focussing on everything but the speaker. :)
  
  
• Take 15 minutes to setup LiveMeeting and RoundTable to check everything and preload the stuff that you would like to share. When demoing a VirtualPC / VMWare image, starting up all applications may take a lot of time.
  
  
• Take care of the screen resolution that you are using. The stuff that you want to share must fit on all screens, perhaps including the tv screen in the room that you are broadcasting from
  
  
• Take into account the slowness of the connection when you share an application, you should demo the audience so that they can still follow you
  
  
• Take a look to the Q&A windows regularly to see whether the attendees have posted any questions
  

Have fun!

Random idea: a serious business application for the twitter concept

Just thought of a possible serious business application for the twitter concept: keeping the management up to date with project proceedings. What's needed though, is an editor that is well integrated in tooling that is used by the end user anyway. The end user should not be forced to use some separate tool just for communicating proceedings. That's, in my opinion, the concept of the Information Workplace Concept: facilitating the end user with information and applications, adapted to his tasks, context and favorite tools.

Random thought: on the riches of communication

When communicating:

• An instant message is no full substitute for a mail
  
  
• A mail is no full substitute for a telephone call
  
  
• A telephone call is no full substitute for a video conference
  
  
• A video conference is no full substitute for a personal meeting
  
  

HansRontheWeb, april 1, 2009.

Random thought: when downloading... please consider

Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.

Andrew S. Tanenbaum

I remembered this from a book "Computernetworks" I read in the late '80's when I organized our SIG workshop yesterday. For conveniance, we had created a download directory from which collegues could download the VPC images for the hands on labs. Unlucky for some, download costs about 2 hours. Next time, we'll provide some DVD's.

Our first MIIG workshop... integrating SharePoint and CRM by webservice

This evening, our MIIG (Microsoft Integration Interest Group) held our first workshop on integrating Microsoft related platforms, in this case: CRM Dynamics 4.0 and SharePoint 2007. We've planned a sequence of workshops in which we investigate several integration methods, in all application layers. This time, we used webservices and webservices combined with the Business Data Catalog. The workshops consist of a presentation, a demo / walkthrough and handson labs and are generally speaking greatly appreciated. This evening, we experimented with LiveMeeting and the Microsoft Roundtable to share the workshop with our collegues at home. Unlike some predicted, this online meeting was really user friendly, thanks to the RoundTable and LiveMeeting facilities. The RoundTable focusses image and sound to the one that is speaking, even if that person is at home in front of his own camera. Applications can be shared easily, however, running VirtualPC an LiveMeeting at the same time requires a little patience sometimes :).