INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER CONFERENCING: ICQ & NETMEETING

By Galen Collins, Associate Professor at NAU

        According to Misanchuk, Morrison, and Peterson (1997): "Computer conferencing allows a student to engage in individual communication with another student or with the instructor, or to participate in group communication with other students and the instructor." Computer conferencing, which can be either synchronous or asynchronous, has traditionally taken the form of group discussion that uses text messages stored on a computer as a medium for communication. However, with advancements in multimedia technologies communications can now be expanded to include audio and video, all happening within real time. ICQ and NetMeeting are both examples of systems that can provide a richer conferencing experience over the Internet when properly structured.

Microsoft NetMeeting

Microsoft NetMeeting, a part of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, serves as a core component for communication and collaboration on the Internet. Unlike ICQ, it includes the six most-want collaboration tools: audio, video, file transfer, chat, document/application sharing, and whiteboard. This Internet conferencing system has the following features:

  1. Internet telephony. This enables a person to use voice over the Internet.
  2. Video phone. This allows a user to add a camera to a PC letting the other person see who is talking. While video and audio are limited only to two conferees, you can switch from the original conferee to another. When I’m finished talking to one student, for example, I can switch to spoken or visual communication with aother student. According to a CNET review (1997), audio and video are excellent over an ISDN line. However, the video quality drops significantly when a meeting is conducted over a dial-up, analog link.
  3. Multipoint dataconferencing. In addition to audio and video support, it enables the sharing of information.
  4. Native application sharing. This enables the sharing of most Windows operating system-based applications running on a user computer with other meeting participants, where students, for example, can work together on a document or browse the Web. Furthermore, the sharing of applications does not require the other users to have the applications installed on their system. Application sharing can be done in two modes: view only (in which you alone can make changes) or group effort (in which others can take charge).
  5. Electronic whiteboard. This enables topics and ideas to be communicated graphically, such as the sharing of pictures took with a digital camera.
  6. Chat. This enables text-based messages to be sent back and forth. For example, a professor could go through a review session with students in a Web course where students use chat to ask questions and the professor uses a combination of chat and whiteboard to answer the questions. NetMeeting can be frustrating at times though. Various product reviews pointed out that initializing a chat can be slow and that it sometimes crashes in the middle of a conversation. One review also points out that while several people can communicate in a group, the way everything is designed does not invite this.
  7. File transfer. This enables files to be sent to other participants for sharing information quickly and easily.
  8. Platform. NetMeeting is available only in a Windows 95/NT version, precluding it as a viable solution if a multi-platform conference solution is required.
  9. Cost. NetMeeting can be downloaded for free.

ICQ

ICQ, created by the Israeli company Mirabilis and later bought by American Online, is an instant messaging system. I am an ICQ subscriber and will be using it with a Web course that I am currently developing. This program allows two or more networked users to have conversations or swap documents in real time. In fact, the moment you come online, a list appears on your desktop notifying you which of your colleagues and students are also online and whether they are chatting with other ICQ users, have put up a Do Not Disturb sign, or trying to communicate with you. Similarly when you log on your students will be notified. Ernst (1997) points out that "ICQ distinguishes itself from other programs by allowing you to track a specific set of people. Microsoft NetMeeting, by contrast, makes you wade through a long directory." ICQ has the following features:

  1. Chat. It includes a built-in conference chat that supports an unlimited number of users. Johnson (1998), however, points out that participants have to be online in the room for people to chat, precluding the ability to host an open, unmoderated forum. This system also eliminates the randomness of Net chat, since a user can connect directly rather than waiting around in some chat room. ICQ, like NetMeeting, also drops offline sometimes, which may be due to its rapid growth. Overall, ICQ's performance has been reliable.
  2. Cost. At this point in time, the cost is free like NetMeeting.
  3. Video and Audio. While ICQ does not have NetMeetings built-in audio and video capabilities , ICQ allows you to use external applications, such as NetMeeting, for launching voice/video applications. In fact, ICQ supports all types of third party programs including Netmeeting, Internet Phone from Vocaltec, VDOPhone, CU-SEEME, and Webphone. Your not just limited to one on one either, multiple users can all conference together.
  4. Platform. Unlike NetMeeting, ICQ has several versions available for different platforms and operating systems. This is a proprietary system though. In order to use this conferencing solution, all participants need the ICQ software. ICQ supports a variety of Internet applications, serving as a universal platform from which peer-to-peer applications (e.g., Microsoft NetMeeting) can be launched.
  5. Groupwork. While ICQ does not provide as many collaboration tools as NetMeeting, ICQ does support multi-user chats and collaborating browsing, on-line and off-line messaging, file transfer, and central message broadcasting. With ICQ, instant messages can be sent faster than e-mail.

References

Ernst, W.(1997). Winlab reviews software ICQ 1.111. Retrieved from the World Wide Web:http://www.winmag.com/library/1997/0901/winla103.htm.

Johnson, H. (1998) Put the web to work. Techtools. Retrieved October 4, 1998 from the World Wide Web:http://techweb.com/tools/users/9801/980121webwork4.html

Microsoft NetMeeting 2.0 (1997) Product review retrieved on September 28, 1998 from the World Wide Web:http://www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/Compare/Netconference/ss03.html

Misanchuk, E.R., Morrison, D., and Peterson, M.E. (1997). A guide to computer conferencing. Retrieved September 28, 1998 from the World Wide Web:http:// www.extension.usak.ca/Papers/AMTEC97/BeGuide.HTM#MisanMorrisPeter

NetMeeting 2.1 (1998). Product review retrieved on October 5, 1998 from the World Wide Web:http:// www.sharepaper.com/apps/reviews/netmeeting.html.