Megaconferences and Spinoffs

Dr Bob DixonChief Research EngineerOARNetandOhio State University

Internet2 Commons Site Coordinator TrainingSeptember 27, 2004Austin. Texas

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Megaconferences and SpinoffsMegaconference V - Dec 10, 2003 http://www.megaconference.org

Megaconference Jr. - May 6, 2004 http://megaconferencejr.cciu.org

Keystone Conference - Oct 25-26, 2004 http://www.keystoneconference.org

Megaconference VI – Dec 9, 2004 http://www.megaconference.org

Megaconference Jr. II – May 5, 2005 http://megaconferencejr.cciu.org

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The Megaconference is:

World’s largest Internet video conference. EVERYONE is invited. H.323 Standard.

A professional conference with no central location.

The speakers and audiences are distributed throughout the world. Fully interactive.

Worldwide network of Multipoint Control Units, cascaded together.

A test of and a push for the state of the art.

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Megaconference V

December 10, 2003

13 Hours, in 3 sessions because of global time

200 Organizations

1000 People

27 Countries

5 Continents

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Some of the Presentations

Remote Music Education - Canada

Research Collaboration between Germany and New Zealand

Lewis and Clark Expedition Re-Enactment

Lockerbie, Scotland and Syracuse University Joint Memorial

Poland, Finland, Greece, United Kingdom Educational Collaboration

Rural West Texas K-12 Education

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Some of the Musical Events

Recorder Ensemble - Pennsylvania

Fifth Grade Chorus - Texas

Folk Song Sing-Along - North Carolina

Tennessee Schmaltz - Tennessee

Digeridoo - Australia

Megachoir - EVERYWHERE

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Other Events

Roll Calls, to give everyone a chance to say hello to the world.

Fantastic Door Prizes.

The Megacon café, where anyone can talk to anyone.

Forbidden Prank

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Megaconference VI

Dec 9, 2004 - All Over the World

Theme – Let’s Talk: Global Communications Innovation Participatory Videoconferencing

Registration Opens – Oct 8

Deadline for presentation proposals – Oct 29

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Megaconference VI

New Features This year

Special Emphasis on Interactive Presentations Simultaneous Multiple Locations Audience Participation

Take Advantage of New Technologies SIP Gateway Fast Software Endpoints

Encouragement of K-12 Presenters

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Megaconference Jr.

May 6, 2004 (Mega Jr II May 5, 2005)Uses the Megaconferences FormatFor the K-12 AudienceAll presentations by kids, to kids120 Schools29 States11 Countries4 Continents12 Hours, moving westward around the world

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Some of the Presentations

A field trip by Singapore students to rural Borneo.Discussing summer camp, by deaf students in

Maine.Re-enacting the Oklahoma land rush, by students

from Oklahoma. Protecting the Sea Environment, by students from

Hawaii.Steroids in Sports, from students in Rhode Island.Building Hurricane-Proof Houses, by students from

Florida The Role of Women, by students from North

Carolina.

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Some of the Musical Events

A young violinist from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Traditional native dances and singing by students in Alaska.

Maori singing and dancing by students in New Zealand.

Bongo drumming ensemble by students in Michigan.

Native Hawaiian songs by students in Hawaii.

“Waltzing Matilda” sung by students in Australia.

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Singapore

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Michigan Drummers

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Spain

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Maine Campers

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Australia

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Hawaii tired kids

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Keystone Conference

Organized by Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC)

Audience is K-12 Teachers and AdministratorsUses Expanded Megaconference MCU TopologyFour simultaneous conferencesIP, ISDN, ATM video types, intermixedUSA and CanadaUniversities and State K-12 NetworksTwo days, 6 hours/dayLocal audience in Indianapolis. Remote audience everywhere

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Summary

Huge Unique EventsChallenging technical problemsMany people help in many rolesMonths of planningAll volunteer effortVery rewarding Makes people aware of what is possibleApplies modern technology for public goodMakes the world a better place“The more we get together, the better it will be”