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User's Guide |
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CU-SeeMe User's Guide
The original ad-hoc CU-SeeMe User's Guide which I created appears below. The updated version, the one which appeared in my book, Internet TV with CU-SeeMe, appears here here. I have no idea why anyone would ever want the uber-obsolete version, but I leave it here for the time being.
[This is seriously behind the current version.]
This User's Guide was a long time in gestation. Jher and I had been speaking about the lack of a visual guide to CU-SeeMe for some time before I created these web pages, at which point the deficiency became too glaring. Jher provided the first generation of explanatory text as well as the following wonderful snapshots of an unwitting victim (a "very cool person in New York").
This page demonstrates the operation of CU-SeeMe for the Macintosh, circa version 0.7. It's not intended to replace the READ-ME file that accompanies the software distribution.
Here's a pseudo-table-of-contents:
When CU-SeeMe starts up, you'll be presented with a Local Video window that looks something like the following. The identification name you've specified appears in the menubar. If you are able to transmit (camera attached and 'vdig' video digitizer recognized) you'll see a image. Four control buttons appear below the image, and below that is a status line.
The flip-image button
The status line toggle button
The freeze-video button
The options area toggle button
Once you've used the options area toggle button
The CU-SeeMe Transmission Options allow you to change (from top to bottom) the minimum kbps you send, the maximum kbps you send, and the maximum number of frames per second you send. It's customary to send no more than 80 kbps; many reflectors will automatically disconnect you and prevent you from reconnecting for ten minutes if you violate this good-manners boundary.
The CU-SeeMe Compression Options allows you to change the video tolerance, refresh interval, and transmission resolution. Only the latter is normally changed, and then only for point-to-point connections. High resolution sends four times as many bits out as standard resolution, and consequently eats up bandwidth like gang-busters.
The CU-SeeMe Audio Options allows you to select a transmission method and speed. Depending upon your connection method (direct Ethernet, modem) you'll find that only some audio options are serviceable.
The CU-SeeMe Video Options allows you to select a 'vdig' video digitizer resource for CU-SeeMe to use to access your camera hardware. Users of the Connectix QuickCam will see "Connectix QuickCam", Macintosh A/V users will see "Built-In AV Digitizer", and users of other hardware and software combinations should see yet other options.
This is how another CU-SeeMe user (that's transmitting) will appear to you. The name they've chosen appears in the title bar, a video image appears as they've adjusted it to appear (using the same controls we've just finished discussing), a set of buttons is below the image area, and a status bar is below that.
The video-state button
The audio button
The microphone button
Sometimes, you'll see a status bar
The Transmission Statistics button
The Version/IP button
In addition to video and (where applicable) audio, CU-SeeMe users can also type at each other. Type alphanumeric characters at your audience. The backspace key deletes the last character. Clear the entire text with the Enter key. Text appears at the bottom of the video area. Move it to the top with the Up-Arrow key and back to the bottom with the Down-Arrow key. Make your text scroll with the Left-Arrow key, stop it with the Right-Arrow key.
To be added.
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causes your image to be appear to be flipped (but it's not actually transmitted that way).
determines whether the status line is visible. From left to right, the status bar contains the number of frames per second (fps) being transmitted, the status of the connection to the other party, and the transmission cap (the maximum kilobytes per seconds (kbps) that you'll transmit). The connection status may be nothing (normal, active), WAITING, TIMED OUT, or DISCONNECTED.
stops your video transmission. This is useful when attempting to communicate via audio, where freeing up the bandwidth has a noticible effect.
determines whether you're able to see the CU-SeeMe options area, and by selecting from the pop-up menu, change the CU-SeeMe audio, compression, picture, and transmission options.
shows you whether that user is accepting video input or pausing the video.
lets you turn off sound from a particular person by clicking it until the soundwave icon disappears. When that user is transmitting audio this button is shaded grey.
will show a big red 'X' if that user isn't capable of transmitting sound (or have turned it off).
that doesn't sport any of the sound-related buttons. This is usually due to that user using the Windows version of CU-SeeMe, which doesn't currently support audio.
will show statistics about (from top to bottom) packets, kilobytes, bytes-per-packet, and lost packets (from left to right) you've received and sent, along with some percentage calculations. The Reset button-ette will set all these statistics to zero, I don't remember what the Restore botton-ette does.
displays the IP address of the user and the version of CU-SeeMe they're using. This is especially helpful when helping to debug a problem, or trying to figure out why a user can't seem to get access to a feature you're using in the current version of CU-SeeMe.
