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YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY

Information Technology Tools for Engineers

Groupware and Collaboration toolsGroup 5

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CONTENTSIntroduction

Yahoo Groups

Google Groups

Groove

Sakai Project

Microsoft NetMeeting

Hot Office

Microsoft Live Meeting

Macromedia Breeze

CONTENTSIntroduction

Yahoo Groups

Google Groups

Groove

Sakai Project

Microsoft NetMeeting

Hot Office

Microsoft Live Meeting

Macromedia Breeze

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Introduction

Collaborative software, also known as groupware, is application software that

integrates work on a single or multi projects by several concurrent users at

separated workstations

Where to use it?

Holding meetings

Discussion forums

Working on documents

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1) Yahoo’s Group

http://groups.yahoo.com

• Creating your own group or join other groups. Also Yahoo’s group provide a search engine to find an interested group

FeatureEasy of useCostweb based

collaboration tool .Presenting categorized representative groups

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don’t need to download and install the program

providing the simple arrangement of menus

easy to understand how to use and manage the each page

everyone can use even without any instruction documents or help supports.

free web-based collaboration tool

need to sign up for getting Yahoo account

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What kinds of features does Yahoo Groups have?

• Message & Post Menu

• Chat

• Files

• Photos

• Links

• Databases

• Polls

• Calendar

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2) Google’s Groups

Free service which helps groups of people communicate effectively using email and the Web

bookmark topics announcement lists mailing lists public discussions

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3) Groove project

http://www.groove.net

From the name of virtual office Groove is a tool for the businessmen or people who want to use more advanced technologies which are common these days. Such as File Sharing, Manage Meetings and Projects, and Track data and Processes.

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Groove Main Page

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Groove project

FeatureEasy of useCostNeed to download Groove program

Three different version of the program

1-Groove Virtual Office Professional Edition for Projects

2-Groove Virtual Office Professional Edition

3-Groove Virtual Office File Sharing Edition

User friendly platform

Icon-based tool change which is way familiar with internet users

Easy to add or remove the tools by clicking the add icons button

Plenty of tools to substitute other extra programs with one program

Groove Virtual Office Trial is available at no cost for personal use or 60-day business evaluation.

Groove Virtual Office Professional Edition for Projects : $229

Groove Virtual Office Professional Edition : $179

Groove Virtual Office File Sharing Edition : $69

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4) Sakai Project

www.sakaiproject.org

Sakai Project is a not-profit web-site which has been developed by Sakai Foundation

Without downloading, we can use Sakai Project’s Collaboration Server using Sakai instead

Sakai is a set of software tools designed to help instructors, researchers, and students create websites for collaboration. Using a web browser, users choose from a set of features to create a site that meets their needs.

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Sakai Project’s Examples

A project director can create a website to make announcements and share resources, such as documents or links to other resources on the web.

An instructor can create a website that serves

as an online discussion board for students to collaborate on an assignment

A student can create a class website to work

on and submit assignments electronically

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Sakai Project

www.sakaiproject.org

Sakai software is part of the Sakai Project (www.sakaiproject.org), an R&D project for creating open source collaborative tools for use in learning, research, and other types of distributed group work.

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Sakai Project’s features

www.sakaiproject.org Announcements Home Assignments Chat Room Discussion Drop Box Email Archive Gradebook

Membership News Preferences Presentation Profile Resources Syllabus Wiki

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Sakai Project’s features

FeatureEasy of useCost

•Two Options–Download the Sakai Software or

–use Sakai Collaboration website

•Still under development, sponsored by Sakai Foundation

•Very few groups which have been created so far

•Hard to understand the forms

•No help Files support

•Couldn’t fined how to coordinate the tools

•Unstable software

•No cost needed

•Just login or download the program needed

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5) Microsoft NetMeeting

http://www.Microsoft.com/windows/netmeeting

Simple collaboration task with a friend or a client.

In general, audio & video chat tool NetMeeting can be downloaded from

the website for free It is included in Windows2000, under

communications tool It can be used a web phone too

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Microsoft NetMeeting Features

Video and Audio Conferencing Chat Internet Directory File Transfer Program Sharing Remote Desktop Sharing Security Advanced Calling Whiteboard

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6) Hot Office http://www.hotoffice.com

HotOffice is a web based group-virtual office- collaboration software.

The HotOffice virtual office service gives you a powerful suite of communication and collaboration tools

There is no need to download or install the software.

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Hot Office Features

Private Chat Rooms Web Links Access Rights

Reminders Email

Document Management Customization My Desk Calendar Bulletin Boards Group Contact Manager Online Document Viewer

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Hot Office

Email Example

Files and Documents Example

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Hot OfficeFeatureEasy of useCost

Don’t need to download the program

Web-based program

10 menus which are most frequently being used in the group collaboration software.

User friendly platform

Easy to access to each menu

Easy to use even for beginners

30-day trial version is available at no cost for personal use

Standard package: $14.95per month / 150MB initial storage/ unlimited users

E-Mail Support,Webmail Access

Professional package: $44.95per month / 500MB initial storage/ unlimited users

Telephone Support, Monday - Friday, 9AM-6PM/EST

E-Mail Support

Webmail/POP3/IMAP4 Access

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7) Microsoft Live Meeting

Some Features:PowerPoint Viewer Whiteboard Text slide Polls Annotations

Live Meeting is one of the window-based group collaboration software

It considered more advanced web-technology tool than Net

Meeting. easy to use online

meeting solution for small collaborative meetings and large events

and training

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Microsoft Live Meeting

White board example

Attendee Pane

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Microsoft Live Meeting

FeatureTwo types of software (Web-based and Window

Based group consol)

14-day trial version is available.Plenty of tools that help users held the meeting and do

it effectively.Pull down menus that contains sub menus like other

windows program

Too many menus that can be obstacles for users to become familiar with it.

Easy of useFamiliar platform which is similar to

other windows program .It takes a lot of time to be familiar with

this program.Need help file in order to understand each

feature.Complicated for users to add and remove

each pane.Not easy for first users to handle with.

Need instructional supports.

Cost14-day trial version is available .

Named User

5 named users

$180 per user per year, plus $3,000 annual fee for standard edition

Room

Starts at $12,000 for a 50-seat room per year, plus $3,000 annual fee (S/E)

Starts at $20,000 for 50-seat room per year, plus $3,000 annual fee(P/E)

Monthly Minutes

Starts at $0.35 a minute, plus $3,000 one-time fee (S/E)

Starts at $0.45 a minute, plus $3,000 one-time fee (P/E)

Shared Seats

$900 per seat, plus $3,000 one-time fee (S/E)

$1,800 per seat, plus $3,000 one-time fee (P/E)

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8) Macromedia Breeze

Some Features:

There are four types of users of Breeze. They are Breeze Presenter Content Viewers. Breeze Meeting Participants.Breeze Meeting Presenters. Breeze Presenter Authors

General web-based group

collaboration tool software is

comprised of the core Breeze Communication Server and applications for real-time and on-demand communication.

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Macromedia Breeze

online real-time meeting

User Training

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Macromedia Breeze

FeatureWeb-based group collaboration tool

15-day trial version is available.Plenty of tools that help users held

the meeting and do it effectively.Audio and video applied presentation

available

Easy understandable menu arrangement

Strong tool for training and meeting management for enterprises.

Different software options for each groups

Easy of useSimple menus which is

commonly used .Well arranged sub menus

which guide users to achieve the goal.

Guiding statements in each page that lead users to do

their job without doubt.Simple but effective help files

provided

Cost15-day trial version is available .

Starter Pack(5 Users) : $375.00/month

Starter Pack(10 Users) : $750.00/month

Pay-Per-Use Plan : $0.32/min/user

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