Re: Where does ekiga need to improve?

[JGJones <mailinglist gwallgofi com>]

On Wed, 2008-02-27 at 11:59 -0600, Bryen wrote:
> On Wed, 2008-02-27 at 12:42 -0500, Willie Walker wrote:
> > Hey All:
> > 
> > As part of the "GNOME Outreach Program: Accessibility" effort, we have 
> > some 'smaller' tasks to focus on bug fixing in some key modules.  For 
> > several reasons, we're considering ekiga as a module to focus on.
> > 
> > Ekiga (formely known as GnomeMeeting) is an open source VoIP and video 
> > conferencing application for GNOME. Ekiga uses both the H.323 and SIP 
> > protocols. It supports many audio and video codecs, and is interoperable 
> > with other SIP compliant software and also with Microsoft NetMeeting.
> > 
> > There are a list of known accessibility-related bugs with Ekiga here:
> > 
> > http://bugzilla.gnome.org/buglist.cgi?query_format=advanced&product=ekiga&keywords_type=anywords&keywords=accessibility
> > 
> > For those of you who have been using Ekiga, are there additional bugs 
> > that have not yet been logged or identified as accessibility bugs?
> > 
> > Will
>
> Hi Will,
>
> I know we've talked about this a bit last week in IRC, but I'll bring it
> up again here so more people can see.  I haven't followed up yet on
> further inquiries via the ekiga mailing list.  But plan to do so soon.
>
> One of the key benefits I see for Ekiga, is using it as the method of
> communication to video relay services for Deaf people.  Also as a way of
> connecting to video phones which is now a standard device in many Deaf
> homes and workplaces.  I need to research this in more detail and
> discuss with the different providers, such as SorensonVRS, as I know it
> is possible to do it since the technology and protocols are there.
> Then come up with a way to polish it so that first time Deaf users can
> easily communicate with each other via Ekiga.
>
> I'd like to see if others are willing to work on this project as I think
> it is a fairly easy project compared to some of the complexities of
> other a11y projects going on.  If anyone's interested, drop me a line.
> and we'll put our heads together and figure out the best ways to
> approach this as well as approaching the providers out there for how to
> connect to their particular videophones.
>
> Bryen

Bryen,

As a Deaf user myself, I use videophones myself.

FYI, in USA, they use primarily H323 technology (SorensonVRS and so on) with the H263 video codec as a minumum (Ekiga at present only support H.261 video maximum so it *cannot* be used at all for video calls (quality is terrible too especially for signing). However I've read recently that the next version of Ekiga will make use of video codec plugin via Gstreamer? If so this would be good as I can get H.264 codecs for Gstreamer and many others.

In UK - we're a bit screwed in that there aren't any funding for video relays (there are many in USA) - however I am working for a business that is launching a video relay within UK and I do liase with one person who works for SignWales (http://signwales.org.uk/) who are providing videophones for Wales - if I recall correctly, they're actually using Asterik as their platform for it - I do know that they are using SIP. I've attempted to try Ekiga with this, but wasn't able to get a videocall working successfully (it was with a videophone that does support H.261 video codecs)

At MOMENT - what I am using in UK to make videophone calls - Skype. They do have a beta for Linux that include videocalls. As for to USA - I have a DLink videophone (which is what is given out for free in USA for a long time) - which is a H.323 videophone with CIF resolution at H.263 format - Ekiga doesn't work with that even if they can connect to each other, just no video.

Anyway I raise my hand - I'm keen to work on improving Ekiga and other videophone related technology - I will try and get the company to agree to work with me on this as it would benefit their business in providing a video relay and I'll also get in touch with the folks behind SignWales as well.

Just a brief summary - USA - they use mainly H.323 for videophones, although *some* providers are starting to use alternatives - Hands On VRS (http://www.hovrs.com) use IM (iChat on OSX plus a widget) - think it's SIP. in UK we are trying to get a relay working - SignWales being SIP based for one. Deafies in UK use mainly Skype or Oovoo to make videocalls to each other.

Joseph Gwynne-Jones