Re: Where does ekiga need to improve?

[Bryen <suseROCKS bryen com>]

On Wed, 2008-02-27 at 21:42 +0000, JGJones wrote:

> 
> 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

Joseph,

Awesome.  Glad I'm not the only one swimming here.  :-)

I'll be honest.  I played with Ekiga for a little while, but didn't get
it to work.  However, I need to put more energy and focus into it.
Could be a problem on my end with configuration or something else, not
sure.

As for H323 and other protocols, yes we need to figure out what each
relay service uses.  For example, Snap!VRS uses SIP, which is the one I
tried to connect to.  I did successfully connect, but there was no video
transmission between us.  Before blaming them, I wanted to figure out if
it was something on my end, but got distracted with others.   I did ask
a hearing friend who uses Ekiga regularly to see if he could get video
and he didn't, at call.snapvrs.com.

That's the first thing I want to focus on... compatibility with the
various relay services out there.

The second thing I want to focus on is compatibility to videophones
themselves so we can call each other.  Connecting to Sorenson VP-200 (or
D-Link branded), OJO's, and soon to come Viable videophones.  Each of
these have their own network that allows people to call each other on
these devices.  We need to be sure we can connect to those devices
easily since users don't use IP addresses to exchange connection info,
they use phone numbers.   These VP's aren't really phones, but there's a
database that converts these phone numbers to an IP address much like
DNS does.   It's a technology approach that I don't fully grasp yet as I
haven't investigated further on this.

Have you been able to call a VP using Ekiga?  I think a few years ago, I
did connect to my own VP internally in my home network.  But that's
because I knew my own internal IP addresses.  That's not a solution for
other users.

I would also like to find ways to get these companies that distribute
the devices and software (for Windows and OSX).  

In case anyone is reading this and wondering why we should bother
getting it to work on Linux when Deaf people already have videophones:
The reason why is because videophones are not portable.  There needs to
be a way we can perform these same advantages on a Linux laptop so we
can go to wifi locations, such as Starbucks and be able to use relay or
call our friends/family.

About Skype...  Yes that's an alternative, although I don't know if any
relay services are accepting Skype connections at this time.   But if
I'm not mistaken, both parties need to be on Skype in order to
communicate.  Skype isn't GPL'ed and I'd like to give Ekiga the chance
it deserves since it is supposed to offer far more features than Skype
anyway.

I would also like to see if we can make Ekiga behave as a true video
answering machine as well as the ability to record calls for future
playback.

So in summary, three things I'd like to see happen:
1)  Compatibility with VRS services
2)  Compatibility with videophones
3)  Collaboration/cooperation with VRS tech support groups so that there
is increased awareness and support for Linux as a viable medium for
using their services.  (Currently Linux is ignored.)
4)  Enhancing features (if none currently exists?) for Ekiga as a video
answering machine/video recorder.

Again, I do not believe these are difficult technical challenges, but
more of a "connecting the dots" of what is already available now.

It would be nice, if we are indeed setting up a team (task force?) if we
could get an interested Ekiga expert to be part of the team who
understands the various standard protocols and compatibility with Ekiga.
Note, you don't need to be Deaf to participate here.

Hmm... I guess we just accidentally formed a formal task force
here.  :-)

Bryen