[GnomeMeeting-devel-list] Re: [GnomeMeeting-list] Ideas for a new GUI

[Damien Sandras <dsandras seconix com>]

OK, I have thought much to the problem and I found no better solution
than the current GUI.

Here are typical use cases for GnomeMeeting :
1) The softphone user, using GnomeMeeting with an IPBX or as a
PC-To-Phone solution, but audio only. He doesn't need the video to be
displayed, but he needs the dialpad to be displayed.

2) The videophone user, using GnomeMeeting with an IPBX for audio and
video calls. He will usually need the dialpad and the video to be
displayed at the same time.

3) The chatter, using GnomeMeeting most often with video, but sometimes
not, he doesn't need the dialpad to be displayed, but he wants the video
to be displayed all the time.


GnomeMeeting's GUI fullfills 2) and 3), but not 1). If I add a button to
hide/show the video display, then 1), 2) and 3) will be satisfied.

That's what I will do.

I will also cleanup things, but do not expect a big change except if
somebody comes with a satisfying and realistic design (the last part is
the hardest).




Le dimanche 17 avril 2005 à 20:46 +0200, Damien Sandras a écrit :
> Hello to all,
> 
> 
> The recent poll has showed that Jabber support is not really a popular
> choice, at least for 2.00, and that we should concentrate first on what
> we are doing best: as softphone. If Jabber support comes, it will be
> through integration with 3rd party software like GAIM or GOSSIP and
> Julien has been doing a great job on this.
> 
> However, most people want a more modern GUI.
> 
> I will separate the text chat part from the main GUI, because it will be
> possible to send text messages even to people with who you are not in
> audio/video calls, thanks to SIP. It will also permit to have a
> resizable window for it, which is more convenient.
> 
> The rest of the GUI needs to contain at least:
> - a part to display the video
> - a dialpad
> - a statistics window
> - sliders to adjust the audio / video settings
> 
> I had the idea to do something like Skype : everything in tabs. But that
> is not very convenient. For example, imagine that you have a video
> answering machine, and want to consult your video&voicemails. You will
> need access to the dialpad (to navigate through the menus and mails),
> and to the video (to watch the messages). Skype-like UI's do not allow
> that, and having to switch between tabs is ... boring.
> 
> On the other side, having the big GnomeMeeting logo displayed all the
> time, even when there is no call, or when it is a voice-only call means
> wasted space.
> 
> We have thus 3 possibilities :
> 1) display video when required, in a separate window. Keep the dialpad
> in the main window.
> 2) display video when required, but keep it in the main window, next to
> OR above the dialpad (very similar to what we have now, except that the
> video part wouldn't always be shown).
> 3) always display the video window. Display the dialpad in a separate
> window.
> 
> Any other ideas? What would you, dear GnomeMeeting user, prefer?
> 
> Thanks,
-- 
 _      Damien Sandras
(o-     GnomeMeeting: http://www.gnomemeeting.org/
//\     FOSDEM 2005 : http://www.fosdem.org
v_/_    H.323 phone : callto:ils.seconix.com/dsandras seconix com