PictureTalk ( second Sync. Tool )
Summary
PictureTalk is a web and audio conferencing tool .This software helps users to turn their PC into tool that allows synchronous connections across the Internet opens a whole new set of possibilities for working together with colleagues, business partners and customers. PictureTalk allow their users to communicate and collaborate across platforms, and does it faster, easier and more efficiently than ever before by using several type of new technologies. PictureTalk has numbers of features that founded in most of today's web conferencing applications, including enhanced security, scalability, collaboration, and chat space that can be made public or private according to the context.
Generally, in this tool no downloaded required in order to attend any meeting, with the flush plug- installed users can use the flash interface to attend any meeting. PictureTalk established user management tools that allow users to send invitation allow or restrict guests and control what they share in their meeting and give them the ability to pause their meeting any time they want. After the meeting room is created the URL for the room and the password send to the participants and by clicking on the URL they can easily enter the meeting room. In this meeting window where the meeting takes place there is the console where the participants can see other attendees’ name and chat room which can be either public or private. Also, in the same meeting window there is the Attend toolbar that include: turn console on /off, fit the screen, adding annotation to meeting, raise/lower hand, turn pointer on/off and request collaboration to ask presenter for edit privileges. Also, PictureTalk offer various interacting features that include polling and quizzing that provide real-time feedback that help the host to know if the participants are following along and understand the materials.
In addition, PictureTalk offers the fly recording capability that allows users to record their meeting easily at any time. Once all or part of the meeting is recorded, it can be quickly turned into a podcast and reach a broader audience without any additional software or fees by using Podcasting capability feature. This Podcasting feature enables anyone to view and share a recorded PictureTalk meeting on a mobile device, such as an iPod or an iPhone. As well, PictureTalk provides other service that called Drake PictureTalk Audio where user can sign up for this service and receive an audio conferencing solution at the good price of Just 8.5¢/minute. This feature doesn’t need any special equipment or installation; users can attend a webinar conference by using their personal phone. Such conferences can be one-way from the speaker to the audiences with limited audience interaction or collaborative and include polling and question & answer sessions.
Moreover, Drake PictureTalk Audio offers custom feature such as dial in, dial out and participation announcement in addition to international toll-free services. In term of Internet support and training, PictureTalk provides a team of professionals that can help users get started immediately and support team which can easily access to any remote desktop to offer a quick response whenever needed. PC, Mac & even Linux users can enjoy all PictureTalk features. On the other hand, security is an important concern to PictureTalk and in there security features they have included the option of applying SSL 128-bit encryption to any meeting that users schedule in addition to the permissions password .
Above all, PictureTalk provide 14 days free trail, during these days users are entitled to: one meeting room, unlimited meeting, up to 10 people in meeting and technical support. Also users can get 1000 minutes for free as they signed up on the Drake PictureTalk Audio.
Overall evaluation
Based on our evaluation rubric PictureTalk placed as adequate tool overall due to its lack of webcam and video capabilities .Also, accessibility issue have been considered since participant training is needed in some area as well as its limitation due to participants number and students moderate option . However, PictureTalk still offers adequate, stable and effective online learning environment. The chat feature allows participants to chat with the presenter, other attendees or everyone in the group .Also, the interactivity is enhance by using polling , quizzing features and collaboration tools like application sharing ,interactive attendee controls and annotate. Furthermore, PictureTalk meeting can be recorded for students who missed any meeting .As an adequate tool PictureTalk offers also multiple levels of password protection and SSL encryption.
Finally, we couldn’t recommend this software to educators who are seeking to highly interactive experiences in their course due to its limitation of webcam and video capabilities, limitation of interactivity tools, complexity and limitation of participants and students moderated option.
Summary
PictureTalk is a web and audio conferencing tool .This software helps users to turn their PC into tool that allows synchronous connections across the Internet opens a whole new set of possibilities for working together with colleagues, business partners and customers. PictureTalk allow their users to communicate and collaborate across platforms, and does it faster, easier and more efficiently than ever before by using several type of new technologies. PictureTalk has numbers of features that founded in most of today's web conferencing applications, including enhanced security, scalability, collaboration, and chat space that can be made public or private according to the context.
Generally, in this tool no downloaded required in order to attend any meeting, with the flush plug- installed users can use the flash interface to attend any meeting. PictureTalk established user management tools that allow users to send invitation allow or restrict guests and control what they share in their meeting and give them the ability to pause their meeting any time they want. After the meeting room is created the URL for the room and the password send to the participants and by clicking on the URL they can easily enter the meeting room. In this meeting window where the meeting takes place there is the console where the participants can see other attendees’ name and chat room which can be either public or private. Also, in the same meeting window there is the Attend toolbar that include: turn console on /off, fit the screen, adding annotation to meeting, raise/lower hand, turn pointer on/off and request collaboration to ask presenter for edit privileges. Also, PictureTalk offer various interacting features that include polling and quizzing that provide real-time feedback that help the host to know if the participants are following along and understand the materials.
In addition, PictureTalk offers the fly recording capability that allows users to record their meeting easily at any time. Once all or part of the meeting is recorded, it can be quickly turned into a podcast and reach a broader audience without any additional software or fees by using Podcasting capability feature. This Podcasting feature enables anyone to view and share a recorded PictureTalk meeting on a mobile device, such as an iPod or an iPhone. As well, PictureTalk provides other service that called Drake PictureTalk Audio where user can sign up for this service and receive an audio conferencing solution at the good price of Just 8.5¢/minute. This feature doesn’t need any special equipment or installation; users can attend a webinar conference by using their personal phone. Such conferences can be one-way from the speaker to the audiences with limited audience interaction or collaborative and include polling and question & answer sessions.
Moreover, Drake PictureTalk Audio offers custom feature such as dial in, dial out and participation announcement in addition to international toll-free services. In term of Internet support and training, PictureTalk provides a team of professionals that can help users get started immediately and support team which can easily access to any remote desktop to offer a quick response whenever needed. PC, Mac & even Linux users can enjoy all PictureTalk features. On the other hand, security is an important concern to PictureTalk and in there security features they have included the option of applying SSL 128-bit encryption to any meeting that users schedule in addition to the permissions password .
Above all, PictureTalk provide 14 days free trail, during these days users are entitled to: one meeting room, unlimited meeting, up to 10 people in meeting and technical support. Also users can get 1000 minutes for free as they signed up on the Drake PictureTalk Audio.
Overall evaluation
Based on our evaluation rubric PictureTalk placed as adequate tool overall due to its lack of webcam and video capabilities .Also, accessibility issue have been considered since participant training is needed in some area as well as its limitation due to participants number and students moderate option . However, PictureTalk still offers adequate, stable and effective online learning environment. The chat feature allows participants to chat with the presenter, other attendees or everyone in the group .Also, the interactivity is enhance by using polling , quizzing features and collaboration tools like application sharing ,interactive attendee controls and annotate. Furthermore, PictureTalk meeting can be recorded for students who missed any meeting .As an adequate tool PictureTalk offers also multiple levels of password protection and SSL encryption.
Finally, we couldn’t recommend this software to educators who are seeking to highly interactive experiences in their course due to its limitation of webcam and video capabilities, limitation of interactivity tools, complexity and limitation of participants and students moderated option.
