ABSTRACT
The Multimedia conferencing combines audio and video communication with real-time computer conferencing. Desktop multimedia conferencing will offer new opportunities for increased personal and group productivity. An experimental interactive video network is installs, based on broadband optical–fibre technology; this network provides a service for six major University sites, and is called London Interactive Video Education Network (Livenet) shows the interconnection of the London sites. Inter–site experiments carried out so far have taken the form of simple, collaborative tasks requiring multi–user tools, information sharing, and communication channels to support discussion and decision–making. Video quality is good during the experiments, due to the high standard of the Livenet equipment and use of optical fibre links. A surprising amount has been learnt from these initial experiments, ranging from the more technical problems of interconnection through to the useroriented aspects of remote collaboration.
