Dual-Platform Products ( PC and Mac )

Most of the other reports in this series have featured collaborative tools that were designed for use on PC-compatible platforms, and tested by our evaluation team on these platforms exclusively. This report reviews four integrated software products ensuring “interoperability” between the two major computing systems, PC-compatible and Macintosh. The products are compared in terms of their different levels of interoperability and complexity, as defined by the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD).


Introduction
For distance education (DE) institutions that also maintain an open learning mandate, it is important to avoid creating barriers to learning, and to adopt online methods that can be used on as many computer platforms as possible.Although most DE students currently use a PC/Windows platform for their studies, there is a minority that still uses the Mac computer.This report compares three products that permit collaborative activity between both of these major computer platforms.The evaluation stresses two of the software evaluation criteria defined by the ASTD's Common Technical Framework (CTF): interoperability and complexity (see Report VII).

Dual-platform Evaluation Criteria
Interoperability is the ability of computer hardware and software components to work together effectively.A five point rating scale of the products' interoperability is used, interpreted from Poor to Excellent when two or more products are used simultaneously.
1. (POOR) Considerable loss of function, or signal degradation 2. Some loss of function or signal degradation 3. Moderate interference or degradation (e.g., audio still works well but video becomes slow and jerky) 4. Three products can be used simultaneously without loss of function, but users must take turns in using a product feature such as drawing on the whiteboard 5. (EXCELLENT) Three products can be used simultaneously by all users with no restrictions.
The products' interoperability has been evaluated using a Mac G3 with ADSL and a Mac G4, with a cable Internet connection.
Complexity includes the provision of adequate technical support, appropriate collaborative tools, and a high degree of usability.The products' web sites were also reviewed with respect to the clarity of their organization, instructions for installation and use, FAQ's, and administrator manuals.The products' help features and interface designs were examined to determine usability.The evaluation's specific focus is on the student user; thus the teacher and administrator tools therefore are not reviewed.

Dual-Platform Products
1. HorizonLive is a full-featured integrated communication program accessed through a Javaenabled Web browser.The program can be used for presentation and tutoring purposes.It includes an audio-conferencing feature using the HearMe audio engine.
[N.B.The company that developed this feature no longer supports it.]Audio presentations use the RealPlayer streaming technology.Participants must first download and install the RealPlayer plug-in into their Web browser before they can hear the presenter.Video-conferencing is not supported, but one-way video presentations are supported through the use of the RealPlayer streaming technology.
Participants can also interact using eBoard, a set of whiteboard techniques.The instructor can upload and copy and paste images onto the whiteboard.All participants can use whiteboard tools to mark up the uploaded image.The instructor can upload application screens allowing participants to view and manipulate their content.Completed whiteboard screens can be archived on the server for future reference, but cannot be saved direct to a participant's computer.Instructors can allow participants, either individually or collectively, to draw on the whiteboard, manipulate application content, and participate in audio conferencing.Participants can indicate their wish to interact with application content by clicking on a "raised hand" icon.Instructors can poll participants with yes/no, multiple choice, and short-answer questions.Poll results can be quickly displayed to all participants in raw form, or as pie charts and bar graphs.
HorizonLive functioned well in our test, though the annual license fee of $19,000 (US and CDN at par) may be prohibitive for many educational institutions.
2. iVisit is currently a freeware audio/ video conferencing package.The client program is available for both the Mac and Windows platforms.Multiple video screen sizes are supported starting with 80 pixels by 60 pixels (postage stamp), 160 pixels by 120 pixels (default size), and 320 pixels by 160 pixels.Screen sizes greater then the default screen size suffer from degradation of resolution.Participants can contact each other directly through the use of IP addressing or through the use of a centralised server.Multiple participants accessing the centralised server see a thumbnail picture of the other participants in an easily managed guest list.This is especially useful when there are bandwidth constraints.Participants click on another participant's thumbnail picture to view their video screen at the default size.If the participant has a full duplex audio card, the participant can choose between full-time two-way audio conferencing, referred to as "squelch" mode, or the default "push-to-talk" mode.Instructors can ban participants for a pre-