To take advantage of these components you'll need to install a free Open Source Communication Server called Red5 (http://osflash.org/red5) and enter its I.P. Address within the Snapp MX configuration file. Upon completion, your Developers will be able to add these social elements into their applications in minutes without any coding.
The User List component identifies all authenticated individuals that have opened the screen that it was placed on. When someone closes this screen, their name is automatically removed from everyone else's list.
The Text Chat component allows people to type messages that can be seen by all others viewing the current screen. A new message is typed into the smaller window (below). When the "Enter" key is pressed, it is then moved to the larger window for everyone to see. To keep things organized each message is labeled to identify its source. The messages can also be time stamped if required.
The Video Chat component is different than the User List and Text Chat, in that you can add multiple Video Chat windows on one screen. One of these windows would typically display what the local camera sees. The others would display video being transmitted by selected peers. Of course, those taking part in a video conference would need a video camera and microphone to transmit, as well as, speakers or headphones to receive.
Adjacent to the Video window there are two icons and a drop-down list. The first icon is that of a camera. If it's grayed out then the video transmission for that window is halted. The second icon is for Audio. No audio is transmitted when it's inactive. Clicking on these icons toggles their state from active to inactive and then back again. Finally, the drop-down list identifies everyone that has the current screen open (similar to the User List component). To engage in a video conference with someone, you simply select their name from this list. It should be noted, that many people can connect to one individual which is useful for seminars.
Adding Red5 support will allow us to incorporate many new functions into Snapp MX that will add tremendous value to all applications. Future functional possibilities for Snapp MX include:
- a whiteboard to share ideas;
- desktop sharing to aid in system support efforts;
- a slideshow for presentations;
- video-on-demand (streaming not progressive);
- voice-over-ip telephone connections;
- voice and video recording capabilities; and
- lists and calendars that automatically update.
