The Cornell CU-SeeMe Consortium is a consortium of universities, non-profit, and private organizations formed to support the rapid deployment and use of affordable, real-time conferencing technology to stimulate creative experimentation among the Internet community. The Consortium provides resources to the CU-SeeMe project to research, develop, and deliver innovative solutions for real-time multiparty videoconferencing on the Internet and to improve communication and technology transfer between Consortium members. With the leadership of Cornell University, the Consortium is open to any organization interested in supporting the rapid diffusion of low-cost, desktop conferencing software to enable widespread experience which will generate knowledge useful in creating the next generation of network infrastructure.
Cornell's CU-SeeMe project has an overall goal of fostering real-time collaboration on the Internet now. In pursuit of this goal, the CU-SeeMe project maintains a resolute focus on practical results in the near term with deployable videoconferencing implementations for low-cost platforms. An underlying tenet is that widespread hands-on experience, even within limited performance parameters, will create a laboratory of unique user applications far beyond the conceptions of the software creators. In support of this belief, CU-SeeMe software is available via anonymous FTP for individual or organizational use under Cornell copyright. This open agreement encourages collaboration to create new features and customized applications of use to all Consortium members and CU-SeeMe users. The CU-SeeMe Consortium provides the framework to strengthen and expand these collaborations.
The demands from the CU-SeeMe user community continue to outpace project resources. In lieu of a licensing or royalty fee structure, the CU-SeeMe Consortium requests membership contributions to supplement existing grant funding to respond to the growing needs of the CU-SeeMe user community.
In addition to the assurance that CU-SeeMe will continue to be freely available to all users, the Consortium will provide direct benefits to members. The CU-SeeMe Consortium will provide a professional forum for members interested in the latest developments in real-time videoconferencing on the Internet and in other networked environments. The Consortium will sponsor yearly in-depth technical seminars on new CU-SeeMe features and developments in videoconferencing technology as well as on-going and ready access to the development team. At the technical seminars members will have the opportunity to meet with the CU-SeeMe development team for an idea exchange on new feature planning and future expansion of the CU-SeeMe application. Internships and residencies are available to member organizations who wish to send qualified staff to Cornell to work with the CU-SeeMe development team. Throughout the year Consortium members will receive electronic briefings on Consortium activities as well as in-depth descriptions of new features in CU-SeeMe and reflector software.
Membership in the CU-SeeMe Consortium is open to any organization interested in the support of real-time videoconferencing technology and the growth of innovative applications among the Internet community. Cornell continues to seek support from funding agencies like the National Science Foundation whose role is to support the national information infrastructure and research in new technology of value to the Internet community. Private corporations who wish to support specific enhancements to the CU-SeeMe software are encouraged to submit project proposals for evaluation and consideration. Project proposals will be evaluated on an individual basis.
For more information contact Martyne Hallgren, Executive Director, CU-SeeMe Consortium at 607-254-8767 or e-mail m.hallgren@cornell.edu.