What is Elluminate?

Elluminate is an online application allowing a group of people to communicate in real time through an internet connected computer.

All users enter a 'room' at a set time, where different people take on the roles of participants, presenters and facilitators.

We have chosen to use this software as it is:

• java based - as long as you have java enabled on your computer, you don't need to download any large software files
• easy to join - all you have to do is click on an email or website with the address of the room
• enabled on VicSmart - apart from a few minor proxy changes, most participants found it easy to install and use during the Knowledge Bank 2006 Conference
• recordable - so even if you can't make it to a session, you can come back at a later stage and watch what happened

And of course it is interactive! Any participant can:

• make gestures to draw attention to yourself, like raising your hand, laughing or agreeing
• use text chat to ask or answer questions
• speak using VOIP technology (as long as you have a microphone and the facilitator lets you speak)
• use a pen and symbols to draw on a whiteboard
• share any file or application on your computer so everyone can see it
• answer questions and polls that appear on the screen

• and much more

Installing the Software on Your Computer

Elluminate launches through Java, an operating environment that may already be installed on your computer. Once you have Java installed, you just need to make sure the correct proxies are open for the voice and video communication. Thankfully, you can check this automatically at the Elluminate site - click on http://www.elluminate.com/support/ and follow the instructions.

What's it like being a participant?

Just like a face to face meeting, participants get more out of a session if they join in and be active. Some presenters will expect your participation and call on you to answer questions and contribute, others will prefer to respond when you ask a question.

See a screenshot of the interface here.

What's it like being a presenter?

Usually it's pretty scary the first time someone presents. The biggest problem is that the presenter can't see the audience, and can't get any verbal or non-verbal cues as to how they are progressing. The usual response to this is to keep talking and hope for the best. Just like all meetings, the presenter will probably appreciate getting feedback from the participants, either through a question or seeking clarification. Even giving small hints like 'you are going too fast' can really help the presenter get a feel of how they are going and make changes if required.

You can find more detailed Elluminate technical support here.