Remote STC members may want to pull some extra chairs up to their computers and pop some popcorn. The Canada West Coast chapter is taking yet another step into the virtual beyond.

Just as we were getting settled into our forum and wiki spaces, our programs team accepted RJ Jácquez’s invitation to present at our next program meeting on September 16. The catch: RJ will host our presentation from his home base in San Diego, and broadcast the conference call live over the Internet.

Bruce Sharpe sets up all his gadgets

RJ is a Senior Product Evangelist at Adobe, and he is very excited to demonstrate the Adobe’s upgrades to the Technical Communications Suite since his last presentation to our group at DocTrain West 2008 in May. However, a discussion of FrameMaker, Robohelp, Captivate, and Acrobat may possibly be completely overshadowed by Adobe’s Acrobat Connect web conferencing system built on the AIR platform.

Acrobat Connect streams rich media presentations through a standard Flash-enabled web browser. Participants don’t need to register with the system or download any additional plugins to participate in the conference. To avoid potential sound problems, the audio portion uses a standard telephone line.

On Tuesday September 2, I joined Pam Drucker at the YWCA on Hornby to test the system, (or “rehearse”, as Pam’s husband David called it). Bruce Sharpe again played the omnipresent Web 2.0 videographer. Tracey Heyworth, a new volunteer from Vernon, signed into the conference as a remote participant. RJ patiently coached us through the process.

Pam Drucker introduces RJ Jácquez

Setting up our equipment on site took longer than connecting to Adobe’s server. We loaded the meeting URL into our web browser. After entering the conference as a guest, the system asked for a phone number to call us back. The phone rang, we said our name, and we joined the meeting. It just doesn’t get any easier than this.

RJ will be hosting our entire meeting through Adobe Connect, with his San Diego presentation sandwiched between live video streams from Vancouver. This way, remote participants can interact with chapter president Karen Rempel, who will open the meeting, and the new executive and volunteer team, who will close. I’m tempted to dial in from home myself, (but I can’t—as the A/V volunteer).

Part of the demo included an estimate of the reduced carbon emissions and cost savings of participating remotely. To maximize the impact of this event, we encourage remote members to open their homes and offices and invite their peers to share the session.

Come join us as we embark on this new venture. Sign up for the event and pay by credit card. [Update: This event is now FREE for STC CWC chapter members, but you still need to register to give us an idea of the numbers.] A couple of days before the meeting, we will send registered participants the information to connect to the meeting from their location.

“See you” on September 16!

In addition to the volunteers already noted, I would like to extend thanks to Karen and innovation coordinator Rahel Bailie, for asking the questions that set me on the path to beg Bruce to jump on board [Update: It’s not fair to say I had to “beg” Bruce. He’s just as passionate about this technology as I am—maybe even moreso!]

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