REMSEM
Peer-to-peer video call / remote PC / presentation / file transfer / movie tracker
all-in-one completely free software
by
Werner Kaminsky
Seattle, Washington USA
(c) Werner Kaminsky
All-in-one Software
• Use REMSEM to give a talk somewhere
in the world or listen to one
• Use REMSEM to interact with friends,
family, and colleagues
• Use REMSEM to work from home on
your office computer with file transfer
• Use REMSEM to make movies of talks
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Requirements
• PC with Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP (98 may
work, Vista as client (as server with UAC disabled)
• 10MB free space
• Soundcard (and microphone) for VoiP
• Internet connection with free access to write to and
read from port 10010 with UDP protocol and ports
10011-10015 using TCP with at least 15 kilo bite per
second (DSL, LAN, Cable)
• Webcam (optional) for video conferencing
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Features
• Easy to use, optimized for teaching; remote office capabilities
• Password secured remote access – no in-between server - data
encryption
• Bi-directional sound+video; shared desktop remotely controlled
• Desktop-to-desktop drag-and-drop multiple file up- and download
• Save a movie or audio of a session online or offline
• Unrestricted PowerPoint® without frames and disturbing buttons
with animations, movies, VRML objects and java applets
• REMSEM uses little internet bandwidth and works intercontinentally ( about twice to three times of a dial-up connection)
• Automatic detection of audio driver, camera, or DSL-modem;
works even without cameras
• Automatically (re)connects (in case of trouble) via username – to
– IP server
(c) Werner Kaminsky
The Hot Wired Talk
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Starting
The program searches for a camera, soundcard, the local IP and
updates. You have to submit a username, for example your
email. ‘Continue’ and check any firewall messages to open
REMSEM for connection
‘Send Email’ opens your email program. Send the edited
username/email to a contact person so that he or she can use
this to connect to your computer.
Use ‘Check Settings’ to test the microphone and speakers.
(c) Werner Kaminsky
If you have no camera
• When using REMSEM without camera, one
can select a JPG-image instead, reloaded
regularly during session and at start-up.
• When a camera becomes available, it can later
be enabled from the settings panel.
• If a camera is installed but used by another
application, REMSEM can use a JPG-image
instead.
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Check this to enable
to prompt a message
for incoming calls
Settings Panel
Type in the password
here, always checked
if not left blank
Lookup Updates
Open the settings
panel on the remote
computer
Choose audio effects
Browse for your
Microphone driver
Select mute, low,
medium, and high
audio quality
Activate speaker and
microphone test
Change general
camera settings
Enable automute to
suppress feedback
Browse for your
camera if there were
several installed
Change Format of
video camera if one
is available
Get an image from
file instead of a video
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Select gray-scaled 4bit, 8 or 15-bit
colored video
DSL Modem
If connecting through a
DSL modem, the IP
behind the modem
appears different to that
seen from outside. The
program tests for this
and shows the
information on the left
provided it can get
through the internet.
For incoming connections one needs to enable ‘port forwarding’
because the remote PC needs to be able to connect the computer
directly. Enabling this should be explained in the manual for the
modem.
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Connecting
6 Buttons to choose from:
Initiate a video/audio call
Start video/audio & remotely controlled presentation*
Open up a remote PC session*
Open a file
Make a movie
Settings
*requires a password on the server
(without password, passive listening only)
(c) Werner Kaminsky
To start a connection:
Type into the appearing panel password & username to which
to connect, or check the ‘connect to IP’ box to connect directly
to the remote computer. Pressing ‘Connect’ initiates the
connection process.
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Video-conferencing modus
Remote IP
Remote Webcam
Local IP
Local Webcam
(double click image to refresh)
Volume
Audio activity
Refresh connection
Upload files
(c) Werner Kaminsky
During a presentation Session
• Successfully sent mouse
clicks cause a click and
cursor flicker
• The remote screen is
updated in intervals of one
to three seconds
• The speaker can open his
talk using the file icon
• Use the upload feature to
send files
• Save a video of your talk
by pressing the recorder
button
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Status-bar during connection
If in presentation mode, visible
screen, cursor and speaker icons indicate full connection.
An automatic redial occurs when one or all of the three
connections get interrupted.
REMSEM automatically updates the IP number to catch if the
remote side opened the program after dialing and/or on a
different computer.
(c) Werner Kaminsky
When in remote PC mode …
Drag-and-drop files
from local desktop
anywhere here and
they appear on the
remote desktop
Move over this bar
to open the Task-Bar
Drag files outside the
window to download
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Speeding it up
To speed up the feed-back screen on the client side, try the following:
1. Right-lick on the server-desktop to open the properties menu (only applies to the
computer you want to connect to; best do this before remotely connecting to this
computer)
2. Click on ‘Properties’
3. Select ‘Settings’ optionally select smaller screen size and smaller color resolution
4. Further, click on ‘Advanced’
5. Click on ‘Troubleshoot’
6. Slide ‘Hardware acceleration’ to the lowest value (also needed to see movies).
7. Press ‘OK’ (this resets the screen)
In addition, select from the settings menu in REMSEM:
4-bit gray, which runs with smallest amount of data to be sent.
8-bit color-scale, as the fastest mode, but picture quality is reduced.
15-bit color mode, to produce a brilliant picture, but which is rather slow.
(c) Werner Kaminsky
The Control Buttons
Open settings panel
Presentation on/off
Refresh screen and connection
Upload files
Send email
Download files
Save movie
Previous slide
Open file
Next slide
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Navigating PowerPoint presentation
o Use the navigation icons to forward
or return
slides.
o Alternatively, slides and animation steps are also navigated
forward with the left mouse button by clicking on the
presentation image, the space bar or the PgUp / PgDn keys.
o *.htm and *.html
o Navigate by clicking on the arrows of the navigation bar
underneath the presentation. Once in focus (click on the
presentation) it can be navigated with the space bar to
forward- or the return key to move backwards. Animations
(if enabled when publishing as web page in PowerPoint)
are navigated by clicking on the presentation.
o If full screen was selected in Power Point, use the escape
key to return to the video-presentation mode. Navigate in
full screen mode with your left mouse button.
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Preparing Your Talk
• Preparing a presentation includes uploading
your
presentation files to the seminar side after
insuring
‚transportability‘; test it out by moving your talk onto
another computer and check that PowerPoint finds all
related files
• Save the presentation as web page when it contains
several *.wrl or a Java applets *.Class, and edit the
references to these files by hand. Then compress all files
in a *.zip to be send to the seminar side
• Send the seminar side the website-link to the REMSEM
program so that they can download the software
• Retrieve the username and password to connect to the
seminar side with which they opened their program
(c) Werner Kaminsky
On the seminar side ...
• He/she connects camera, microphone,
speakers, the LCD projector and opens the
program
• He/she sends her/his username and/or
password to the speaker
• He/she prompts firewalls
• There is no further knowledge required to set
up the connection other than knowing how to
connect the devices to the computer and start
the program.
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Connection safety
The program allows for 2 different modes of
connection defined in ‘Settings’
• Password check:
password edited and checked, no prompt,
best for Remote PC applications
• Check incoming calls:
prompt incoming calls (it rings when ‘Sound
Effects’ is checked): when a call comes in,
someone needs to be at the computer to
prompt it.
Client can see the remote PC
(not recommended for Remote PC
applications, password does not matter )
(c) Werner Kaminsky
The Presentation Mode
Present without distracting headers or buttons!
You may switch off all buttons here
A double click anywhere below the
presentation brings the buttons back
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Other Buttons and Panels
Local IP: send
this number or
your username
to the speaker
Click here for
the about box
Open the
settings panel
Click here to
see the help
presentation
Save movie
Here you may
switch
buttons off
Refresh and
reconnect
You may load presentations from here
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Here you may type in the path to a
presentation
Making movies
Start the recording
Select modus
Free space / Minutes
Select preliminary Codec
Show / Hide Options
Video Size and Color
Time between Frames
Synchronize Video and Audio
(c) Werner Kaminsky
General tips for the speaker
• Check for any time-difference between speaker time zone
and the seminar time zone.
• Ask your representative on the seminar where he/she
installed all files on the computer used for the presentation.
If the seminar side uses a DSL modem make sure they
enabled port forwarding for ports 10010 (UDP) and 10011
through 10015 (TCP).
• Test the connection with your seminar representative under
real conditions!!!
• Press on the presentation button
to clean-up the
screen. Press it again to recover
all buttons.
• Enable ‘automute’ from the settings panel if it is too
irritating hearing your own voice’s feedback
• Put your camera on the left of the monitor and enable
horizontal mirroring. This makes you look towards a
presentation or at the audience when you turn your head.
(c) Werner Kaminsky
Shutting down
There are three modes of ending
REMSEM:
1.
Close all:
Close Remsem and
remove standby and restart registry
entries
2.
Disconnect: Stop a connection and
leave REMSEM running
3.
Standby:
Close camera,
minimize REMSEM, edit registry for
auto-login and restart. This requires
to type-in the windows login
password (and username).
(c) Werner Kaminsky
In case of trouble ...
o Consider this:
o Firewall messages need to be prompted
o REMSEM uses the ports 10010 through 10015. If on a DSL
modem port forwarding needs to be enabled to receive a talk
o Be patient, the program sorts out most problems
automatically!!!
o if you lost control or - audio then try the refresh
button, alternatively, close the program and try to
reconnect. If on the seminar side, try ‚Control+Alt+Delete‘;
this may unlock the mouse. Close whatever popped up and
leave the screen to the speaker. Try to restart the program or
the whole computer if nothing else helps
o If you have trouble connecting check the email you typed in
and the password: to do so click ‚Cancel‘ then ‚Make a call‘
(c) Werner Kaminsky