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OpenDesktop module

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Revision as of 07:43, 21 April 2010 by David Bogner (talk | contribs)

OpenDesktop Moodle Module 2.0 is out now!

  • Breaking News: New Release coming on April, 28: New Presentation mode available: Presenting to 100+ people with video/audio and chat!
  • New: MacOSX support for Safari, OpenOffice 3.1, upload features, shared folders and much more.

We are proud to be able to announce the release of the OpenDesktop Moodle Module version 2.0. It combines Moodle with a virtual onlinedesktop - The Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop. You can start your personal onlinedesktop directly in Moodle and let your students watch it or participate in it.

Features

  • New: Upload files easily to your online-desktop
  • New: Mac OS X is now supported. Just use Safari to enjoy working with OpenDesktop v2.
  • Start your personal onlinedesktop with two clicks
  • Collaborate online with real-time desktop-sharing
  • Use collaborative tools far more effective than whiteboards & co
  • Make web conferences in real-time with audio/video and desktop in sync (in combination with skype or similar programs)
  • In combination with skype you can enjoy best video/audio quality as the onlinedesktop does not affect your upload-bandwidth
  • Let course participants around the world watch your desktop in high resolution
  • Access and edit your files anytime anywhere
  • Assign capabilities: start own desktop, watch desktop of other course members, watch and control desktop of other course members

How to use the OpenDesktop module

What you need

  • Java Runtime Environment 1.5 or newer has to be installed on your computer. Check if it is installed at [1]. Or download the latest version at [2].
  • We recommend to use FireFox Browser, as Internet Explorer allows only the use of auto-size desktop and not custom sizes.
  • If you want to use the OpenDesktop on a Mac you have to use Safari as your browser

Getting started

  • Select the activity->Add an activity->OpenDesktop
add opendesktop to your course
  • Adjust the settings:
    • If you want to test the OpenDesktop for the first time, you just fill in title and description and save.
    • Display OpenDesktop in: Here you can determine if your onlinedesktop launches in a new window (recommended) or the same window.
    • Display size: If you select auto, the actual size of your browser-window will be the size of your Onlinedesktop. If you choose a custom size, your Browser will be resized to this size and the Onlinedesktop will open with custom size.
    • Language: Choose your language for the desktop. There are more than 60 languages supported.
    • Quality: Defines the display-quality of your onlinedesktop: A higher quality could result in slower reaction of the desktop if you use a server with low bandwith or an old server.

Launch your desktop

start your personal Open Virtual Desktop

Just enter your course as teacher, click on the link to the opendesktop module and then click on "Start your desktop".

Assign roles

As a teacher you can start your personal desktop and decide who is allowed to watch your desktop or participate actively. As teacher you can also watch or participate in other Open Virtual Deskops started in your course. As student or guest you only have the right to watch a desktop started by a teacher. If you want, that students are able to interact in your desktop, than assign them the non-editing-teacher role for this module.

Cooperate in real-time

Here is a screenshot from a session in moodle: Opendesktop-session.jpg

Installation (for Moodle Administrators)

  • Be sure that you have php-curl extention installed on your server
  • Download the module from Moodle modules and plugins database or use this direct download-link
  • Unzip opendesktop.zip and place the folder "opendesktop" in moodleroot/mod/
  • On your moodle start-page go to Site Administration->Notifications
  • Install the Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop 2 or contact us for a test account at info@edulabs.org
  • On your moodle-site got to Site Administration->Modules->Activities->OpenDesktop
  • Adjust the module settings as needed
  • In a course just add the Activity "OpenDesktop" and start the desktop.
  • Give us feedback if any problems occur: info@edulabs.org
  • To install your OVD-servers see installation instructions at Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop Installation or ask us for a free test-account.
  • Enjoy the new dimension of online-cooperation ;-)

Installation of the Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop

If you use your own OVD installation, then you can install the Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop. In order to make your server work with the moodle module, you have to choose following settings in the session manager:

  • Configuration->Profile Settings->Internal (LDAP not yet supported)
  • Do a publication (Define a usergroup and an application group
  • Write down the id of the usergroup (Click on the usergroup and then look at the URL in your Browser: usersgroup.php?action=manage&id=1)

Look at the tutorial on http://www.ulteoadmin.com/ to see how to manage your OVD system

Questions

For questions and additional feature request, please contact info (at) edulabs.org You can also test this module before installation at edulabs.org. Just subscribe to the course Open Virtual Desktop in Moodle and request a demonstration of the module.

Upcoming Features

  • Open course files directly from within the desktop without downloading the files
  • View who exactly is watching your desktop (right now you can only see the number of people watching)
  • ...