The University of KansasCopyright © 2001: The University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc. 2335 Irving Hill Road, Lawrence, KS 66045-7612. All Rights Reserved. Technical Report Implementation of Ambient Computing Environments Concepts in Microsoft Windows Brett Becker, Victor Frost, Joseph Evans Information & Telecommunication Technology Center Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas ITTC-FY2002-22731-01 August 2001Abstract This paper explores the possibility of creating a Windows based, distributed and user-friendly computing environment, similar to that of the Information and Telecommunication Technology Center's Ambient Computing Environments (ACE) project. The Ambient Computing Environments project focuses on creating smarter computational environments that allow the co-opt of resources, user-friendly video conferencing, desktop sharing, and centralized resource allocation. Since ACE is based on a completely custom Linux software architecture that will not port to other operating systems, there has been much interest in creating a similar environment using Microsoft Windows based servers. The approach is to build a test environment using current publicly available software, in which the pros and cons of each software solution can be explored, along with how they interact.3 Table of Contents List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 5 2.0 Resource Allocation..................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Microsoft Active Directory...................................................................................... 6 2.2 Windows.NET ......................................................................................................... 7 3.0 Login Security.............................................................................................................. 8 4.0 Desktop Accessibility .................................................................................................. 8 4.1 Microsoft Roaming Profiles..................................................................................... 9 4.2 Microsoft Windows Terminal Services ................................................................... 9 4.3 AT&T Cambridge Laboratories Virtual Network Computing (VNC) .................... 9 4.4 Symantec pcAnywhere ............................................................................................ 9 5.0 Videoconferencing..................................................................................................... 10 5.1 Microsoft NetMeeting............................................................................................ 10 5.2 Microsoft Exchange Conference Server ................................................................ 12 5.3 CuSeeMe................................................................................................................ 13 6.0 ACE Hardware........................................................................................................... 14 7.0 Voice Recognition ..................................................................................................... 15 7.1 IBM ViaVoice........................................................................................................ 15 7.2 Dragon Naturally Speaking.................................................................................... 16 8.0 Handhelds and Portable Computing .......................................................................... 16 9.0 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 16 10.0 Bibliography ............................................................................................................ 184 List of Figures Number Page Figure1: Typical Microsoft NetMeeting conference with the preview window enabled. 11 Figure 2: A typical Microsoft Exchange Conference Server videoconference. 12 Figure 3: CuSeeMe Conference Server’s simple to use interface 13 Figure 4: ClicktoMeet Interface 1451.0 Introduction The Ambient Computational Environments project encompasses many advanced hardware and software technologies to create a smart and robust co-opt computational environment, which improves the integration and usefulness of business computing resources. This technology will enable organizations to implement smart video conferencing rooms and other useful features such as true desktop portability and centralized resource allocation. The following scenario better illustrates some of the ACE concepts: Herman completes editing his presentation in his office environment. He picks up a small lightweight device, we call a Personal Interactive Device (PID), and heads down the hall toward the conference room. The conference room is equipped with tabletop display screens, video/computer display projectors, sound system, microphone system, controllable video camera, and controllable lighting. When he enters, the conference room senses his entry and turns on the ambient light. Herman sits at a tabletop station and presses his thumb against a reader, is identified and his working context is brought up on the nearby display. Herman directs, through gestures, voice commands, and conventional computer interaction, to put the presentation on the right screen, point "that video camera" at "that seat", "put the remote video feed on the left screen", and so forth. The conference room reacts to Herman's voice commands, gestures, and computer mediated commands. [1] ACE is designed around the free and open-source Linux operating system. This was selected for its familiarity and its proven software development environment. Since many companies rely heavily on the Microsoft Windows platform to conduct their business, there has been further interest in implementing a similar system for use on Windows based servers. ACE will offer some Windows based client support, but requires Linux servers to provide its functionality. The goal of this research is to implement as many of the ACE features as possible and explore how they might integrate, using only readily