Is it time for a Maxima Users Conference? San Jose CA

Richard Hennessy <richhen2008 at gmail.com> wrote:

   I was not talking about GoToMeeting or any specific product that you
   would have to buy.  Users can listen with IE or another web browser,
   only the people who want to speak would probably have to buy web
   conferencing solutions software like GoToMetting or one of it's
   competitors.  There may even be open source versions for free but I
   have not checked.
   
Rich --

No one needs to buy any software to participate in a meeting -- any of
the common web browsers will do.  It does require a subscription to
_host_ a meeting, and that was what I was offering.  There would be no
incremental cost beyond the subscription we (Franz) already has.

Anyone attending the meeting would be able to see, hear, and speak.  The
audio can be done free via internet connection, or via telephone for the
cost of dialing a number in the USA, at the option of each attendee.
(If a meeting lasts a few hours it might be cost effective to add an
inexpensive microphone to one's machine, but the choice is up to each
individual.)

The meeting organizer (chair) can leave attendee microphone live (which
works only for small meetings) or can grant the mike to anyone
requesting.  Similarly, the chair can allow any willing attendee to show
his desktop, and mouse/keyboard control af the current desktop can also
be transferred.

I originally suggested that _if_ it is time for a Maxima meeting, the
developer community is too spread and too badly funded for a physical
meeting to be practical.  But there has been little reaction either way
to the need for a meeting.  _That_ should be the focus of discussion.