UN I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N
Wednesday, October 2,1996
3A
Internet a medium for video conferences
By Bradley Brooks
Kansan staff writer
The ability to have a video conference with someone using the Internet is becoming financially feasible. New software packages are allowing users not only to see who they are talking to but also to bypass the high rates of long-distance telephone calls.
"There's no phone bill — you just pay for your Internet services," said Jabar Banks, a technician at the Connectix Corporation, a software company based in San Mateo, Calif. "We allow you to send sound and video via the Internet."
While Connectix and other software companies are making this technology available at a lower price than before, there still are some basic costs involved in using a computer for long-distance communication.
"You need a camera that hooks into a computer and a video-phone software package." Banks said.
Connectix sells the software for $50. They also sell a camera and the software bundled for $150 for a black-and-white camera, or $250 for a color camera.
There are some inconveniences with the technology, though.
"The people you are calling need the same software as you have," Banks said.
Then there is the problem of getting the other person to be at their machine with it on at the time you attempt to call them.
"If the other person's machine is on, it makes a ringing sound much like a phone," Banks said. "They can then decide if they want to take the call."
in Ithaca, N.Y., were the first to develop it at a price within the average user's reach.
Steve Edgar, systems programmer at Cornell, was one of the developers of CU-SeeMe, the name of the video conferencing software they developed.
Video conferencing did not start with these software companies, but programmers at Cornell University
He said that video conferencing used to cost between $3,000 and $10,000 for a single person to use and required expensive hardware that only corporations could afford.
"We decided to look at what machines everyday people had — Macs and PCs — and see what we could squeeze out of them," Edgar said.
He said that some quality in both video and audio was sacrificed for the lower cost, but that its availability made up for that.
"We had to make concessions to the quality with the limitations of home computers," Edgar said.
The commercially available versions of video-phone software are more advanced than Cornell's. They offer color video and more functionality with Windows. But there is one popular aspect of Cornell's software: it is free. You can download it at their web site address: http://cuseme.cornell.edu/, but you still need a camera.
Stuart Strecker, Hesston graduate student and multi-media trainer in the Ermal Garinger Academic Resource Center, said that the center had a Connectix camera and software at the lab in 4069 Wescoe Hall.
Strecker said that while conferencing had its problems, such as not getting audio during one conference, the technology had been successful at other times.
"It works great. The only problem is finding more people with the software," Strecker said.
PamDishman / KAMSAM
Connectix makes a small digital camera that can sit on top of a computer monitor. The camera allows online users to see each other when communicating online. A video-phone software package is also required.
KU graduate takes balcony seat with book detailing film awards
By Bradley Brooks Kansan staff writer
Siskel and Ebert beware.
A KU graduate has written a book that details every major movie award since 1920, and has been praised for his historical look at cinema awards.
Michael Gebert, who earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1983 and lives in Chicago, includes not only the winners of major awards like Oscars and the Golden Globes, but also recognizers of the worst movies made including Harvard Lampoon and the Golden Raspberry Awards.
"Harvard Lampoons are very funny. It is nice to see that somebody thought Ben Hur wasn't any good either," Gebert said.
The Golden Raspberry Awards bestow honors on the worst movie, actors and director every year.
his up in person."
"Last year they had a good crop to choose from," Gebert said. "Paul Verhoeven, the director of Showgirls, was the first person to pick
Gebert said that he wanted his book to shed light on some of the lesser-known, yet highly influential film festivals, such as the Sundance.
Michael Gebert
"I want to
demystify the Oscars and show the awards that may not be as well known, or seen by a billion people," Gebert said.
The Encyclopedia of Movie Awards, published by St. Martin's Press, based in New York City, sells for $7.99. Most Lawrence bookstores don't have the book in stock, but customers could place a special order at Hastings Books Music and Video. 2000 W. 23rd St.
The Encyclopedia of Movie Awards is Gebert's first book.
While at Kansas, Gebert was chairman of SUA films from 1980 to 1983.
As an undergraduate, he curated two exhibits on rare books about movies at a KU library, and according to his book, in 1986 he founded the last 16-millimeter film society on earth.
"Igot most of my education watching all the SUA movies," Gebert said.
In the book, Gebert not only lists award winners, but also gives them a personal rating of whether they were worthy of the honor.
Ron Longe, publicity manager for St. Martin's Press, said Gebert's book had been well received, and that Gebert had received much attention for his book.
"He was featured in the Seattle Times," Longe said. "In Chicago he has cleaned up. Print, radio — everything."
Gebert, who is now working on what he called a satirical thriller, finds simple joys in being published.
"It's fun to go into a bookstore and see your own book. I am right next to Ebert — unfortunately it is for alphabetical reasons," Gebert said.
Satirist to present show about Anglo and Chicano cultures
Comedians to break stereotypes
By Nicholas C. Charalambous
Kansan staff writer
Reactions to Chicano satirist Lalo Lopez can't always be predicted.
At the 1996 Republican National Convention, he set up a booth with the sign: "Borderland For Sale, Equipped With Its Own Rifle Tower." Dour conservatives got the joke: Shooting illegal aliens crossing the border was just too easy.
But many in the Chicano community thought Lopez was serious during a 1994 televised debate about Proposition 187, a California anti-immigration bill. Lopez's alter ego Daniel D. Portada — meaning "deported" — riled Chicano activists with his suggestion that Mexican-Americans willingly deport themselves.
Lopez and fellow comedian Esteban Zul, both from California, will present a comedy sketch, slide show and video at 7:30 tonight at the Frontier Room of the Burge Union.
The event is sponsored by the Hispanic American Leadership Organization as part of Hispanic American History Month.
Lopez and Zul's brand of irreverent humor breaks stereotypes of Anglo and Chicano cultures, said Jesse Aleman, Selma, Calif., doctoral candidate. In the 1960's, the Chicano nationalists constructed a rigid identity. If you didn't speak Spanish, you weren't considered Chicano, and if you went to college you were considered a sellout to the Anglo culture, he said.
Nicolas Shump, Lawrence graduate student, said that Lopez and Zul's performance would provide a good chance for students to get a different perspective on Chicano and Hispanic issues such as immigration and affirmative action
"He satirizes the rhetoric of Chicano nationalism," Aleman said. "That's pretty daring stuff."
"These guys are just funny. Everyone has to laugh at themselves."
Nicolas Shump Lawrence Graduate Student
"These guys are just funny. Everyone has to laugh at themselves." Shump said.
Before the comedy show,
Dance Troupe Ballet Folklorico
De Topeka will perform traditional Mexican-American dances in colorful costumes at 6:30 p.m.
at the Frontier room in the Burge Union. Both events are free.
Tickets on Sale Now! Jim Carroll
A lecture and oratorical experience from the author and subject of the major motion picture "The Basketball Diaries."
8 p.m. Tuesday, October 15, 1996
Lied Center,
University of Kansas
SUA Box Office 864-3477 http://www.ukans.edu/~sua
What's New This Month in THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES?
Book Sales!
The Fall 1996 surplus book sales will take place throughout October, on the second floor of Watson Library (unless otherwise indicated). Each day will have different materials, and standard prices will be $ .50 paperbacks, $1.00 hardbacks. Some English Literature items are priced slightly higher.
- Social Sciences (Chiefly Psychology and Sociology);
* History, Political Science, Business, Economics;
- Philosophy, Religion, and Foreign Language.
- East Asian Library, Japanese and Chinese Materials:
  (Watson Library 5th floor)
- English and American Literature, Theater and Film.
- Science/Technology and Engineering:
Tuesday, October 8, 8:00-4:00
Wednesday, October 9, 8:00-4:00
Wednesday, October 9 and
Thursday October 10, 9:00-4:00.
Thursday, October 10, 8:00-4:00.
Thursday, October 11, 8:00-2:00.
Friday, October 11, 8:00-2:00
Tuesday, October 29, 9:00-4:00
Workshop Series!
The University Libraries Workshop Series is designed to introduce all members of the KU community to library and information resources available to support teaching and research. Call 864-3601 or e-mail workshop@ukans.edu to register.
1 'The Basics of Bibliographic Databases" workshop introduces techniques for exploring the Libraries' most popular bibliographic databases.
1-A (Humanities/Social Sciences) (9:00-11:00)
1-B (Sciences/Technology) (2:00-4:00)
Friday, October 11 Clark Lab, Watson Library
7 "Exploring Multicultural Resources" allows participants the opportunity to examine multicultural print, media, and electronic resources as well as finding aids for the KU Libraries' collections.
Washington, D.C. October 30, 2015 1:00-3:00 Instructor's Room
Instruction Alcove, Watson Reference
Exhibits!
Watson Library: Choosing the President: Learn, Know, Participate, Vote. *Kansas Collection: "In Honor of the Classes of 1946 and 1966, Sumner High School (Kansas City, Kansas)"
"The Department of Special Collections: "Slithy Toves: Herpetological Books at Kansas"
"University Archives: "William Alexander Griffith 1866-1940: Educator, Architect,
Painter."
*Located on the 2<sup>nd</sup> $^{3}$rd and 4<sup>th</sup> floors of Kenneth Spencer Research Library.
The University of Kansas Libraries
Publications Office 350 Watson Library To Comment, Call 864-3378