Video Conferencing with No Chat

[bigfoot780]

Hi

Does anybody know of any video conferencing solutions that enable you to disable chat. I've looked at Net-meeting (still loving XP here) however some Microsoft (yes you read that correctly) web cams that do not appear in net meeting (a microsoft piece of software). It also can be locked down with Group Policy. I've also looked at open fire which looks OK but I can't disable the chat function. Any ideas?

[Dos_Box]

By chat you mean being able to type in messages as well as communicate via audio/video?

[Dos_Box]

Oh, and Net Meeting was discontinued with the release of Vista some 5 years ago, so if you have any newer webcams it's probably not surprising that things have moved on, especially given the increase in HD video conferenceing. Can I ask why it is you want to disable chat?

[Dos_Box]

How stange, Net-Meeting was replaced by Meeting Space in Vista which was replaced by...erm..nothing. Microsoft's advice is now:

 

You might have noticed that Windows Meeting Space isn't included in Windows 7. You can collaborate with other people, share documents, and make presentations by installing a web conferencing program from another company or by using Microsoft Office Live Meeting.

 

Looking for Windows Meeting Space&#63

 

Well, if you don't use Office you may be stuffed. I suppose with so many VOIP and IM apps now supporting video conferancing it was only logical to let smaller companies who specialise in this area spend the money and time on R&D. Still, I'm struggling to see why the OP would want to disable chat features.

Edited November 18, 2011 by Dos_Box

[bigfoot780]

Because a teacher wants students to video chat but we would rather they couldn't chat (text) due to swearing, bullying etc. We have Office 2010 but I was under the impression MS Lync is a extra product and requires a on site server or hosted service. Would rather avoid the expense and complication.

[LosOjos]

Because a teacher wants students to video chat but we would rather they couldn't chat (text) due to swearing, bullying etc.

 

What makes said teacher think that they won't swear at or bully each other over video chat?

[Norphy]

It's at least a little bit more obvious when little Johnny starts effing and blinding over a microphone than it is when he types it in...

[bigfoot780]

Yep that's the idea.

Any software ideas like winpopup for video.

[Dos_Box]

The thing is that the chat area is often integral to the whole thing as this is often the part that allows caller to share files, links and a whole lot more besides and I doubt that any software company has even considered for one moment that anyone would want to disable it. It does sound like the teacher has thought of one (potentially) negative thing abut a whole swathe of software and decided to latch onto it.