Christophe Depoix - Emory University School of Medicine
Christophe Depoix uses computer software very specific to his role. As a researcher at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, he is engaged in projects with many collaborators, often partners located outside the university and - most tellingly - without access to the same tools.
This meant that it was hard to share the work he was doing. Files were often too large to email and - even if he could - his partners did not have the right software to be able to view and edit documents. That was until a year ago when he came across Yuuguu.
"I wanted to be able to work online on documents with other people and do the necessary changes on these documents without having to send them by email," explains Depoix. "Some of my collaborators don't always have the right or same software. For that reason, screen-sharing was interesting to me."
And, having found Yuuguu, Depoix discovered another rather crucial benefit. "One very important thing about Yuuguu is that it is completely free, which is something we really like in the scientific community where money can be scarce," he says.
Depoix downloaded the Yuuguu application to begin sharing his screen with remote partners. It allows live viewing of users' desktops, plus the ability to swap control so that collaborators can make changes remotely. For collaborative working, these features are incredibly valuable. It provides for one central document, which can be viewed and discussed in real-time, and removes the need to share initial versions and merge changes at a later date.
With Yuuguu installed, Depoix used its 'Find' features to locate and add friends, colleagues and partners with whom he wanted to share his screen. Contacts from all of the major instant messaging networks can be found and added, plus those on the major email platforms, or by entering a contact's specific email address. And, once added, the instant chat features allow group messaging with up to 30 of these partners at a time, whether or not those partners are themselves Yuuguu users.
Depoix says all these features meant one particular project was transformed: "I have a collaborator working in a university in San Francisco who started a project on which I am working. There were some technical questions I wanted to ask him. Since, my collaborator uses Google Mail I was able to add him to my contact list in Yuuguu and invite him for a live session".
"This meant I was able to show him some files created with scientific software he did not have installed on his computer. That way, I was able to work on the project with my favourite application at the same time he was answering my questions and correcting my work."
Combined with its immense usability, the enhanced collaboration that Yuuguu enables, has helped to give it an immediate home in Depoix's working life.
He adds: "I use it essentially when needed: when I need to be in touch with collaborators. But, it is always on at start-up, which allows anybody from my contact list to reach me. Even if laptops are very useful and lighter than before, it is still easier to stay in front of your desktop computer and be able to show and discuss your work instantly without having to bring everything with you or having to send attachments by e-mail."
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