alfaview

{{Short description|Lip-synchronized video conference software}}{{COI|date=December 2020}}

{{Expand German|Alfaview Video Conferencing Systems|date=September 2020|topic=tech}}

{{Infobox software

| name = alfaview

| logo = Logo alfaview Video Conferencing Systems.png

| screenshot =

| screenshot alt =

| developer = alfaview (Karlsruhe, Germany)

| released = 2016

| latest release version = 8.32.0

| latest release date =

| operating system = Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux

| platform =

| language = German, English

| genre = Video conferencing system

| license = proprietary

| website = https://alfaview.com/

}}

alfaview is a software for lip-synchronized video conferences, specializing in virtual online meetings, seminars, training sessions and conferences. It was developed in Germany.{{cite web|title=Alfaview: Sichere Videochat-Software aus Deutschland|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-Tipps-Software-alfaview-Sichere-Videochat-Deutschland-26561505.html|url-status=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=23 July 2020|language=|pages=|quote=}}

The servers are located within the European Union. Only ISO/IEC 27001-certified data centers are used and the data is encrypted according to TLS/AES256.{{cite web|title=Alternative zu Skype: Sichere Videotelefonie aus Deutschland|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.futurezone.de/digital-life/article229575126/Alternative-zu-Skype-Sichere-Videotelefonie-aus-Deutschland.html|url-status=dead|access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812231405/https://www.futurezone.de/digital-life/article229575126/Alternative-zu-Skype-Sichere-Videotelefonie-aus-Deutschland.html|archive-date=2020-08-12|last=Regina Singer|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}}

History

alfaview has its origins in 2010. The education company alfatraining Bildungszentrum GmbH developed its first prototype of alfaview for all their trainings of skilled workers in Germany.{{cite web|title=IT-Mittelstand Best of - alfatraining|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.alfatraining.de/ueber-uns/presse/it-mittelstand-best-of/|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}} Since 2016 the application alfaview is distributed on the platform alfaview.com by alfaview gmbh. Owner and founder is the Greek entrepreneur Niko Fostiropoulos. The headquarters is located in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Features

More than 200 users can be connected via audio and video in the live conference rooms. The viewer mode allows 500 users to participate simultaneously. The video conferencing system includes features such as a chat, where the users of the virtual room can write text messages, collaborative tools (white board, surveys, voting), breakout rooms, desktop sharing, live transcription of the spoken word in the room and the live translation into many languages.{{cite web|title=alfaview im Detail|periodical=|publisher=|url=http://support.alfaview.com/de/support/solutions/12000002844|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}} A toolbox to integrate collaborative programmes (whiteboard, survey, voting) is available to users. Furthermore, alfaview offers the feature of using simultaneous interpreters.

In the virtual rooms, individual users can be designated moderators.

Private users can download the video conference software for free. Companies can buy it for their internal and external communication and configure it according to their needs.{{cite web|title=alfaview: Videokonferenz-Lösung aus deutscher Entwicklung|periodical=Appgefahren.de|publisher=|url=https://www.appgefahren.de/alfaview-videokonferenz-loesung-aus-deutscher-entwicklung-276110.html|url-status=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=Mel|date=2020-04-30|language=|pages=|quote=}}

Data protection

The video conferencing platform alfaview is GDPR-compliant. In February 2021, alfaview received four "green lights" from the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Commissioner of the State of Berlin in all four categories on both the legal and on the technical level.{{Cite web|date=18 February 2021|title=Hinweise für Berliner Verantwortliche zu Anbietern von Videokonferenzdiensten|url=https://www.datenschutz-berlin.de/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/orientierungshilfen/2021-BlnBDI-Hinweise_Berliner_Verantwortliche_zu_Anbietern_Videokonferenz-Dienste.pdf#page=4|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218051639/https://www.datenschutz-berlin.de/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/orientierungshilfen/2021-BlnBDI-Hinweise_Berliner_Verantwortliche_zu_Anbietern_Videokonferenz-Dienste.pdf |archive-date=2021-02-18 }} The servers used for the provision of the video conferencing platform are located in Germany, if necessary in other member states of the European Union. Only ISO 27001-certified data centres are used and the data is encrypted according to current standards (TLS/AES256). The data processing agreement (DPA) and technical-organisational measures (TOM) are provided by the company.{{Cite web|title=DPA and TOM|url=https://alfaview.com/en/dpa-tom/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920120641/https://alfaview.com/en/dpa-tom/ |archive-date=2020-09-20 }}

Distribution

Apart from individuals and businesses, alfaview is increasingly used by education institutions. More than 20.000 institutions with over 1 million users are currently using the software. Several universities, universities of applied sciences and schools{{cite web|title=Schule: Gut vorbereitet trotz Corona|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.volksfreund.de/region/trier-trierer-land/abitur-am-balthasar-neumann-technikum-trier-38-absolventen_aid-51904235|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=TV REDAKTION|date=28 June 2020|language=|pages=|quote=}}. are using the video conferencing system for teaching in virtual classrooms.,{{cite web|title=Digitale Hörsäle bei der Hochschule Pforzheim|periodical=Pf-Bits|publisher=|url=https://www.pf-bits.de/2020/03/digitale-hoersaele-bei-der-hochschule-pforzheim/|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=Besim Karadeniz|date=2020-03-19|language=|pages=|quote=}}{{cite web|title=Gutes Netz in Friedrichsruhe: Frühstücken und gemütlich studieren - STIMME.de|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.stimme.de/hohenlohe/nachrichten/oehringen/Gutes-Netz-in-Friedrichsruhe-Fruehstuecken-und-gemuetlich-studieren;art1921,4344692|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=20 April 2020|language=|pages=|quote=}}{{cite web|title=Furtwangen: Willkommen in einem virtuellen Semester - Schwarzwälder Bote|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.schwarzwaelder-bote.de/inhalt.furtwangen-willkommen-in-einem-virtuellen-semester.92b1af1d-a15f-434c-ada8-b0c87d5d919e.html|url-status=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=Schwarzwälder Bote, Oberndorf Germany|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}} among others the Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences,{{cite web|title=Hochschule Pforzheim stellt um auf digitale Lehre in 200 virtuellen Hörsälen - Pforzheim - Pforzheimer-Zeitung|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.pz-news.de/pforzheim_artikel,-Hochschule-Pforzheim-stellt-um-auf-digitale-Lehre-in-200-virtuellen-Hoersaelen-_arid,1424641.html|url-status=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=19 March 2020|language=|pages=|quote=}} the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology,{{cite web|title=Dr.-Ing. Volker Koch (KIT Karlsruhe) und Claudia Baum (alfatraining/alfaview®) auf der Learntec 2019|publisher=|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUQIbuO9KTs|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=alfaview|website=YouTube|date=21 May 2019|language=|pages=|quote=}} the Stuttgart Media University, the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University,{{cite web|title=DHBW Karlsruhe: Aktuelles vom ESC - Schließung des Präsenzbetriebs-FAQ|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.karlsruhe.dhbw.de/esc/aktuelles-vom-esc.html|url-status=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}} the Ravensburg University of Cooperative Education and the Hochschule Furtwangen University.{{cite web|title=hc|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://howto.hs-furtwangen.de/hc/aview-10-010/|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=Hochschule Furtwangen|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}} alfaview is increasingly used in schools.{{cite web|title=Bislang stemmen Schulen Onlineunterricht allein - Schwetzinger Zeitung / Hockenheimer Zeitung|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.morgenweb.de/schwetzinger-zeitung_artikel,-hockenheim-bislang-stemmen-schulen-onlineunterricht-allein-_arid,1654617.html|url-status=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=25 June 2020|language=|pages=|quote=}}

German

Several Chambers of Trades in Germany use the video conferencing system as well, for example for their digital master craftsman's examination.{{cite web|title=Brandenburgs größte Schule unterrichtet bereits digital|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.rbb24.de/studiofrankfurt/panorama/coronavirus/beitraege_neu/2020/05/osz-oder-spree-eisenhuettenstadt-digital-lehre-unterricht-arcelormittal.html|url-status=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=5 May 2020|language=|pages=|quote=}} The 2020 nationwide final of the business plan and simulation competition Jugend gründet was held as a live stream via the software.{{cite web|title=Startseite|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.jugend-gruendet.de/|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=proudly by Steinbeis Innovationszentrum UE (SIZUE)|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}}

Apart from the Centre for Civic Education, various municipalities in Germany are using the software, among others the city of Karlsruhe,{{cite web|title=Karlsruhe: Den indischen Partnern auch in diesen Zeiten nahe sein|periodical=|publisher=|url=http://presse.karlsruhe.de/db/meldungen/beziehungen/den_indischen_partnern_auch_in_diesen_zeiten_nahe_sein.html?da=2020-05-03|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=}} the city of Gütersloh or the rural district Oder-Spree.{{cite web|title=Corona-Krise: Digitales Klassenzimmer in Eisenhüttenstadt gestartet|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.moz.de/landkreise/oder-spree/eisenhuettenstadt/artikel0/dg/0/1/1801045/|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=Stefan Lötsch|date=2020-05-05|language=|pages=|quote=}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company and the Karlsruhe Sandkorn Theater have implemented a virtual play in the virtual meeting room.{{cite web|title=Karlsruher Sandkorn-Theater setzt auf Videokonferenz statt Livestream|periodical=Die Neue Welle|publisher=|url=https://www.die-neue-welle.de/display-news/karlsruher-sandkorn-theater-setzt-auf-videokonferenz-statt-livestream|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=2020-04-30|language=|pages=|quote=}}{{cite web|title=Die erste Live-Kabarett-Konferenz via alfaview: Rastetter & Wacker: Kontaktnotstand - am 10. Mail 2020 um 18 Uhr|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.wochenblatt-reporter.de/karlsruhe/c-lokales/rastetter-und-wacker-kontaktnotstand-am-10-mail-2020-um-18-uhr_a195601|url-status=|format=|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=6 May 2020|language=|pages=|quote=}}

Furthermore, alfaview is used for virtual events and digital exhibitions. For example, the international trade fairs INTERGEO{{Cite web|title=What is included in my digital CONFERENCE Ticket?|url=https://www.intergeo.de/en/was-ist-im-conference-ticket-enthalten|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Intergeo EN|language=en-US}} and Nanotextnology{{Cite web|title=Alfaview: Η εφαρμογή εικονικής μετάδοσης του Έλληνα αρχιτέκτονα από την Καρλσρούη|date=6 July 2021 |url=https://emea.gr/digital/tech/634573/alfaview-i-efarmogi-eikonikis-metadosis-tou-ellina-architektona-apo-tin-karlsroui/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719120831/https://emea.gr/digital/tech/634573/alfaview-i-efarmogi-eikonikis-metadosis-tou-ellina-architektona-apo-tin-karlsroui/ |archive-date=2021-07-19 }} or the Forum Bildung Digitalisierung{{Cite web|title=Digitaler Fachdialog: "Schulträger und DigitalPakt Schule"|url=https://www.forumbd.de/veranstaltungen/fachdialog-schultraeger-digitalpakt/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Forum Bildung Digitalisierung|language=de-DE|archive-date=2021-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620210504/https://www.forumbd.de/veranstaltungen/fachdialog-schultraeger-digitalpakt/|url-status=dead}} were conducted virtually with alfaview.

SAP Deutschland SE offers its own training courses via alfaview, the so-called SAP Live Class.{{Cite web|title=SAP Live Class: Eine Klasse für sich {{!}} SAP Blogs|url=https://blogs.sap.com/2017/01/18/sap-live-class-ein-lernerlebnis-wie-im-klassenraum-sap-live-class-eine-klasse-fur-sich-ein-lernerlebnis-analog-im-klassenraum/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=blogs.sap.com|date=18 January 2017 }} In 2018, SAP Live Class with alfaview was awarded the Silver Award in the category "Best Advance in Technology for Virtual-Classroom or Conferencing Technology" by the Brandon Hall Group.{{Cite web|title=Brandon Hall Group Excellence in Technology Awards 2017 Winners|url=https://www.brandonhall.com/excellenceawards/excellence-technology.php?year=2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215211721/http://www.brandonhall.com/excellenceawards/excellence-technology.php?year=2017 |archive-date=2017-12-15 }}

alfaview is also used in studio productions and at Bundesliga matches to virtually integrate an audience into the event. In May 2021, the final show of Germany's Next Topmodel with Heidi Klum was the first show in which 500 spectators were virtually brought into the studio via alfaview using a video wall.{{Cite web|title=Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/ICTAG/photos/a.205830856098405/5612495032098600/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=www.facebook.com}}{{Cite web|title=alfaview® und ICT AG bringen Zuschauer*innen ins Finale von "Germany's Next Topmodel"|url=https://www.presseportal.de/pm/142050/4926473|access-date=2021-06-07|website=presseportal.de|date=28 May 2021 |language=de}} In February 2021, over 100 fans were brought into the stadium live on LED screens during the handball Bundesliga match between the Berlin Füchse and the Rhein-Neckar-Löwen.{{Citation|title=alfaview® brings fans back to the stadium| date=31 May 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8aIYyTavSg|language=en|access-date=2021-06-07}}

References