In July, Blackboard acquired Wimba and Elluminate, providers of synchronous learning and collaboration technology—AKA Webinar software, in somewhat reductionistic terms.
Last Wednesday in Anaheim at EDUCAUSE’s annual conference, Blackboard unveiled its product roadmap for the future of Wimba and Elluminate, and this week the company further shared its vision in a pair of hour-long Webinars held this Monday. We attended one of those Webinars and thought we’d share a few key points from Blackboard’s Webinar software strategy.
- Project Gemini will combine Elluminate Live! and Wimba Classroom into a single platform. Blackboard is targeting the middle of 2011 for the release of version 1 of Gemini.
- Gemini’s underlying technology infrastructure will be based on Elluminate, while a more “modern” user interface will be developed based on work already begun at Wimba.
- Embracing “no user left behind” mentality, the company is committed to making the software functional in low-bandwidth situations and for people using assistive technologies, like screen readers.
- The Gemini timeline spans two years (2011 and 2012). The initial focus is on blending the best features and functionalities from Elluminate Live! and Wimba Classroom, with innovation (i.e., new features and functionalities for the Webinar software) not scheduled until the tail end of 2012. What might the innovation involve? Blackboard is saying mobile will be a big focus in the future.
Fuller information about the plans for Wimba and Elluminate is available at http://www.blackboard.com/sites/collaborate/index.html.
Celisa
