News Story

Remote presence: How KMi helped the OU meet before meeting was easy

Friday 6 Mar 2026

This article is part of a special series celebrating KMi’s 30 years. Over the past three decades, KMi has been at the forefront of pioneering research and innovation in knowledge technologies, shaping the way information is created, shared, and understood. In this series, we revisit some of the most impactful projects that have influenced academia, industry, and society, highlighting their significance and legacy.

Long before video calls became second nature, the Open University faced a challenge: how to make distance learning feel less distant. KMi stepped in with three pioneering projects, BuddySpace, FlashMeeting, and Hexagon, that transformed online interaction and left a lasting mark on today’s digital tools.

BuddySpace turned isolation into connection by placing 180,000 learners on a live map, showing who was online and ready to help. It encouraged peer support and collaboration, reducing the sense of studying alone.

FlashMeeting introduced browser-based video conferencing years ahead of its time. With one-click access, structured turn-taking, and automatic recording, it made tutorials and research meetings simple and inclusive, features now standard in modern platforms.

Hexagon brought a human touch to remote teamwork with a “video presence wall” that refreshed every 30 seconds. It allowed quick chats and spontaneous collaboration, making distributed teams feel co-located.

These innovations did not just serve OU students; they shaped expectations for online learning everywhere. From presence indicators to click-to-join video and automatic recording, today’s tools carry the DNA of KMi’s early experiments.

Remote presence is now essential. KMi proved that technology can connect people meaningfully, and continues to design the next chapter.