Information Services Newsletter

Video Conferencing TNG - The next generation

Thanks to funding made available from DHFETE, through the ODL Project, the University is at the beginning of a video conferencing (VC) technology deployment that will bring the university VC service right to the cutting edge of VC technology, offering services of unprecedented quality and flexibility in support of research, administration, teaching and learning.

During the first week of July a series of road show events were held at each campus outlining the history of VC at the University and the potential within the next generation of VC technology. These events offered colleagues within the institution the opportunity of refining user requirements for video conferencing. Since these meeting a supply channel has been identified and the detailed requirements have fed into a plan for deployment of the technology that commences in September.

The first phase of this deployment will be observed in the existing studios. These will be upgraded with dual 50" plasma displays, enhanced audio, digital whiteboards, with replacement of preview monitors and PC systems to support application sharing between studios.

The next phase will be the deployment of 10 group systems to support small groups of up to 10 users in meeting/seminar rooms across the institution.

The last phase will provide the infrastructure elements that will allow the studio, group and personal VC systems to participate in multipoint conferences and place VC calls outside the University.

More information on VC TNG can be found at:

• "UU Video Conferencing Strategy", SUCCINCT
• "Internet Video Conferencing - Coming to Your Campus Soon!", Bob Dixon Ohio State University, Educause Quarterly,
  http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EQM0043.pdf
• Internet II Megaconference - http://www.mega-net.net/megaconference2/
• Video Development Initiative: ViDe - http://www.vide.net/
• Wainhouse Research Bulletin - http://www.wainhouse.com/
• "A Primer on the H.323 Series Standard", Databeam Corporation (please contact me for PDF copy, as no longer available on WWW)

Andrew Gregg