About Videoconferencing
Face-to-face, worldwide
Meet face-to-face with your colleagues, or conduct courses and seminars without travelling across the state or country using videoconferencing. Videoconferencing makes your meetings come alive by bringing your associates into your meeting room. You can see, hear and converse with others located hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
What is videoconferencing?
Videoconferencing is a powerful telecommunication tool which transmits two-way interactive live video and audio simultaneously between two sites or multiple sites. A CODEC (compressor/decompressor) compresses the television audio and video signals, allowing them to be transmitted via high-capacity, ISDN telephone lines or the Internet. Compression technology makes videoconferencing easy and affordable. And, communication between sites is two-way and interactive.
Compressed video can be combined with multiple media: Text and graphics can be transmitted with a document camera; Computer graphics, documents, web sites, DVDs, and videotapes can be transmitted and viewed; and participants without access to to a videoconference system can join via audio teleconference using a telephone handset or speakerphone.
Connection modes - ISDN and IP
Videoconferencing is even more powerful with new developments in connectivity. Your codec can become part of a videoconference using either ISDN telephone lines or the Internet. Both connection types will support codecs operating at 128K to 384K, and sometimes even more with the Internet connected codec:
- ISDN telephone lines and codecs using the ITU H.320 standard.
- Internet (LAN/WAN) connections and codecs using the ITU H.323 standard [more info on H.323 ] [using H.323 on WiscNet ]
NOTE concerning H.323: Due to site-dependant variabilty of available Internet bandwidth, we are not able to guarantee the connection to all H.323 sites. For example, sites connected by modem will likely not carry two-way audio and video to provide a satisfactory experience. In addition, if your H.323 codec is connected to the Internet through a T1 or other narrowband pipe which does not support Quality of Service guaranties for H.323, you will likely experience frozen video and loss of audio. It is important that you schedule a test with our support staff if you plan to use our multi-point service.
Multipoint Conferencing
With the multipoint bridging equipment located at ICS, up to thirty sites can be connected simultaneously in any combination of ISDN (H.320) or Internet (H.323) connections. The camera automatically switches to the site that is speaking, or the chair may pre-select one of the continuous presence modes (96k, pdf).
Connecting Globally
Meetings or classes can be held at University of Wisconsin and State of Wisconsin videoconference sites or other private or public locations with compatible equipment, worldwide.
Interconnectivity and Quality
The multipoint control unit can connect most videoconference systems that use the accepted industry standards (ITU H.320 and H.323). The standard allows the units to talk to other manufacturers' codecs, such as PictureTel, VTEL, Sony, Panasonic, and PolyCom, that also conform to the standards. The type of network access at each site also influences interoperability. Advance testing is required for connections to sites that have not been certified for interconnection to the state system sites.
Ease of Operation
Basic instruction on the use of the control unit from the site coordinator will get you started. The codecs have a microphone, a dial and call controls, and camera controls which can easily be operated following brief instructions. However, presenters are highly encouraged to receive training on use of the equipment from our experienced instructional design staff prior to their first session. Contact the ICS videconference coordinator to schedule a time for training.
Supporting Users
Instructional Communications Systems provides technical assistance for your conference. Consultation and assistance with planning a videoconference, instructional design, graphic selection and design, and teleconferencing and evaluation techniques is also available upon request.
Availability
The interactive videoconference system scheduled by Instructional Communications Systems is available to any governmental, educational or non-profit agency or department.
More Information
Scheduling:
Maureen Friend, Videoconference Coordinator
Phone: 608-262-5249
Email: wislinevideo@ics.uwex.eduTraining and Learning Design:
Thomas Arendall, Learning Design Specialist
Phones: 608-263-4262
Email: thomas.arendall@ics.uwex.edu
