Desktop Videoconferencing

Transcription

1 Desktop Videoconferencing at Northwestern University A campus wide deployment Mike Curtis Academic & Research Technologies Video & Collaboration Services April 6,

2 Completing the Spectrum of video services Desktop Cross-platform Desktop Video Conferencing solution Web Meeting Web based presentation and collaboration Existing, Roombased H.323 room based and MCU multipoint Recording & Streaming 2

3 Desktop Videoconferencing in Use Today 3

4 Implementation Timeline Summer 2009: System evaluation Nov. 2009: Partnership with FSM Department of Surgery contract signed, initial hardware received Jan. 2010: Pioneer group rollout Feb. 2010: Pilot program with research community Apr. 2010: Campus wide rollout 4

5 What You ll Learn Today How do I get an account? How much does it cost? What else do I need to start using Desktop Videoconferencing? Do I need anything to provide echo-free audio? 5

6 What You ll Learn Today When does everyone on campus get access? How can I begin using this with colleagues outside of Northwestern? Can I write this into my grant? 6

7 Why Use Desktop Videoconferencing? Save time traveling Collaboration solution for your grants View recorded videoconferences Telecommuting With other Universities & research institutions You can engage from anywhere you have a network connection 7

8 Pioneer Results Lee Miller (FSM Physiology) - participating from offsite with on campus videoconferences Eric Perrault (FSM Physiology) - on sabbatical, participating in weekly videoconferences at NU and with other researchers while in Zurich The Graduate School - interviewing students abroad Tamar Seideman - WCAS Chemistry professor - staying involved while overseas for 2 months Teresa Woodruff - FSM Oncofertility - participated in weekly videoconference from a wireless network connection from her hotel in California. 8

9 Pioneer Results Research Opportunities Oncofertility Lab - iexperiment Using desktop videoconferencing, 7 participants were able to successfully incorporate a live data feed from an electron microscope This was a proof of concept test during the preparation of a grant, which has been funded by the National Science Foundation to deliver live, realtime video communications from with the Oncofertility research labs. The live data feeds from the electron microscopes are available to view experiments and communicate with the microscope operator at any time. 9

10 Oncofertility Lab iexperiment Proof of Concept 10

11 Your Desktop Videoconferencing Account Accounts for NU faculty, staff, student Multi-point meeting room for up to 6 participants Guest access to multipoint room for each account 11

12 Your Desktop Videoconferencing Account Interoperable with existing systems on campus Interoperable with systems at other universities Reliable network connectivity from off campus Works through firewalls, home networks, VPN to NU The future of videoconference technology, today 12

13 Your Desktop Videoconferencing Account Real-time high-end video communications Cross-platform Mac & PC (Linux by Fall 2010) Application sharing Guest access for non-nu participants High definition video 13

14 Desktop Videoconferencing Alternatives Polycom PVX, Xmeeting, ichat, Skype, GoogleTalk, Oovoo and others Not compatible with campus systems Requires everyone to have an account No defined standards Cannot support multi-point video sessions Unstable in poor network conditions Does not support application sharing 14

15 Recommended Hardware (for hands free) Phoenix Audio Duet PCS USB microphone & speaker with echo cancelation $140 USB Video Camera Logitech Pro 9000 WebCam Pro $100 15

16 Locations to Use Desktop Videoconferencing Your office An open conference room A seminar room in the library At home Anywhere on campus with a network connection Off campus with a reliable network connection 16

17 Ways to Use Desktop Videoconferencing Participate in departmental or project meetings from the other campus, or from off-site Work on group projects from various locations Communicate with peers at other universities Collaborate with researchers at other universities Use guest access for videoconferencing with peers or researchers at other institutions More opportunities discovered every day! 17

18 Known Limitations of Desktop Videoconferencing Individual experience is based on your computer capabilities and network connection Data sharing only functional with other desktop videoconference users (current software version) VPN network connection not as reliable as regular connection when off campus Mac client only works on Intel only (Leopard, Snow Leopard) operating systems Java errors within your browser may prevent access to the portal Minimal echo cancelation built into the software requires the use of headphones or a USB echo cancelation device (current software version) 18

19 Mid-Summer Upgrade for Desktop Videoconferencing New version 2.0 software Improved Web portal interface Upgraded Mac client software (identical to Windows version) Fully compatible data sharing with room-based videoconference systems LDAP Authentication with NetID 19

20 Questions and Support NUIT Support Center 1-HELP (1-4357) 20