Videoconference System

Videoconferencing has made great strides over the past few years. Due to several factors, videoconferencing over an IP (Internet Protocol) connection is fast becoming the more prevalent mode. In early Spring 2004, CNRT replaced an ISDN (H 320 Standard) system with a Polycom iPower 9800 system which uses the H 323 Standard (IP). The CNRT setup can be called a room system and is located within the CNRT Computer Lab, Hodge Hall Room 205 (Note: lab computers are not set up to interact with the videoconference system.).

CNRT's videoconference system includes the iPower codec (based on a Pentium class computer running MS Windows 2000), which manages all aspects of a videoconference. A wireless keyboard, a wireless touch pad, and a wireless remote control are available for inputting commands and for controlling the cameras.

Two small monitors are available atop the presenter's console: one for viewing output from the remote site and the other for observing input from the local site. A VCR, a DVD player and a digital camera overhead projector are available for use in the videoconference. MS Office 2000 is installed on the codec for use in broadcasting files created in this suite of applications such as Power Point presentations.

Two wall mounted, production quality cameras are used: one focused on the presenter and the other on the audience. The audience camera can be set up to automatically focus in on the speaker. Rounding out the system are a speaker, a microphone and three large monitors facing the audience: 2 showing the remote site and one displaying the camera feed from the local site.

Currently the iPower system is set up to directly connect with up to 3 remote sites over IP at a time. The system is also capable of streaming the conference video as a webcast (one-way, non-interactive video stream) to up to 5 connections. It is possible for more sites to connect to the CNRT system, or for sites connecting over ISDN lines, using a 3-party bridge available from a commercial telecom. This will take some prior coordination between the remote site, CNRT and the telecom to set up the videoconference. Not to mention a fairly substantial cost factor for the bridge dependening upon the length of the conference.

The videoconference system is available for use by the campus community when not being used for NASA related activities or other scheduled events. For more information on scheduling a videoconference contact CNRT Lab Manager, Joe Bartolini, by e-mail, or at 516-4899.

Guidelines for presenters are available here.

---

---