Video Conferencing
Polycom Conferencing
Access Grid Conferencing
Costs
Contact: Jeffrey Miller
Room 121
ITC Building
631-6850
Click here to see the full map of all far end locations
NEWS
Latest Video & Web conferences held.
* Conducted a live WebEx session with 90 graduate students to Uupsala University in Uupsala, Sweden for Prof. Peter Wallensteen of the Hesburgh Peace Center.
* Conduced a WebEx webconference with the University of Colorado for a Phd defense for Computer Science and Engineering
* Fr. Tim Scully used WebEx webconferencing to meet and teach his Theology class in 336 Debartolo from Pasadena, California.
* A group of Chemical Engineering graduate students meet semi-weekly in the center using WebEx webconferencing to collaborate with their instructor on sabbatical a the University of Colorado in Boulder.
* Conducted a Polycom videoconference for Prof. Thomas J. Mueller of Aerospace with the Air Force Office of Scientific research.
* A group of Computer Science and Engineering students stay in touch with their advisor using Access Grid technology to the University of Virginia.
* A live Polycom videoconference is held every Thursday with Ambassador Kamal at the United Nations building in New York as part of a class "Global Issues and the United Nations" for Prof. Jackie Smith,Associate Professor of Sociology and Peace Studies< The Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.
* Prof. George Howard utilized WebEx webconferencing to attend a meeting with the American Psychological Association
* The OIT conducted its first ever WebEx webconference to the McMurdo Research Center in Antarctica for DSS
Click here to view a list of all our videoconferences for this year
Polycom Conferencing
Videoconferencing at Notre Dame utilizes two separate Polycom systems that connect you to the world. A portable system that can go anywhere on campus that has access to a 100mb Ethernet connection and a fixed room system that is housed within the Center for Research Computing facility in the ITC building.
Portable System
Our Portable system consists of a Polycom FX single camera codec and two 35” flat panel LCD monitors. Two Polycom conference microphones provide clear voice transmission to the far end site. We can even record your conference onto VHS videotape for future viewing. The system also has with it a document camera, and extra video inputs that allow any composite video source to be seen on the far end such as a microscope with a built in camera, a DVD player, etc. Housed in ATA shock proof shipping cases, the system is delivered, set up and tested by our technicians who stay with you during your conference to assure that the system will be operational and to standby in case there are any problems. The camera can be set up to view any part of the room via “presets” that can be called in via the remote control. The system is easy to use and can connect to any far end compatible equipment via H.323 IP.
Polycom 9004 Fixed Room System
This system is the latest product from Polycom that allows us to utilize the rooms large format video projectors and multiple cameras and table top microphones. The system can make either IP or ISDN conference calls to any compatible system world wide. Our Polycom HDX 9004 codec is the latest in videoconferencing technology. Four cameras are able to scan the entire room and are controlled by the Crestron touch panel. A producer is assigned for every videoconference held in the room and can operate all the cameras and microphones and auxillary equipment from the private control room, thus allowing you to conduct your conference without the concern of having to "run" all the equipment!
The “Crestron” control system allows the integration of your laptop computer, VHS, DVD, document camera and other collaboration tools to enhance your presentation.
The system also has access to cable TV programming. The room can comfortably seat up to 18 people.
Access Grid
The Access Grid supports groups of people working together, even if they are in different cities, countries or even continents. It is known as an “advanced collaborative environment” and it aims to go beyond videoconferencing by using technology that uses effective communication. Major strengths of the Access Grid are the huge number of sites that can connect at one time, an emphasis on making communication as natural as possible and its support for shared applications along side, being able to see and hear everyone at once. Access Grid is used for meetings, seminars, teaching, research collaborations, conferences and even performing arts. Access Grid facilities are commonly known as “nodes”.
Sites meet in virtual"rooms" much like today's Instant Messaging chat rooms. Then all the sites can be seen at one time on our 20 foot long, three projector "video wall".
Our technicians will always be on hand, in our control room to monitor all audio, video and connections to the venue server. We can also assist you with formatting any graphics or other presentations you may have to optimize their clarity for video transmission and reception. We want your experience to be a positive one so remember that preparation is the key.
The current CRC Access Grid was built and put into service in July of 2006 and was funded by a National Science Foundation Grant as part of the Northwestern Indiana Computational Grid.
Costs
The videoconferencing IP capabilities are provided through the OIT at no cost to you if the use is for academic purposes or to conduct official business for the University as long as the conferences fall within normal working hours. ISDN calls utilize telephone lines to make the connection to the far end. Those costs will be charged back to your department.
We do require a minimum of three days notice of your conference to enable us to communicate with the technicians on the far end and to conduct a brief test of system compatibility.
For more information on videoconferencing or to request a tour and demonstration, please contact Jeffrey Miller, Video/Web Conferencing Resources at 1-6850.