Video & Teleconferencing
Video Conferencing
A videoconference is two-way fully interactive
communication using specialized electronic equipment over IP and ISDN networks.
Videoconferencing has evolved from using expensive ISDN networks and expensive
videoconference hardware to very sophisticated high definition videoconference
systems using a standard IP network connection. The largest manufacturers
of videoconference equipment are Polycom, Cisco/Tandberg, Sony, and
Lifesize. A basic videoconference system includes a high definition video
camera, a codec which does all the video processing, a monitor (either flat
panel display, projector, or plasma), a microphone, and a speaker.
Although a videoconference system is considered a network device, the standards
for H.323 IP videoconferencing throughout the world are established by the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU). This international standardization
allows for one videoconference manufacturer to establish videoconferences with
a different videoconference manufacturer with little concern of incompatibility
issues.
Here at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center we have robust
videoconferencing infrastructure with two Tandberg Video Communication
Servers(VCS), a dedicated Cisco ASA firewall, and a Tandberg Management Suite
handling all videoconference call routing and call management within our
network and video calls wanting to enter our network. A Codian
high-definition multipoint control unit (MCU) and our IP-to-ISDN gateway
provide the capability to host large videoconferences across IP and ISDN
networks without having to use a third party service. Most of our
videoconference systems are Polycom with a few Tandberg systems being
used. Our network infrastructure also supports the use of Cisco Jabber
which is a videoconferencing software application which runs on Windows XP,
Windows-7, MAC OS, and the iPad. Deployment of Cisco Jabber is limited at
this time to clinical telemedicine applications and researchers with
videoconference mobility requirements.
The Medical Center has many conference rooms and
classrooms equipped with videoconference equipment. If you have any questions
about videoconferencing, would like to schedule a video conference, or need
immediate assistance with your videoconference please contact:
Darryl Sterner Office: (336)
713-7014 Pager: (336) 806-3950
Joel Fletcher
Office: (336)
713-2035 Pager: (336) 806-4345
Audio Conferencing
Audio Conferencing
or teleconferencing is a two-way interactive audio communication using
electronic equipment such as your mobile phone, office telephone, or audio
tabletop conference phone. There is no video or visual media sharing in a
traditional audio conference. Audio conferences can involve two or more
participants or be very large and involve many, many participants who all dial
into a conferencing bridge or conferencing service where an access code or PIN
number is required.
If
you are an employee of the Medical Center and frequently schedule large audio
conferences, you can request an audio conference account be established for your
use by contacting Elyse Ferguson in Information Services. Currently Global
Crossings is handling our audio conference bridging services. The cost
with the new Global Conferencing will be $0.023 per minute per participant
which is much better than the between $.09 and .12 a minute we were paying with
Time Warner Telecommunications.
If you are in need of a Polycom tabletop conference phone for your
audio conference or webinar and are located on the Medical Center campus, you
may rent one from the Information Services Telecommunications Department by
contacting Catrina Renegar at 336-716-9292. If you are interested in
purchasing a Polycom tabletop conference phone for your conference room you may
contact Darryl Sterner or Joel Fletcher.
Webinar
A
webinar is sometimes referred to as an on-line workshop and refers to an
on-line service that allows conferencing events to be shared with remote
locations. This service allows for real-time communication from the
sender (presenter) to many receivers (participants). Webinar technology
allows the presenter to show all types of computer graphics, video clips, and
text documents with all participants. This model is a one-to-many model
since a webinar can have hundreds of participants all viewing the same
presentation simultaneously over the Internet. A webinar is a “hosted”
service which means that pay a subscription each month for ability to host a
webinar and invite participants. WebEx, GoToMeeting, and Adobe Connect
are examples of webinar service providers. Most webinar service providers
require the use of a telephone line to hear the presenter. The participant
would connect the URL address send to them by the host to view the presentation
then follow the instructions in the email on how to join on the telephone to
hear the presenter. Webinars have evolved over recent years and many now
support high definition video so you can now see the presenter and the
presentation at the same time throughout the meeting.
The
Medical Center Information Services department does not officially endorse or
support WebEx, GoToMeeting, or Adobe Connect although everyone is permitted to
subscribe to these webinar services as they feel necessary. Information
Services is planning on the deployment of Microsoft Lync sometime late Spring
which offers many of the same features at WebEx, GoToMeeting, and AdobeConnect.
Microsoft Lync would be available to all Medical Center employees.
If you need assistance with locating a conference room to participate in
a webinar contact Darryl Sterner or Joel Fletcher.
Webcast
A
webcast is a media presentation or audio distributed over IP networks using
streaming media technology such as Adobe Flash or Windows Media from a single
content source to many simultaneous viewers. A webcast can be distributed
live or as a video-on-demand program. A webcast is generally not interactive.
Here in the Medical Center our CEO town hall meetings are distributed to
employees as a live webcast and then made available later as a video-on-demand
program so employees can watch it at their convenience. Currently,
Babcock is only location from which a webcast can originate from. If you
have a training video, product use video, or safety video that you would like
to have made available as video-on-demand program please contact Darryl Sterner
or Joel Fletcher.