For all of those Star Trek fans that enjoyed watching Captain Kirk communicate with Star Fleet via video, today's technology has almost caught up. Videoconferencing/Video Teleconferencing/VTC provides the same type of video communication as Star Fleet on Star Trek, but this time it's on earth.

"What exactly is this technology called videoconferencing?" Videoconferencing, sometimes called Video Teleconferencing or VTC, is a technology used to hold a conference, meeting, or class among people at remote locations by means of transmitted audio and video signals. It allows an individual or group to conduct personal, educational, administrative, and/or collaborative "virtual meetings" excluding the need of purchasing an expensive travel ticket. These calls can be made over digital telephone lines (ISDN/H.320) or over your local area network (LAN/H.323). H.320 and H.323 are videoconferencing standards defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to ensure the interoperability between different manufacturers. The latest versions of this technology can produce a high quality, fully interactive call where participants at both sites see and hear each other simultaneously. "Guess what Captain Kirk, earth’s technologies aren’t as bad as we thought."

The two primary types of videoconferencing systems in use today are desktop or PC-based personal systems, and of course we can’t forget the more expensive modular or group systems. Desktop videoconferencing systems bring quality video communications to your office, delivering full-screen and full-motion videoconferencing on your PC, barely impacting its processing power. Today, there are desktop systems available that deliver high quality video at a low cost. These systems provide H.323 voice and video, as well as applications sharing. Most desktop systems offer easy installation and some are configured without add-in boards or bulky hardware to place on your desk.

Modular systems are group conferencing systems mostly used in conference rooms or classrooms containing multiple people. Group systems can be purchased to support multiple configurations and can be equipped with many different features. These systems are capable of connecting point-to-point and multipoint calls via H.320, or H.323. Voice activated cameras included as a feature on a group system can track the speaker and are particularly useful in a classroom. Document cameras are used to take a snapshot of an object or slide and transmit the still graphic to the remote end. Scan converters are also an option with these units. The converter takes a VGA computer display and converts it into National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) format for display on the video monitors. Participants can have collaborative work group sessions through document sharing and these PC applications. Also ancillary equipment such as auxiliary cameras, audio mixers, and additional microphones are options that can enhance any group system.

Although "Captain Kirk" made this technology seem as if our floor model televisions were ancient, we have finally caught up and the cost of these technologies are drastically decreasing by the day. Considering recent national and international tragic events, the request for this service is naturally booming. Several departments at the University are using and offering this technology as a service. OIT Networking and Telecommunication Services (NTS) provides videoconferencing consulting, and equipment recommendations. This service includes training assistance, conference set-up assistance, testing and troubleshooting assistance, operator support. NTS also maintains a state-of-the-art Polycom ViewStation group videoconferencing unit. This system serves the University community and is located in the Training Room of the Patuxent Building #10, which can comfortably seat 10 to 20 people. If you need additional videoconferencing information or assistance, please contact our OIT-NTS Engineering Staff at 301.405.4425.

Open a New Window to Rate This Article