ARCHIVED: Completed project: Videoconferencing Refinements and Expansion

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Primary UITS contact: Steve Egyhazi

Completed: February 5, 2010

Description: The project has two components:

Videoconference room standardization:

  • Standardizing room designs and user interface
  • High-definition upgrade path
  • H.239 content sharing capability

Toward ubiquitous videoconferencing:

  • Desktop videoconferencing, on and off campus
  • Multipoint conferencing
  • Directory services
  • Scheduling (reservation vs. reservation-less, concierge, or a mix)
  • Videoconferencing as a complement to web collaboration and streaming tools
  • Toward the future, 3G wireless video

Outcome: This project will seek to refine the videoconferencing experience at Indiana University by emphasizing high-definition upgrades to legacy standard definition rooms, and to define standards and best practices that encourage greater use of synchronous video communication in the classroom, in the conference room, and at the desktop.

Milestones and status:

  • August 2008: Completed installation of the first round of HD videoconferencing installations in 10 UITS conference rooms (IUB: WCC 101e, T2 100D, E5 110c, PO 158a, FF 116a; IUPUI: IT 207, IT 319, IT 419, IT 533); meeting to coordinate installations in WCC 110, WCC Atrium, and IT 303 in coming months. Also:
    • Completed installation and migration to new Tandberg gatekeeper and corporate directory server, allowing greater flexibility in populating the video directory (not just proprietary Polycom endpoints)
    • Initial successful testing of OCS (SIP) H.323 MCU portal, with plans for all-UITS pilot of mixed SIP/H.323 conferencing service January 2009
  • August-September 2008: Ongoing beta testing of Codian 8510 HD MCU blade, looking toward high-definition multi-point switching
  • March-August 2009: Completed HD videoconferencing installations in remaining UITS conference rooms (IUB: WCC 110, WCC 136A, WCC 136B, WCC 101D, E2 106, E2 110A/B, E5 148, T2 115, PO 229; IUPUI: IT 203,IT 209, IT 213, IT 303, IT 407, IT 541).
  • June 2009: Installed Tandberg Video Communication Server combination H.323 gatekeeper & SIP registrar, which allows H.323 < - > Microsoft Office Communicator integration.
  • December 2009: IU Tandberg Codian Video Bridge port capacity expanded from 80 to 200 ports to accommodate expected demand from OCS integration with H.323 videoconferencing.

Comment process: Email Steve Egyhazi.

Benefits: Emphasis on high-definition resolution cameras and displays, H.239 computer content sharing capability, and careful attention to AV integration factors in conference rooms will increase user satisfaction with the technology, as well as improve communication and productivity in meetings. IU will have a more seamless and pervasive videoconferencing environment, and user interfaces and feature sets across group and desktop systems will become more predictable.

Risks: The high cost of videoconferencing hardware is a consideration in terms of establishing reasonable timelines for upgrades, especially because videoconferencing hardware purchase decisions and ownership are decentralized.

Primary clients: IU faculty and staff

Client impact: As a result of this project, users should notice a more focused approach to video network architecture, videoconference room design, and desktop videoconference best practices.

Project team:

  • Steve Egyhazi
  • Beverly Teach
  • Others to be announced

Governance:

  • Kirt Guinn
  • Mike Lucas
  • Dennis Cromwell

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Last modified on 2018-01-18 16:05:06.