Video Conferencing
Compressed Video Conferencing
IP based compressed video conferencing technology allows for immediate interaction between the conferencing parties using two-way audio and video capabilities.
UNLV, as a NevadaNet participant, provides interactive video network conferencing connectivity for approximately 200 video sites throughout the state of Nevada. Centralized scheduling, operational switching, and off-net multipoint conferencing are all services for the campus community for educational or related use.
Locations
Two compressed video sites on campus are serviced by OIT exclusively reserved as a teaching facility:
- William D. Carlson Education Building, Room 216
- Frank and Estella Beam Hall, Room 122
Non-instructional video conferencing is accommodated in:
- Carol C. Harter Classroom Building, Room 117
Reservations
For single-conference participants, room access is provided by OIT staff thirty minutes before scheduled conference time.
For video conference reservations, contact Classroom Media Services at 895-0701. Room scheduling is on a first-come first-served basis.
For compressed video classroom reservation, training, and instructional design assistance please contact Multimedia Services (895-0701) at least 4-6 weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Preparations
OIT does not provide personal technical assistance to conferences, therefore a 15-minute orientation/training is recommended to learn how to use the equipment.
Instructors teaching from a compressed video classroom will be required to learn how to use the technology and peripherals in depth. Complete training sessions are approximately 90 minutes long, and scheduled to fit the faculty’s availability. Once trained, a marlok card is granted to allow access into the room. Contact Multimedia Services (895-0701) for training.
Access Grid Node
The Access Grid (AG) will support large-scale distributed meetings, collaborative work sessions, seminars, lectures, tutorials and training. It consists of multimedia display, presentation and interactions environments, interfaces to grid middleware and interfaces to visualization environments. The Access Grid Large-format displays integrated with intelligent or active meeting rooms are a central feature of the Access Grid nodes. Access Grid nodes are "designed spaces" that contain the high-end audio and visual technology needed to provide a high-quality compelling user experience of remote events.
UNLV has two nodes on the access grid, one located in the Lied Library the other at NSCEE (Call 51453 for scheduling).
Lied Library Node
An Access grid node is located in the Eureka room of the Lied Library. This node makes use of three digital projectors, four video cameras, and eight ceiling-mounted microphones with echo-canceling electronics, all controlled by a single computer running software supplied by inSORS.
The Access Grid is designed to allow UNLV faculty, staff, and students to videoconference with colleagues and researchers around the world. The Access Grid node, may be scheduled for use by UNLV faculty members. Conferences should fall between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays when the Lied Library building is closed (some exceptions may be made when resources allow). Limited assistance with the Access Grid set up and use is provided by the Libraries' staff with support from other campus computing units.
The following Microsoft software is available for use in videoconferencing: PowerPoint, Word, Excel. The PC running the Access Grid software has a CD drive and a floppy drive. For the best access to files, however, faculty should save items to their campus network space.
Lied Library Node Scheduling
To schedule a conference, please call Diane VanderPol at x52126. Please be prepared to supply the following information:
- Date, start time, and end time of the conference
- Name and contact information of technical support person at remote site
- As much understanding as possible about the nature of the video conference, for example, it would be helpful to know the following:
- Will there be more than two sites participating?
- Does the remote site have inSORS software, if so, what is the name of the "room" which conference participants will meet in? If not, what is the IP address of the remote site?
- Will the conference be encrypted? If yes, what is the "key" or password?
- What sort of functionality will conference participants at UNLV need? Simple audio- visual connection or the ability to chat or to "push" web pages or power point pages?
