1. Desktop Videoconferencing
WVIZ/PBS
Advisory Committee Meeting
December 4, 2007

2. What is Desktop
Videoconferencing?
• Attachment for a personal computer that
allows an individual to videoconference
directly from a desk to another location
within the building or through a network to
a remote site. – London Health Science
Center

3. Webcams
Webcams come in all shapes, sizes and
features. A couple of Key points…
• The camera must fit your computers
specifications.
• Audio must be integrated into the camera
or a microphone must be connected to the
computer.
• Some cameras need audio and video
adjustments prior to starting a
videoconference

4. Popular Webcams
• Creative Labs
$99.00 $49.00
$29.00
• Miscrosoft
$89.00 $58.00 $25.00
• Logetech
$129.00 $50.00 $30.00
Video Effects and Audio and Video Camera only
Extra Features Integration

5. Using Video Effects
Logitech Ultra
Vision Video
Effects
Microsoft
Livecam
Video Effects

6. Desktop Video in K-12
Education
• Desktop to Desktop
Videoconference from a personal
computer to a personal computer (Instant
Messaging)

7. Desktop to Desktop
• Skype
– Videoconferencing and Audio conferencing
between Skype Members
– Supports chat between Skype Members
– Supports document sharing
– Supports audio calls to off Skype Networks
including Cell Phones and Telco (Locally and
Internationally for an additional fee)
– Supports multipoint Audio conferences
– Supports public discussions in text and audio
(Skypecasts)

9. Desktop to Desktop
Advantages Disadvantages
• Free to download and to join • Webcam video quality
• Small learning curve • Small groups or single user
• A great tool for planning and • Small screen size
one on one communication • Limited mobility
• A great work around for • Bandwidth
email filtering, difficult phone • Firewalls and district policies
networks and poor cell • Runs in the background on
reception your Computer
• A great tool for international • File sharing limited to
communication uploading and downloading
• Solicitation over IM

10. Desktop Video in K-12
Education
• Desktop to Desktop
(Instant Messaging)
Videoconference from a personal
computer to a personal computer
• Desktop to Web portal to Desktop
(Browser Based Videoconferencing)
Videoconference from a person computer
to multiple desktop endpoints using an
online portal

11. Desktop to Portal to Desktop
• MegaMeeting
– Browser based videoconferencing solution
requires now downloading
– Multipoint Videoconferencing using webcams
Unlimited users, Continuous Presence for 16
sites
– Desktop Sharing
– “Pass the Mic” capabilities
– Audio conferencing
– White Board and Markup support
– Text Chat and & IM between participants

12. Desktop to Portal to Desktop

13. Desktop to Portal to Desktop

14. Desktop to Portal to Desktop

15. Desktop to Portal to Desktop
Advantages Disadvantages
• No Downloads Required • Cost
• Small learning curve • $29 - 400 per month based
• A great tool for small group on number of users
planning and meetings • $15,000 purchase to run
• Phone support for locally on your server
participants away from a PC • Running locally requires an
or offline additional server
• Desktop and File sharing • Renting video space requires
promotes online collaboration all video and data traffic to goes
• Email notifications with links to California
to video rooms • Only 16 endpoints viewable in
• Participants can Continuous Presence
join from office • Can not include H.323 Video
or home. endpoints

16. Desktop Video in K-12
Education
• Desktop to Desktop
(Instant Messaging)
Videoconference from a personal computer
to a personal computer
• Desktop to Web portal to Desktop
(Browser Based Videoconferencing)
Videoconference from a person computer to
multiple desktop endpoints using an online
portal
• Desktop to Classroom
Videoconference from a personal computer
to a H.323 endpoint

17. Desktop to Classroom (H.323)
• Polycom PVX
– PC based H.323 videoconferencing to any
H.323 videoconferencing end point or MCU
– Requires software and a webcam
– Supports H.239 graphics and desktop sharing
– Runs on Windows XP and Vista
– Connects to sites as High as 1920K or as low
as 64K

18. Desktop to Classroom (H.323)
• XMeeting
– Mac-based H.323 videoconferencing to any
H.323 videoconferencing end point or MCU
– Requires free software and a webcam
– Supports call recording to QuickTime Movies
– Runs on Mac OS X 10.4 or higher

20. Desktop to Classroom (H.323)
Advantages Disadvantages
• Desktop to video endpoint • To receive a videoconference
solution users must have a static &
• H.264 video compression public IP address on their
• Small learning curve computer
• Does not require static or • To receive a videoconference
public IP to dial out users must be added to firewall
• Works well with firewalls on access lists
outgoing calls • Many consider this program a
• Great for one to many or one network security risk when
to one sessions provided a public IP
• Cost - $150 • Webcam Quality video and
audio
• Not a classroom solution
• Software is a work load on

21. Product Description Cost Platform Link
Instant Messaging and video
AOL Instant Messenger Free Mac/Win www.aol.com
software service from AOL
Camfrog Webcam chat community 49.95 Mac/Win www.camfrog.com
http://www.sorensonvrs.co
Video relay software for sign
EnVision Free Win XP m/options/envision_downlo
language users
ad.php
Instant Messaging and video
http://www.apple.com/maco
iChat software service compatible with Free Mac
sx/features/ichat.html
AOL
ICUII Live video chat using a webcam 49.95 Win http://www.icuii.com/
Voice, video, and instant
Ineen Free Mac/Win www.ineen.com
messaging
Social network and video chat
iSpQ (Eye-Speak) 39.95 Mac/Win http://www.ispq.com
software
http://www.ivisit.com/index.
iVisit Audio/Video conferencing 49.95 Mac/Win
html
Instant Messaging using audio and
PalTalk Free Win http://www.paltalk.com
video
http://www.polycom.com/us
H.323 compliant videoconferencing
Polycom PVX $149.00 Win a/en/products/video/desktop
software
/pvx.html
Audio/Video conferencing with
SightSpeed Free for basic version Mac/Win http://www.sightspeed.com
video mail
Audio/Video conferencing with
Free (service costs
Skype Skype members; Audio calls off Mac/Win/Linux www.skype.com
vary)
Skype network
Webcam chat community
TryFast compatible with MSN, AOL, ICQ, Free for basic version Win www.tryfast.com
and Yahoo!
Instant Messaging and video
Windows Live Messenger Free (service costs http://get.live.com/messeng
software service; Audio calls off Win
(MSN) vary) er/overview
Windows Live network
H.323 compliant videoconferencing http://xmeeting.sourceforge.
xMeeting Free Mac
software net/pages/index.php
Free (service costs http://messenger.yahoo.co
Yahoo! Messenger Audio/video instant messaging Mac/Win/Linux
vary) m/chat.php

22. Contacts
• Paul Hieronymus
Curriculum Technology Coordinator
Avon Schools
HieronymusP@avon.k12.oh.us
(440) 866-5959
• Matt McKenna
Production and Technical Support
WVIZ/PBS
matthew.mckenna@ideastream.org
216-916-6346