Video Conferencing: Passé or in Vogue? WCET October 28, 2011 Denver

Today’s Speakers• Darlene Williams, Northwestern State

University of Louisiana• Jeff Egly, Utah Education Network• David Belgarde, North Dakota Interactive Video

Network• Tony Pedersen, University of Wyoming

Outreach Video Network• Moderator: Alan Greenberg, Wainhouse

Research

1990’s 2000’s 2002 20091980’s 2011

Original MGC built 2001Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Video Conferencing: Passé or in Vogue

Northwestern State University of LouisianaNew MCU (FULL HD Capable) 2011All Endpoints HD Ready w/ Auto Lecture CaptureMovi

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Northwestern State University of LouisianaNorthwestern State’s Office of Information Systems manages the internal University network. This includes all connectivity between the main campus and the remote campuses. LONI (Louisiana Optical Network Initiative) provides commodity Internet as well as research network access, such as Internet2. This allows Northwestern State the ability to communicate with any higher educational institution with similar capabilities.

7 Statewide Network

2 Data (NSU)

1 Video Network (NSU)

FY11 Operational Budget:Funding Varies Annually – Predominantly Financed Through

Self-Generated Funds and Grants

Northwestern State schedules the use of its video conferencing environment to other public entities to help facilitate community outreach and continuing education efforts.

Northwestern State has direct connections to a couple of K-12 school districts. The direct connections are necessary because of the unreliable nature of commodity Internet. These districts have their own video conferencing environment that allows Northwestern State to easily communicate with any of their sites on a scheduled basis.

Currently all state funded colleges and universities are connected to LONI. This allows for Northwestern State to openly communicate via video conferencing with any school that has LONI access and a video conferencing endpoint. 10GB at NSU’s Door; 1GB Research (I2); 100MB Commodity

88%

10%

3%

Events per month - NSU

Class Offerings

Special Meet-ings

Departmental Meetings

Overall increase – fluctuations over the years with a new interest recently that is causing an increase in usage. 7 more NSU sites being installed in fall, 2011 bringing the NSU VC Network total to 51

Network ConnectivityVideo conferencing has been fully integrated as an application across the University’s IP (Internet Protocol) network. No longer are there separate dedicated lines or connections to connect video sites together. Video conferencing is now an application that rides on the same network as web traffic. This integration has helped the University combine dedicated resources into share resources. This allows the University to make better use of network bandwidth and simplicity network configurations. All new network topology is based on Ethernet either in the local or wide area network versions.

• Class offerings: Approximately 350 per month (NSU Classes Only) • Nursing• Criminal Justice• Education• Business• Dual Enrollment (High Schools)

•Special Meetings: Regents, ULS, or other State Use; Collaboration Between Institutions and/or Colleges• Internal Departmental Meetings Between Colleges, Satellite Campuses, and Military Installations

1990’s 2000’s 2002 20091980’s 2011

UEN’s 1st two-way video network built. Mid-to-late 1980’s utilizing microwave, fiber and broadcast technologies.

UEN’s Video Network Conversion to a fully h.323 based solution.

Video Conferencing: Passé or in Vogue

Utah Education Network

UEN implemented HD desktop/software SIP based solutionIntegrates with existing video network.

The Utah Education Network The UEN Technical Service Support Center (TSSC) is the operational front line for video services statewide.

11 UEN Field Engineers provide statewide installation & field support

10 FTE dedicated to Tier 1 & Tier 2 TSSC staff

2 Application Engineers

2 Distance Education Specialists

FY11 Operational Budget:

$2,118,809

45 Video ends within12 State agencies

UEN provides broadband services to 43 school districts - Currently 115 K12 institutions have at least 1 video conferencing - distance education classroom.

8 higher education institutions, numerous branch campuses, & each of Utah’s Applied Technology Colleges (ATCs)

37%

7%

56%

Events per month - UEN

Recurring Classes (3907)Non-recurring classes (723)Ad-hoc events (5905)

In the classroom Utah has seen conservatively over 25% growth in usage. Growth is even more significant when video end points are used on an Ad-hoc unscheduled basis.

Network ConnectivityUEN provides fiber based Gigabit Ethernet services to all higher education institutions, school district offices and most secondary schools. Where Gigabit Ethernet is not possible an alternative carrier class broadband solution is implemented. Utah’s school districts and/or UEN provide broadband services to elementary schools.

Event Definitions• A Recurring/Scheduled higher education-to-higher education classes.• B Recurring/Scheduled higher education-to-public education classes(Concurrent enrollment).• C Recurring/Scheduled public education-to-public education.• D Non-Recurring/scheduled one-time multisite classes or meetings.• E Ad-hoc events are originated by an end user. These events are both point-to-point and bridged/multisite events. Ad-hoc events are not scheduled.

1990’s 2000’s 2002 20091980’s 2011

Codec upgrade to PictureTel iPower H.323 systems in 2001

Codec upgrade to Polycom VSX. Add network recording and streaming capabilities summer 2005

NDIVN built in 1989. Compression Labs H.320 codecs & dedicated T1s.

Early to mid 2000’s, H.323 systems deployed statewide in K-12 & state gov.

Install 5 Polycom HDX trial systems in 2007

Video Conferencing: Passé or in Vogue

Codec upgrade to VTEL PC-based systems in 1998.

Upgrade to Polycom HDX systems and RMX MCU in 2009

Upgrade Polycom MGC MCUs to Codian in 2006

North Dakota Interactive Video Network

The ND Interactive Video NetworkNDIVN is part of Advanced Learning Technologies.

2.5 FTE Help Desk /Network Technicians

2 FTE Network Administration

2 FTE Scheduler,DB Admin, Training

3 FTE Learning Tech. Specialists

FY11 Operational Budget:

$1,418,480

Audio conferencing for state government. Meetings,Training

Audio, video, and webconferencing services. LMS for the 11 campuseswithin ND University System.

Dual credit offerings to K-12schools; Algebra, Comm., ASL,Welding

84%

10%6%

Events per month - NDIVNClasses (1162)

Meetins (139)

Audio (76)

North Dakota has seen steady growth in all service areas. Most significant growth in class offerings, near 30% growth in last 2 years.

Network ConnectivityNDIVN utilizes a statewide RPR network. 7 HE campuses have 1 Gb Ethernet connections with the remaining 4 campuses have 100 Mb connections. Most k-12 locations have 10 Mb Ethernet connections. H.323 audio and video are given priority over other network traffic.

Over the past two years the technologies NDIVN has or is evaluating include:

• Desktop Videoconferencing – ConferenceMe, Vidyo, CMA, Movi, OCS, Skype/Blue Jeans •Web conferencing integration – Wimba(Blackboard Collaborate), Adobe Connect •Mobility – Vidyo & Polycom ipad app •Lecture Capture – Panopto Focus •Room scheduling integration with MS Outlook

1990’s 2000’s 2002 20091980’s 2011

Video Conferencing: Passé or in Vogue

University of Wyoming began video conferencing using ISDN lines. WVCS (Wyoming Video Conferencing Network) Began in 1992

University of Wyoming OVN Upgrade 9 endpoints to HDX, monitoring capabilities. Beginning steps to integrate with Video Conf Enterprise.

University of Wyoming

Early 2000’s Transformmed network to IP H.323 system

2008 separated from WVCS - Created OVN, Outreach Video Network

University of Wyoming Outreach Video NetworkUniversity of Wyoming Outreach Technology Services and UW IT

3 F/T staff – Technical help

2 F/T staff scheduling/operations

IT Help – 2 F/T staff

FY11 Operational Budget:

$400,000

Other University of Wyoming Entities and state agencies – Approx. 20-30

No K-12 Institutions connected. K-12 utilizes WEN video network operated by State Dept. of Ed

All 7 Community Colleges in Wyoming.

88%

4%

2%

5%

Site hours per year, FY ’11 - UW

Credit Courses

Non-Commercial

Commercial

UW Outreach Meetings

FY 2010 to FY 2011 saw 41% increase in number of events. (1,289 to 1,814 events)

Network ConnectivityConsists of T-1 lines or DSL lines to approximately 50 endpoints around the state

• A Credit Courses• B Non-Commercial• C Commercial• D UW Outreach Meetings

Other Technologies Piloted

UEN• SIP Based Collaboration• HD Video Conferencing• Mobility – IVC via Wireless, Smart

Phone and Tablet• High Density Streaming for the live web

events• Extended local recording capabilities • Desktop Video Conferencing ie Cisco

Movi• Advanced Routing through VCS• Vlan vs Virtual Route Forwarding (VRF)• Smart Whiteboards/Bridgeit – Bridging

white boards in video events for improved collaboration

Wyoming• UW wireless to all sites• VCE – Video Conference

Enterprise – Common central bridging and scheduling for all State of Wyoming video conferencing networks

Other Technologies Piloted

North Dakota• Desktop video

(ConferenceMe, CMA, Vidyo, OCS, Movi, Skype/Blue Jeans)

• Lecture capture (Tegrity & Panopto)

• Outlook integration for scheduling

• Vidyo for mobile devices• Meet-Me vs scheduled

conferences

Northwestern University of Louisiana

• A range of technologies -- from new classroom based video conferencing to new desktop and mobile video applications.

• It has been determined that each offer different benefits to students based on learning style and preference.

• Will continue to utilize a combination of video applications to deliver the content to students.

Top 3 Most Important Challenges

North Dakota• Keeping technology up-to-date

(enhanced quality HD systems) while squeezing the most out of expensive investments.

• Meeting the needs of the higher education community; mobility, reliability, ease of use.

• Achieving efficiencies for NDUS. Finding ways to leverage resources and maximize buying power.

Northwestern University of Louisiana

• Access to the state’s high speed data networks. K-12 needs to be included into the state education data network to ensure delivery of data to these entities.

• Education on the availability of video services to faculty and students

• End-user buy-in as video moves to the desktop and mobile computing devices.

Top 3 Most Important ChallengesUEN• Ongoing Support – Internal and

annual service contracts.• Funding the core video

infrastructure necessary to meet the growth and demand for software based solutions in addition to the continued growth in traditional video end points.

• Resources to refresh existing video hardware at the edge and the core.

Wyoming• Political will/Funding• Coordination of

different video conferencing agencies

• Challenge of anywhere –anytime. Individual codecs, desktop/mobile