Videoconferencing Technology

Using the videoconferencing system, participants at different locations can see and hear each other.  For course use, videoconferencing rooms are available on each campus and at each center.   Additional systems are available on each campus to include an Executive System located near each President's office.

Videoconferencing was introduced to the University of Maine System in 1997.  The term "Compressed Video" has been used to distinguish it from traditional ITV. However with the introduction of Polycom units to the UMS in 2003-2005, the term "Compressed Video" has been replaced with "Video Conference" 

Overview & How it works

To accommodate courses, the rooms are typically arranged in a conference room style with seating for 8-15 students per room. 

With two way videoconferences, participants continually view the other room.  Control of the camera with a remote control allows moving (panning and filtering) and zooming to get a close-up view of the person speaking.

When more than two sites are in a conference, a multipoint bridge connects the locations and is most often set up for voice-activated switching which allows for the video image of room where the person is speaking to be transmitted to all the locations in the conference.  This is particularly useful when a faculty member presents content material and students interact with questions, comments, and ideas.

Scheduling a Videoconference

Scheduling a conference involves scheduling the rooms and scheduling the multipoint bridge. Each of the campuses has a centrally scheduled room that is used for classes and meetings. Other meeting rooms on campuses are equipped with videoconference equipment, but since those rooms are also used for on-campus meetings, scheduling of those rooms is done on the individual campuses. To request a video conference bridge or a centrally scheduled room, or to see a contact list of other rooms, a web site is available.

Videoconferencing at Campuses and Centers

Connected to each campus unit is a document camera and computer input device called a "Visual Concert."  The document camera operates similar to an overhead projector which can display either transparencies, regular paper documents or small objects.  The Visual Concert transfers computer content from a computer to the remote locations. Unlike the document camera, which replaces the image of the speaker, the Visual Concert allows computer content to be viewed by every videoconference location at the same time that participants view the speaker.  Desktop computers are already connected to the systems on the Orono, Augusta, and Portland campuses; as well as one of the rooms at each of the centers. Connections for laptops are also available at each campus and center.