Terms
Conferences and Conferencing – Some useful definitions
One-way - Communication occurs from the sender to the receiver with no avenue for interaction. Methods of delivery tend to be more formal and presenter is required to provide more planning to achieve intended purpose.
Two-way - Communication occurs from the sender to the receiver with an unencumbered method for interaction and feedback from the receiver back to the sender. In some circumstances the role of sender and receiver changes as the dialogue is allowed to occur. Methods of delivery tend to be less formal because interaction is real time and receiver can seek clarification as needed.
Synchronous - No appreciable delay exists from the time the information is shared until the time the information is available for review. Participants are able to interact within the normal timing of a routine conversation. Audio and video conferencing are good examples.
Asynchronous - Delay in the delivery of information shared is enough to make routine conversation impractical or immediate response is not required. Participants are able to response to information as their timeframe allows. Email and facsimile are good examples.
Point To Point - Involves no more that two sites at one time. Sites are able to connect directly to each other provided the technology they are using is compatible.
Bridged or MultiPoint - Involves as few as two and as many as you have equipment to support at one time. Requires the use of additional features or equipment to allow all sites to participate unencumbered. Quality is reduced both in pictures and sound when bridging is employed. A complex matrix allows audio sites to participate without decreasing the volume of the caller to unintelligible levels. Video sites are handled differently since they are not as easily combined. Most video conferences allow the speaking site to be seen by all others. When another site speaks, then everyone else’s video changes to the new site. A new technology is being made available on newer bridges that allows multiple sites to be seen on the screen at one time.
TYPES OF CONFERENCING
Audio - A meeting or event that involves only sound between two participants via the telephone or other audio technologies including radio, cellular, or internet. When more than one person is at a single site a telephone with a speaker and microphone are employed (speaker phone).
More sophisticated conferencing telephones are available and generally provide a much better quality of sound from the speaker and better microphone pickup for the receiving site. Care should be taken to decrease room noise when conducting these conferences since noise will interfere with the ability of the receiver to understand the information.
When more than two sites are needed, additional conferencing capabilities can be obtained via functions built into individual telephone or to the telephone system. Occasionally a telephone bridge may be used to create a “meet me” environment for all sites to dial in to a predetermined number.
Sometimes confused with teleconferencing. Audio Conferencing is a specific type of teleconferencing.
Video – A meeting or event that involves the combination of pictures and sound via dedicated or leased data lines. Several delivery mechanisms exist including ground or global based communication technology. Use of specific camera/monitor and microphone/speaker equipment is required at each end in order for communications to occur. Desktop, portable, or room based systems are required to be connected to a telecommunications network common to all participating sites.
Since this conference contains both pictures and sound, more resources are required by this technology than is needed for audio conferencing. For information to be delivered in a manner that allows communication to occur connections using 384 kbps of bandwidth are common.
When more than two sites are needed an elaborate switching scheme is needed to allow all sites to participate on an equal basis. The use of a bridge or multipoint conferencing unit is essential. The bridge provides the necessary resources to process video in a manner that allows all sites to see each other as they participate. As mentioned earlier, the bridge is a complex matrix that allows a great deal of video switching.
Care should be taken to improve the visual elements of any video conference since more of the information is visual. In addition noise in any room can add to distractions and prevent the information from being shared properly.
Satellite - A meeting or event that involves the use of both audio and video technology (pictures and sound) to share information in a higher quality than what can be achieved otherwise. Generally, video conferencing quality standards are not as high as what can be obtained when using satellite based technology. This technology utilizes an uplink at the program origination source and downlinks at the program reception point. Many times these “downlinks’ are called satellite dishes.
Interactivity is generally non existent or limited to one-way audio conferencing technology. Some two-way communication is possible, but technology based delay has limited the ability for widespread deployment in a two-way model. Generally this delivery technique is limited to more formal programs with structured interaction.
Most satellite conferencing occurs from television production facilities or dedicated classrooms or conferences rooms. These rooms are equipped with the necessary technology to allow programs to be built and distributed locally, nationally, and globally as needed.
Hybrid - A combination of audio, video, and satellite conferencing can occur provided points in a communication system possess equipment to allow combinations. Audio conferencing can be added to video conferencing provided the interlink between the two technologies can be achieved. The only way to achieve this is to possess the two or three different types of technology or have access to it via another site.
Satellite programs may be shared over video conferencing provided that one site involved in the conference can provide audio and video to the rest of the sites.
Web/Data – A meeting or event that involves graphics via your PC through your Internet or internal data network. This type of conferencing is generally restricted to still images or images that come in a sequence for animation without a great deal of motion. Some events attempt to combine motion images, but most successful events are limited to stills. This decreases the resources needed at the server sites to support the growing number of sites that participate.
Audio conferencing is generally associated with these events in an attempt to provide real-time audio delivery and interaction from the participants. Some complex conferences utilize an audio conferencing service or bridge to support auto attendant and single number dialing. Many events are conferenced using internal conferencing capabilities of the local telephone switch.
Equipment required for these types of events generally include a PC that has access to the Web site (it should always be pretested), a display device to present the material to the audience, and an audio conferencing device. When larger rooms are required for the intended audience, some interface may need to be made between an existing house public address system in order for the program audio to be heard. If interaction is required from the large audience, then the microphone system needs to be tied into the telephone as well.
TYPES OF CALLS
On Net - Calls made to sites that have connectivity for video conferencing and other services offered from Inland Northwest Health Services. Calls made to other sites “on” the network do not cost the system or the participating sites any out of pocket costs beyond normal day to day operating costs.
Off Net - Calls made to sites that do not have connectivity on a full time bases to NW TeleHealth system. Calls made to sites creates charges back to the site or system similar to long distance charges on the telephone. These services can run as high as $120 an hour for a 6 channel or 384 kbps call. Sites making connections to sites “off net” are responsible for repayment of these costs.
IP - Internet Protocol Delivery system used by NW TeleHealth for system wide upgrade and new sites beginning January 2001. Makes use of 12 digit IP address to identify sites and connect bandwidth for video conferencing to occur. Requires less complexity than ISDN.
H323 - International standard for Internet Protocol based video conferencing.
ISDN - Intergrated Service Digital Network Delivery - System used by NW TeleHealth prior to January 2001. System still in place for “Off Net” calls. Makes use of telephone numbers to identify sites and connect bandwidth for video conferencing to occur. Calls outside of the network continue to utilize these services on a per-minute per channel charge.
H320 - International standard for dedicated/ISDN based video conferencing.
Other terminology used in past by TeleHealth
VTEL - A manufacturer of video conferencing equipment used by NW TeleHealth. A conference or specific event is sometimes referred to as a “VTEL”
PolyCom - A manufacturer of video conferencing equipment used by NW TeleHealth. This equipment is not dependant on a PC for the operating system, which reduces the complexity for operation and service.