Classroom Equipment
A typical DETS studio classroom is equipped with 4 cameras. There are two cameras located in the back of the room that follows the presenter and picks up written material from the white board. There is a third camera located above the presenter's desk that functions as a document camera. There is a third camera located near the front of the room that is set to pick up a view of the audience. The camera signals are then sent to a switcher where an operator selects from a variety of video sources.
Presenter audio is picked up with a wireless microphone and audience questions and comments are picked up with ceiling microphones. Classroom audio and other audio sources are sent to an automatic audio mixer where the levels are controlled.
Classrooms are equipped with PCs for the presenter to use for such things as PowerPoint graphics and software demonstration. The output of the computer is sent to a large LCD display for the inroom audience and is also sent to the control room as a video source for the operator to select from.
There are tablet annotation tools available that allow presenters to annotate their PowerPoint graphics or to use as a virtual whiteboard. A presenter can also bring in their own laptop and send its output to the in-room display and control room.
There are large video monitors in the front of each classroom that allow the audience to view any images generated by the faculty as well as the program signal that is leaving the control room. Audio from live distant viewers as well as other relevant audio is fed into classroom speakers. There are also monitors in the rear of the classrooms directed at the presenter that display video from distant viewers that are equipped for two way video.
Signals leaving the control rooms are distributed for use in a variety of applications
Video teleconferencing
Video teleconferencing equipment is integrated into each classroom. Video teleconferencing provides fully interactive video and audio between the classroom and distant audiences. The equipment, referred to as a CODEC, compresses and packages the signal for delivery over the internet in a format referred to as video over IP (H.323). In addition to video over IP we also deliver the faculty computer images in a combined format known as People plus Content. This video standard (H.239) allows the remote students to see the professors' computer display and the professor at the same time.
The manufacturer of our CODEC’s is Polycom. DETS is equipped to distribute real-time interactive content over IVN (Interactive Video Network), a high speed Video over IP (H.323) teleconferencing and bridging network operated by UMATS.
IVN is a growing teleconferencing network consisting of Universities, Colleges, and education centers throughout the state of Maryland. IVN operates over Internet2 and can deliver video over IP to most organizations that are connected to Internet2, allowing DETS to deliver live, interactive, high quality, full screen and full motion video content to organizations worldwide.
Streaming
All of our classes are captured (to computer/server) and streamed live. The presentations are available afterwards via video on demand or downloading over the internet. Downloadable packages are usually online within 24 hours of the end of class. Students are able to access their class videos using their LMS account.
The online student views class videos on their PC, tablet, or smart phone. The multi format videos are available at different bit rates to accommodate fast or slow data rates.