Goldsmiths Video Conferencing
Goldsmiths offers a comprehensive Video Conferencing service, situated in the Prokofiev Room in the Rutherford Building, using a state-of-the-art Lifesize Room High Definition technology. Through the auspices of the Design Education Department, depending upon availability, we my also be able to offer the use of a portable Aethra Standard Definition system for Teaching Room situations where the need to visit our fixed installation is impossible.
From the start of the 2010-2011 session, a further Lifesize Room HD system is available for use with much larger audiences in the Main Lecture Theatre (LG02) in the New Academic Building (NAB) located to the rear of College Green.
There have also been requests to ITS Services about the use of Skype, a proprietary protocol service that simply requires the user to have their own Skype username a simple webcam, headset/microphone, and an installation of the Skype application on their PC or Mac desktop or laptop computer. For your convenience, Media Services have installed this application on its loan MacBook dual-boot (OS-X/Windows '98) laptops and on all its Teaching Room and Lecture Theatre Macs and PCs. However, this application is not 'supported' as far as IT Services is concerned owing to its reliance on an external service provider. Please do not expect support, therefore, from either the Media Equipment Centre or the ITS Helpdesk on this application/service.
How do I get started?
Please contact David Riddle in the Digital Media Suite Office (Ext: 7546) to arrange a training session. There will also occasionally be formally advertised training courses. When you have completed your training complete the on-line booking form to make your booking. [Requires Goldsmiths' log-in]
It is also essential to check in advance that the Prokofiev Room is available for your Conference event, since this room is heavily used for other purposes. Please see the Booking Form for further information.
What is Video Conferencing?
Video conferencing is real-time communication via video between two or more people in different locations. Video conferences can be as simple as a one-to-one conversation between a 'local' room and another remote location anywhere in the world, or involve more locations at the same time, more people or more presentation equipment.
What is Video Conferencing used for?
Uses of our Videoconferencing Suite might include:
- Teaching: multi-site international seminars, with presenters at local or remote sites
- Collaborative working: joint research projects
- Management meetings: project administration, progress reports
- Job interviews: local panel interviewing applicant at remote venue, or vice versa
- Vivas : overseas students or examiners at their local site
- College Open Days, Degree Shows or prestige events
You can find out more about our service by reading our Video Conferencing guide [PDF] or see how to use the facility in our Video Conferencing training guide. [PDF]
Recording Video Conferences
If desired, it is possible to arrange for video conferences to be recorded via the JANET Video Conferencing Recording Service (JVCRS). We currently have no facility to record VC on site. Requests to use this facility must be included in the original booking and will not be entertained unless at least two weeks prior notice is provided. However, users should be alert to the fact that if such a request is made, it will be subject to the relevant documentation being completed that relates to the Data Protection Act. Terms & Conditions for this can be found on the Official Goldsmiths Web pages. All participants must sign the relevant agreement form in advance of the VC recording being made. It is particularly important to note that there is a limit of six months on the storage of material recorded in this way.
Feedback
After using our Video Conferencing service we would be very pleased if you would use our online VC Feedback Form accessed as following to tell us how it went and how we might improve our service in the future. [Requires Goldsmiths' log-in]