Video Conferencing at The University of Northampton

What is Video Conferencing?  |  The Equipment  |  Availability  |  Price List
How to Book  |   Location  |  Advice & Training

What is Video Conferencing?
Video conferencing allows you to broadcast from a central point to many different locations regardless of distance. This advancement in communications enables people to see and hear each other by using a combination of computer and communication technologies. Users can 'meet' together at a distance and visually collaborate.

Here at The University of Northampton we use 3 ISDN lines to connect to the other party, although it is possible to use just 1 or 2 lines. If all 3 lines are used however, the audio and visual quality are far greater than with 1 or 2 (although this depends on whether the other party are able to accept 3 lines).

The Equipment

The room is able to seat up to 8 delegates comfortably. There is also the facility to accommodate a laptop or PC.

Availability
The facilities are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - with the exception of Bank Holidays (although this is negotiable) - please contact Vince Bedding on ext: 2214 for further information.

University staff have preference on booking the video conferencing room and facilities, but it is dealt with on a first come, first served basis. Before a conference can be booked, an agreement form must be completed and sent to Vince Bedding in the first instance.

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Price List
These prices are not applicable to staff at The University of Northampton. The video conferencing facilities are free of charge to all University employees.

A detailed list of all charges and exemptions are shown below:-

• Equipment available between the hours of 08:00am and 17:00pm Monday to Thursday and 08.00am and 16:30pm on Fridays (unless otherwise agreed).
• All conferences are subject to availability, on a first come, first served basis.
• All ‘Out of Hours’ conferences are subject to availability of manpower.
• ISDN call charges are not included in the charges list on this page.
• Prices DO NOT include special requirements e.g. lecture theatre setup, technician to operate equipment etc.
• Prices include a brief instruction on how to use the equipment.
• In the case of faulty equipment, not being able to connect to contact or any other reason due to unforeseen circumstances, The University of Northampton will not be held responsible for any costs lost.
• You use the equipment entirely at your own risk.
• Prices DO NOT include VAT.
• There is a 50% cancellation fee if less than 24 hours notice is given prior to the linkup.

How to Book
We recommend in the first instance to contact Vince Bedding on extension 2214 to ensure the date you require is free.
Complete the booking form below and send to Vince Bedding, either by fax on 01604 719465 or by post to:
Vince Bedding
IT Services
The University of Northampton
Boughton Green Road
Northampton NN2 7AL

• Video Conferencing Request Form

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Location
The video conferencing suite is based at Park Campus on the 1st floor of the Senate building.
If you are an external customer, then please go to the main 'How to Find Us' web page, where directions are given for the location of Park Campus.

Advice and Training
Help and training will be available before and during a video conference, please contact Vince Bedding on Ext: 2214 for further details.

• Useful Links - The following links give more information about video conferencing generally and other sites which may be of use when video conferencing:
  • http://www.timeanddate.com/
    Linking up to another country? Then check the time difference here.
  • http://www.jvcs.video.ja.net/
    The JANET Video Conferencing Service. Here you can find information regarding other HE institutions that use the switching/bridging services managed by UKERNA.
  • http://www.video.ja.net/
    VTAS is a UKERNA service that provides unbiased technical advice to JANET connected HE, FE and Research institutions.
    
    
• Hints and Tips for Successful Video Conferencing:
  
  
  • Before the session begins:
    • It is recommended you arrive at leat 5-10 minutes before the session begins, to ensure there are no problem and to allow time for any set-up changes etc.
    • Arrange the seats in a clear position for the camera.
    • Wearing dark clothes will ensure you are seen clearer on the screen. It is best to avoid patterned or fussy clothing/jewellery.
    • Check the lighting is sufficient - beware of any glare or shadows.
    • Turn off all mobile phones or pagers.
      
      
  • During the session:
    • Before you start the meeting, ask the remote site if they can hear you clearly.
    • The video conferencing system transmits video images at a relatively slow rate and moving images will appear slighlty jerky. To reduce this visual effect, make any movements slow and smooth.
    • There is a noticeable delay in relaying the voice and only one side can speak at a time. Each person should wait for the other to finish speaking. If both sides speak at the same time, it's possible to freeze the process entirely.
    • Don't rustle papers close to the microphone.
    • Remember to address the camera and speak clearly and concisely.
      
      
  • After the session:
    • If you have any particularly good or bad experiences during a video conferencing session, then please let us know, by contacting Vince Bedding via e-mail - vince.bedding@northampton.ac.uk or on Ext: 2214.
    • We make every effort to improve our services.

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Page last reviewed: 7th September 2005