Video Conferencing…on a Shoestring Budget

Janet Buckenmeyer, Ph.D.

Anastasia Trekles

Purdue University Calumet

Overview

• Want to conduct video conferences but don’t have thousands to spend on Polycom, Tandberg, etc.?

• With just a couple of cheap web cameras and Apple iChat or AOL Instant Messenger with Video, you’re good to go!

Apple iChat AV

• Comes pre-loaded on all Mac OS X 10.2 or later computers

• Works with AOL AIM accounts or .Mac accounts

• Works with the Apple iSight Firewire camera ($149) to provide live video/audio conferencing

• Also provides text chat and file sharing as you’re conducting your video conference

AOL Video IM

• http://aimtoday.aol.com/features/main_redesign.adp?fid=video_im

• Free to anyone• Works both with other AOL AIM users and

iChat users• Works with almost any USB or Firewire web

camera and microphone• Also lets you conduct text chats during video

conferencing

Notes About Video Chat

• You will need broadband Internet service to effectively use video chat

• You can use lower speed (dialup) services for audio chat, however

• You can video/audio chat with a limited number of individual users at one time depending on the program

• In Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger (due later this year), iChat will support more connection protocols and better video resolution

Educational Uses

• Person-to-person video chat can be used:– As an alternative to higher-cost video conference

solutions– To bring a variety of subject-matter experts into

the classroom– As a means to allow children from different

communities and cultures get together and learn from one another

– As a means of getting teaching professionals in touch with one another no matter where they live

Demonstration

• Using two Macintosh notebooks and two iSight cameras, we’ll demonstrate how easy it is to open up a video chat and exchange files and text

Resources

• AIM: http://aimtoday.aol.com/features/main_redesign.adp?fid=video_im

• Apple iChat software: http://www.apple.com/ichat

• Apple iSight camera: http://www.apple.com/isight

Resources

• Best practices for videoconferencing in the classroom: http://www.d261.k12.id.us/VCing/implementation.htm

• Videoconferencing for Learning: http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/vidconf/vidconf.html

• Purdue Calumet School of Education: http://education.calumet.purdue.edu

• Help with Technology: http://education.calumet.purdue.edu/Tutorials

Thank You!

To download this presentation, visit http://education.calumet.purdue.edu/Tutorials/

ICE

Janet Buckenmeyer, Ph.D.Anastasia Trekles

School of EducationPurdue University Calumet