7 - Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research

• To access the Library and laboratory resources of other institutions;
• To add value to lessons and enable teachers to give students the opportunity to
interact with experts without leaving the classroom;
• To enrich the Existing programmes;
• To provides additional access to students at remote sites.
4. Types of Video Conferencing
Primarily, four types of videoconferencing techniques are in vogue depending on the
particular context (3)
4.1 Desktop videoconferencing
Videoconferencing on a personal computer with a small camera mounted on top of a
monitor and microphone attachment. Computer software allows transmission of video,
audio, and document sharing. This kind of videoconferencing is designed for one-on-one
interaction. This is limited to LANs. It is less expensive, but offers limited resolution.
Components: The components of the Desktop Videoconferencing PC include: a personal
computer equipped with an H.323 (Video compression standards for videoconferencing;
used over networks that do not guarantee bandwidth, such as the Internet; enables
interoperability between different vendor’s implementations) based codec (A piece of
software that codes and compresses the outgoing and decodes and decompresses the
incoming audio and video signals), and video software with a suitably sized monitor,
speakers/headphones, microphone, camera, and T.120(A standard for real-time data
conferencing) data sharing software for video conferencing(4).
4.2 Broadband
Satellite connection with studio-quality equipment produces an excellent full-motion video
connection, but the equipment and transmission expense is huge.
4.3 ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
Many connect via ISDN, because it is an economical solution for high-quality
videoconferencing. Services over regular copper telephone lines, working and transmitting
at a minimum of 128 Kbps per line, it provides dedicated bandwidth for smooth audio and
video (15-30 frames per second). The preferred rate for events is at least 384 Kbps. Recent
advances in computer and telecommunications technologies have sparked an interest in 4 th
generation compressed video systems, which transmit information via today's Internet or
telephone network, greatly reducing the cost of videoconferencing.
4.4 IP videoconferencing
In contrast, an Internet-based connection shares or competes for bandwidth with other
Internet data, which may cause audio clipping or delays resulting in jerky video on slow
networks. Many libraries and other institutions are developing high bandwidth networks
and are experiencing better results with IP videoconferencing. Many believe that the
Internet will eventually replace ISDN as the medium of choice for videoconferencing.
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