Expanding student and staff web-interconnectivity: Evaluation of Tandberg
MOVI environment as an enterprise Web-cam solution
Strategic Relevance:
Strategic relevance: RMIT 2010 : designing the future - Priority 1 - Build a global University grounded in
Melbourne and connected to communities enterprises and industry across the world, providing our students
with a global passport to learning and work.
The Learning and Teaching Position Paper, Recommendation Cluster 3: Improve e-learning and use of ICT
Systematically evaluate, through students and staff experience, the effectiveness of educational technologies and
the quality of online learning materials. Implement systems which facilitate the efficient management, storage,
discovery and sharing of digital resources
Aim: RMIT has an immediate requirement to provide personal videoconferencing (via basic Webcams) to its
staff and students. Many incompatible solutions are currently used. These are not necessarily scalable nor
manageable at enterprise level. The strategic aim of this work is to expand capability for Work Integrated
Learning and enriched student communication by evaluating the MOVI extension to the operative Tandberg
Videoconference system.
Background:
RMIT’s Tandberg-based Videoconference system is operative, and described at:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/its/videoconferencing
Tandberg has released the MOVI product which permits Webcams to connect directly to the University
Tandberg environment. This provides the scope, for the first time, to interconnect Webcams in as a managed
service across the University. RMIT has the opportunity to trial the MOVI system for one month, to evaluate its
functionality and improve internal processes to support a Webcam service to the University. The University has
the opportunity to fund this resource as part of the TAFE Equipment Grant allocation for 2007. The
approximate cost is $24,000
Initial evaluation:
The MOVI personal videoconferencing product has undergone initial evaluation against the RMIT L&T
requirements and ICT deployment context. The following judgements have been made:
Strengths:
- Excellent fit to existing VC service model
- Potential to meet a broad array of functional requirements for support of webcams at University level
- SIP compliant
- Useful for WIL, Helpdesk, Student support areas, Tute group communication, Video support of iLabs,
- Can be readily shared with students out of Blackboard
Weaknesses:
-
Requires TMS version 11.7
Release late Q1 2008 for FireWall traversal version (which may require an additional Border Controller
device), Version will also allow application presentation (but not T.120 application sharing), Also
allows window resizing, and H.264
- SIP compliance means T.120 functionality of application sharing is not possible
- Does not currently run on a Macintosh; requirement prioritised with Tandberg by Universities
Recommended actions:
A trial of a MOVI server be negotiated, to be actioned in a September timeline so that it may be evaluated
internally with possible progress to funding in October, and a concomitant development of service support
capability.
Document: Movi Environment Paper 1.2
Author: Garry Allan
Saved: 30.08.07