Videoconferencing at Katholieke Universiteit Leuvenerik.luyten@avnet.kuleuven.beProf. Dr. Ir. Wim Van PetegemErik Luyten

Founded in 142516.297 staff members31.447 students in K.U.Leuven70.000 students in the Association K.U.Leuven (+ 12 technical colleges)Member of the LERU and Combra groupMore than 3.000 SCIE publications427 phds (117 international doctoral students)60 spin-offs K.U.Leuven

GEOGRAPHICAL DISPERSION

225 km

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Campus GasthuisbergCampus Sint-Pieter and Sint-RafalCampus Pellenberg and Lubbeek VZN K.U.Leuven Flemish Hospital Network K.U.Leuven 17 Flemish hospitals

AVNetTo provide integrated, multidisciplinary support and expertise, taking into account media science, organisational, didactical and technological aspects, for the benefit of education, including networked e-learning and distance education, both at K.U.Leuven and within its Association, in an international context.

www.avnet.kuleuven.be/en/

Videoconferencing at K.U.Leuven1994 First videoconferencing facilities at K.U.Leuven AVDienst (now AVNet).AVNet is a centralised K.U.Leuven service specialising in MultiMedia implementation and not in IT technology. While good IT implementation is essential the real challenge lies in the media support.Putting the presenter, cameras, microphones and screens in the right spot is the path to a successful videoconference experience.Our first envolvements resulted in two projects supported by the European Commission. (Savie and Bic) http://www.avnet.kuleuven.be/savie/ link http://bic.avnet.kuleuven.be link

PENTALFA the challenge1996: The Dean of the faculty of medicine ordered a feasibility study in an effort to replace a centralised continuous education programme with a distributed videoconferencing solution.1998: Pharmaceutical firms sponsored the installation of one central and four remote videoconferencing facilities. In addition to the installation of a multipoint videoconferencing bridge AVNet designed propriety solutions for distributing full quality computer presentations and for fast camera control.The Pentalfa steering committee is responsible for the scientific support.Administrative and technical support is secured using 1.5 FTE dedicated to the project.Special attention is given to the training of the lecturers, moderators and technicians.

PENTALFA videortsp://escher.avnet.kuleuven.be/Pentalfa_eng.mp4

PENTALFA resultsOriginally designed for a 3 year period (in 1998).Since 1998 almost 240 successful sessions (Thursday evenings152-190 participants).Four technical fall-outs (one remote site unable to connect due to ISDN provider difficulties and firewall issues).2005-2006 the original ISDN-only equipment is replaced with new ISDN and IP capable units.In addition to the original 5 systems around 10 new systems were permanently installed in hospitals around Flanders. Investigation the possibilities to replace the propriety solution for high resolution presentations with the h.239 standard.

New technologies, new challengesMove from ISDN to IPH.239 implementationFixed installations Training and supportRecording capabilitiesStreaming capabilitiesThree layers of support

Three layers of supportDIY We will help the customer to setup there own private (desktop) infrastructure for videoconferencing and/or webconferencing.Using our facilities The customer books our facilities and can operate the units himself. We provide a short introduction to the systems.Complete service We organise the complete event and take care of technical, administrative, educational and media aspects.

EquipmentFixed installations in key lecture theaters (now 4 upgrading to 9) (f.i. Polycom VSX8000)Mobile unit to deploy in university buildings (cooperation with network and telephony departments)Around 13 installations in Flemish hospitals Tandberg MPS200 multipoint control unitTandberg GatekeeperTandberg Management SystemCodian IPVCR 2220 conference recorder

Network setupClose cooperation with K.U.Leuven network servicesOne VLAN network for all videoconferencing equipment spread around the university.VLAN in DMZ

Other projectsVenus Global Issues for the European Citizen Prof. Derrick de Kerckhove - Culture and Technologye-Leru Top Science program on the e-Leru virtual campus Prof. Marc Waelkens - Sagalassos Archaeological Research ProjectSputnic To raise awareness about the beneficial impact of and spread know-how in educational technologies that enhance international collaboration.

Videoconferences at K.U.Leuven

The next step ?At a reasonable cost ?