Top 10 Videoconferencing Systems of the Year

Ignore this post if you're only interested in desktop solutions, but even if you are you might want to check out this article at eMediaWire that summarizes the recent awards bequeathed by vcinsight newsletter to the top 10 improvements in high-end IVC. This article, and the one it references, provides a very quick-and-dirty summary of the rapid improvements in the field. They're both worth a look!

Cheers from cold Nashville to cold wherever-you-are!

Out on Janine's Lim Again with Videoconferencing

My friend Janine, blogger of "Out On a Lim" IVC blog, has put up a stellar video stream of a ~40 minute multi-point videoconference she conducted recently. While this was obviously an IVC that was carried out over the high-end stuff (Polycom, Tandberg, etc.) there's absolutely no reason why many of these projects can't be carried out with a hunnert dollar webcam at each end and Skype (or any other free or low-cost solution) doing the work.

I discovered this stream via Roxanne Glaser's "VC Rox" blog, dingdingdingding new blogroll addition!

Here's the link to the stream. Ah, Janine strikes another solid blow for adoption. This video stream is an excellent potpouri of ideas for classroom IVC and also a beautiful example of a master thinking on her feet during an interaction. Note the way Janine shifts tactics during the question and answer session to encourage more participation. Share this with every teacher you know!!! (Is that a call for spam? Nawwwwww...)

Pic from the Learning Technology 2006 Speakers page, but it seems to be all over the place so I'm not sure that's its original source!

Digital Lifestyle Interactive Videoconferencing Article

Just across my desktop today, an interesting and well-done little post that wonders aloud, "Do I need to upgrade my ISP in order to do desktop videoconferencing? Give it a read.