Videoconferencing

Highlight Music to the ears... The Cleveland Institute of Music performed the first live, bi-location concert in Ohio. Two musicians in Columbus and three in Cleveland performed together via a high-definition video stream, traveling at 10-30 megabits per second through Ohio's fiber-optic network. OARnet engineer's and researchers worked with an array of emerging network technologies to ensure the audio and video components of the concert met the stringent demands of the accomplished musicians.

OARnet has a long and distinguished history of delivering videoconferencing services and innovation, from individual-level applications to advanced telepresence, from one-to-one conversations to global megaconferences.

As always, if you have any questions about our videoconferencing offerings, please do not hesitate to contact the OARnet Support Center or call 1-800-627-6420. The OARnet Support Center (NOC) also serves as the Internet2 Commons Video NOC.

H.323 videoconferencing
Urged on by a new governor and higher education chancellor, all three of these programs now have been merged into a single service referred to as the Ohio Video Network. The H.323 standard over IP is used universally.

Through the leadership of the Ohio Board of Regents, OARnet is collaborating with OhioLink, the Ohio Learning Network, eTech Ohio and the State Office of Information Technology to create the Ohio Video Network, coordinated by eTech Ohio staff. This effort will aid in the consolidation and sharing of resources to improve the overall cost effectiveness of programs and services.

The Ohio Video Network provides statewide videoconferencing services for more than 900 customers, such as Ohio's K-12 schools, colleges and universities, educational service providers, public television stations and state agencies, departments, boards and commissions. The services include conference bridging, gateway, and gatekeeper services, real-time monitoring and help desk support, web-based conference reservation management, conference recording, live streaming, satellite downlink, and high-definition video.

Click here for more information on access to the Ohio Video Network through eTech Ohio.

Telepresence
Telepresence is an advanced form of videoconferencing that uses high-definition technology and a sophisticated array of hardware and software to create the illusion to meeting participants that they are in the same room as people on the other end of the videoconference.

Telepresence systems can be very elaborate, requiring that a room be totally dedicated to this function, with the furniture, rugs, paint, lighting and other aspects installed exactly as specified by the vendor. This makes the installation of a telepresence system expensive. Other telepresence systems are more basic, requiring only moderate room preparation.

The Ohio Board of Regents provided grant funding for OARnet to investigate telepresence applications and to make recommendations about how affordable telepresence technology might be deployed among the state universities of Ohio. Two pilot systems were installed and are in full operation, being used primarily for demonstrations and for normal high-definition videoconferencing.

Please visit the Network Operation Center or call 1-800-627-6420 for more information on OARnet’s telepresence initiative.

Telehealth
Click here for more information on OARnet’s support of the Telehealth Video Resource Center initiative.

Research
Click here for ongoing videoconferencing research projects at OARnet.

Other Services

• Video streaming
• Conference recording
• Transcoding
• Digital asset management repository
• Up and down satellite feeds

Please visit the Network Operation Center or call 1-800-627-6420 for more information on these services.