The availability of HITS2 for videoconference requests is dependent on the schedule of ITV course offerings each semester. There may be semesters or summer sessions when HITS2 is heavily used for ITV course delivery. During these times, videoconference timeblocks may not be available.

HITS2 videoconferencing is not available during annual technical maintenance downtimes which are scheduled in December and in August. Next downtime is scheduled for December 20, 2008 to January 11, 2008. (Note: HITS2 videoconference timeblocks are not scheduled during the first week of fall and spring semesters.)

We are currently not accepting videoconference requests after December 19, 2008 at this time.

Fall 2008 Semester - September 1, 2008 - December 19, 2008
HITS2 not available August 15, 2008 - August 29, 2008

Priority is given to University of Hawaii departments and offices within the UH system. Requests are accepted on a first-come first-serve basis.

UH Student organizations, Government Agencies and Private/Non-Profit organization requests will be scheduled on Thursdays during the regular semester and if time permits during the summer.

HITS2 facilities are located at the following UH campuses and education centers:

Honolulu Community College, Kapiolani Community College, Kauai Community College, Leeward Community College, Maui Community College, University of Hawaii at Hilo, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Windward Community College

LCC Waianae/Nanakuli Education Center, MCC Hana Education Center, MCC Lahaina Education Center, MCC Lanai Education Center, MCC Molokai Education Center, Maui Resource Technology Center (MRTC), University Center at West Hawaii

To view facilities at each site click here

During Normal Work Hours [Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM]

Personnel: no charge

Outside Normal Work Hours
*availability not guaranteed, dependent on each site's available resources.
*not available on Saturday evenings, Sundays, and Holidays - closed

Personnel: $30/hr per site

Registered UH Student Organizations and Government Agencies (Federal, County or State)

During Normal Work Hours [Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM]

Personnel:
Origination Site: $50 set-up + $45/hr
Receive Site(s): $25 set-up + $35/hr per site

Outside Normal Work Hours
*availability not guaranteed, dependent on each site's available resources.
*not available on Saturday evenings, Sundays, and Holidays - closed

Personnel: $30/hr per site

Private and Non-Profit Organization

During Normal Work Hours [Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM]

Personnel:
Origination Site: $75 set-up + $65/hr
Receive Site(s): $40 set-up + $25/hr per site

Outside Normal Work Hours
*availability not guaranteed, dependent on each site's available resources.
*not available on Saturday evenings, Sundays, and Holidays - closed

Personnel: $60/hr per site

 

*please note that rates listed on this webpage are subject to change

Videoconference request forms must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the requested videoconference date.

Once the request form is received, the Distributed Learning and User Services (DLUS) Interactive Video Scheduler will begin processing the request and coordinate with the various HITS2 site coordinators. Once scheduled, the ITV Scheduler will send the Requestor an email confirmation message.

Requestor must notify the ITV Scheduler no later than one-week before the videoconference date for any scheduling changes [e.g. videoconference cancellation, site(s) cancellation due to no participants, request for additional site(s)].

HITS2 Videoconference Request Form

ITV Classroom (a.k.a HITS2 Classroom)
When you walk into the classroom, you will see cameras, video monitors (or projector screens depending on location), microphones, and other instructional media. This technology allows everyone in one location to see and hear everyone in the other location(s). For more information on sites please go to: http://www.hawaii.edu/dl/location/

Monitors
In each ITV classroom, there are two monitors (or projector screens, depending on the location) in the front of the classroom. One of the monitors (or projection screen) will show the instructor at all times. The second monitor (or projection screen) will show another ITV classroom. The view on the second monitor (or projeection screen) will switch as participants from various locations talk.

Microphones
The ITV classroom microphones vary at each location. Some may be “push-to-talk” microphones, “push-on-push-off” microphones or microphones with an on/off switch. Please ask your site technician to show you how to use your microphone.

Cameras
Cameras in most ITV classrooms are either remote controlled or pre-set to a wide shot of the classroom. At some locations, the cameras are controlled by a site technician in a control room. Other locations have programmed the camera(s) to pan and zoom to a particular area in the room when a participant turns on his or her microphone. The quantity of cameras in a classroom may vary at each location from one to two cameras. At locations with an instructor’s teaching area, there may be three cameras.

Instructional Media
Instructional media are multimedia equipment in the classroom to enhance instruction. Not all ITV classrooms are equipped with instructional media. Please check with the site technician at your site to see what media is available for your use. You may also want to schedule time with the site technician to practice using any of the equipment with which you are unfamiliar. The following instructional media are available at most of the HITS2 locations:

• Document Camera is used to show graphics, books, or small items. It also can be used to write or draw spontaneously.
  
  
• VCR
  
  
• Computer – Windows or Mac may be available for your presentations. If you would like to bring your own laptop, please check with the site technician to see if this is possible for your site.

Meet with Site Coordinator
It is recommended to arrange an orientation meeting with your site technician to tour the facilities and receive training on the instructional media you plan to use for your presentation before your videoconference date. If you have a PowerPoint presentation, you may want to bring your PowerPoint slides with you to the orientation for testing.

Graphic Guidelines
Graphics should conform to the following:

• Placed horizontally
  
  
• Conform to the 3 x 4 aspect ration (an 8 1/2” x 11” sheet of paper turned horizontally fits this ratio)
  
  
• Allow 1 – 1 1/2” margin around all edges of the visual
  
  
• Use bold print with upper and lower case letters, preferable in a san serif font (e.g. Helvetica, Geneva, Arial)
  
  
• 36 – 48 point size works best
  
  
• Do not use transparencies
  
  
• Keep visuals simple and legible
  
  
• Computer text should be bold, shadow and light colored on dark background (e.g. yellow or white text on blue background)
  

3x4 image area with safe area

Handouts
If you wish to provide handouts for the participants, we recommend either mailing the handouts to each participant in advance, create a website where participants can download the materials, or assign one of your staff to distribute handouts to participants at each site. The site technician will not receive or duplicate handout materials for non-ITV course related events.

Copyrighted Material
Be sure to obtain broadcast clearance for copyrighted material used in the presentation

Be aware of the time
Videoconference sessions are computer controlled. The start time and end time of the session is pre-programmed. The session will end exactly on time. You will know that the connection is broken at the end of the session when you see a frozen video on the monitors. Allow the last 15 – 30 minutes summarizing or asking for final questions.

Microphone Etiquette
At the beginning of the videoconference, explain to participants how to use their microphones (your site technician will cover this with you before the start of the videoconference). Microphones should be turned off when not in use; otherwise, a live microphone may cause an audio echo. Should this happen, please ask participants at all sites to check and see if the microphones in their classrooms are turned off. There is a slight delay in receiving the video from a site after the participant speaks. This is normal. Therefore, each person speaking should state his or her name before commenting or asking a question. For instance, “Dr. Liu, this is Jane Doe at Maui. I have a question.” Encourage participation by calling on specific sites for comments or questions. For instance, “Manoa, do you have any questions?”

Delivery Tips
The site technician will show you where the main camera is in the classroom. When looking at your audience in the originating classroom, you may want to glance at the camera every so often. This will give the participants at the other location a sense that you are speaking directly to them. Avoid sitting or standing behind the document camera’s vertical arm. The vertical arm will block the participants’ view of you during your presentation. If you plan to “roam” while presenting, avoid walking too fast and standing in front of the program out monitor. The classroom cameras are remote-controlled and may not be able to follow if walking too fast and out of camera range. In addition, if you stand in front of the monitor that is showing you, it will cause video feedback.

Videotaping
If you requested a videotape copy of your videoconference, please be sure to bring a blank high-grade T-120 VHS tape with you on the day of the videoconference and give to the site technician. Please be aware recording of HITS2 session include originating site video and mixed audio of all sites.

Analog Signal

In telecommunications, an analog signal is one in which a base carrier's alternating current frequency is modified in some way, such as by amplifying the strength of the signal or varying the frequency, in order to add information to the signal. Broadcast and telephone transmission have conventionally used analog technology.

Decoders

A device that converts a digital signal into an analog signal.

Digital Signal

Digital describes electronic technology that generates, stores, and processes data in terms of two states: positive and non-positive. Positive is expressed or represented by the number 1 and non-positive by the number 0. Thus, data transmitted or stored with digital technology is expressed as a string of 0's and 1's. Each of these state digits is referred to as a bit (and a string of bits that a computer can address individually as a group is a byte).

Encoders

A device that converts an analog signal into a digital signal.

MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group)

Series of International Standards Organization (ISO) standards for digital video and audio, designed for a variety of uses and data rates.

MPEG-2

MPEG stands for Motion Picture Experts Group. It is a standard method of transmitting digital video and sound in a compressed format using less bandwidth than the traditional analog method. MPEG-2 is typically used for "broadcast" quality programming.

RAT(Robust Audio Tool)

An open-source audio conferencing and streaming application that allows users to participate in audio conferences over the Internet. These can be between two participants directly, or between a group of participants on a common multicast group

Site (near-end, far-end, origination, receive)

• The origination site is the location that sends video and/or audio to the receive site.This is the site where the chair, or, in the case of a distance learning course, the instructor will be.
• The receive site is the location that receives the transmission from the origination site

UHNET

The University of Hawaii System's wide area IP network linking its 10 campuses and five education centers.

Videoconference

Communication across long distances with video and audio contact that may also include graphics.