Video Conferencing uses a specialist hardware device to facilitate your video conference, meaning the remote site (the place you are connecting to) must also have a video conference unit. Most higher education and corporate institutions have video conference facilities but this may be a restriction when connecting to home users.
Web Conferencing uses software such as Skype, WebEx or GoToMeeting on your device in conjunction with a webcam to facilitate your conference. Anyone connected to the internet with the same web conference software is able to connect.
The benefits are:
- Higher quality video using a PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) camera
- Boundary microphones to capture the audio of a larger group of attendees
- Ability to show visual materials on a laptop, PC or visualiser
- Generally a more reliable connection
- Up to 3 remote sites can be connected to your meeting
The limitations are:
- The remote site must have a video conference unit
- You are restricted on LSE campus to using our Video Conferencing unit in Pankhurst House (or possibly the Sheikh Zayed Theatre)
To compensate for these limitations there are external services that can 'bridge' web conference users into your meeting.
The benefits are:
- The hardware required for this is very cheap
- Skype and other software are freeYou can connect to any site with the software and an internet connection
- You can host the conference in almost any room on campus (with loan of the appropriate kit)
- Most people are familiar with using this software
The limitations are:
- You often have to pay for a premium service to share desktop screens (i.e. show Powerpoint etc) or connect to multiple users
- Often a simple webcam offers limited quality audio/videoCan provide challenges when multiple attendees are on one site
To compensate for these limitations the Video Conference room has been equipped with:
- A high quality USB conference microphone for capture of multiple attendees
- An HD web cam with a wide lens to capture multiple attendees
- A premium subscription on Skype, for example is not expensive
Please email DTS.Teaching.Support@lse.ac.uk with the following information:
- Date/time for booking
- Contact email/phone for technical support at the remote site to arrange a test connection
If using video conferencing:
- The IP address of the video conference room at the remote site
If using web conferencing:
- The software being used
- Meeting connection details (e.g. Skype name)
We also recommend a backup phone number for the remote meeting room should there be any problems.
A conference phone is available in the Video Conference room for this purpose.
Not sure which service to use?
Please consider: If the remote site (person you are connecting to) does not have access to a video conference room, then Web Conferencing is your only option.
While if they do have access to a video conference room, then either Video or Web Conferencing can be used.