Helpful hints for successful videoconferencing

1.      Wear colors that do not contrast highly with the backround of the room.  Bright colors are usually not good for videoconferencing.

2.      Do not move around too much.  You can move a little bit but if you move fast or gesture wildly then you will not be seen clearly on the remote site.

3.      Speak clearly towards the room microphones but not too closely.  Speak at a volume that you would normally use when talking to a group of people of this size.

4.      Avoid tapping on the microphone or rustling papers near the microphone.

5.      Mute the microphones when having a private conversation.

6.      In a call with multiple sites connected, mute your microphones when you are not speaking.

7.      Make sure that you can see and hear the far site participants.  Adjust cameras and sound levels so that everyone can be seen and heard clearly.

8.      Involve the remote site as much or more than the local site to make them feel as much a part of the group as the room that you are in.  Do not allow participants in remote sites to become “disconnected” with the rest of your group.

9.      Use a variety of media and instructional methods during class to keep participants interest peaked.

10.  Make sure that all presentations and media are clear and use text, pictures or video that are large enough for everyone in the group to see.

11.  Introduce all participants when the event starts. 

12.  Introduce yourself when you start speaking.

13.  Use participants names to identify them and make them feel as important as anyone else in the local or remote sites.

14.  Ask questions and invite discussion to get everyone on all sites talking and communicating together.

15.  As moderator of the group, you must remain in control of the communication and be able to guide discussions and conversation in all locations.

16.  If possible, make sure that your class is held in a room that has the appropriate size and equipment for your class.

 

       17. Last but not least:  Don't be afraid to ask questions about technology!

Working hard :-)

Redesigning a failed user interface?

I've realized after a few months of using our new Crestron room control systems in our videoconference rooms that people are still not "getting it".  Even though information is contained in three simple pages, users who have not been trained cannot perform simple tasks like show the document camera or play a DVD.  The only solution is to redesign the user interface to get right down to the basics and eliminate anything that is not absolutely necessary to get the job done.  Fewer controls, bigger buttons, plain english command descriptions, etc. 
Here's a good link to some theory on good user interface design: http://www.useit.com/papers/heuristic/heuristic_list.html

The Speed of Fencing
Here is an excellent video of Epee fencing in slow motion.  Hard to see in real time but like this you can really see how graceful it is.

From One.org

Subject: Please take action to end famine

Dear (everyone I know),
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch ONE’s new video “The F Word: Famine is the Real Obscenity” and sign the petition to world leaders.

http://act.one.org/sign/hungry_no_more/?referring_akid=2621.508342.lFBlAY

The reasons for the famine in the Horn of Africa are complex and solutions are difficult, especially in Somalia, but we can’t lose sight of some simple facts:

1. 30,000 children have died in just 3 months. Thirty thousand. With over 12 million people at risk.

2. Famine is not a natural catastrophe – drought doesn’t have to lead to famine. It can be prevented, as we’ve seen in much of Kenya and Ethiopia.

In the 21st century, it’s an obscenity that people are dying because they can’t get enough food to eat. Every one of those 30,000 children is part of a family – a son, a daughter, sister or brother. We can’t imagine what it must be like to starve to death, but most of us know what it’s like to lose someone we love.

Please watch the film and make use of the voice you have -- sign the petition.

http://act.one.org/sign/hungry_no_more/?referring_akid=2621.508342.lFBlAY

It will make a difference in putting pressure on world leaders to do more to help those in need right now, and live up to promises already made to invest in the things proven to work – early warning systems...irrigation...drought resistant seeds… and of course, peace and security.

Thanks!

http://www.vivahartford.tv/?p=2329#comment-423
Please read about D'Meca Homer who is competing for the U.S. Virgin Islands in World Cup fencing!

Currently researching some wireless print solutions that will work with our PCounter print accounting system.  Seems like everyone has a laptop, iPad/Pod/Phone, a tablet PC or smart phone so this would allow users to print anywhere on our wireless network and authenticate to our system.  Let me know if you have any good leads.  PCounter is recommending EveryonePrint which seems to be a good solution with an easy to use interface.