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Ready, Action, Videoconference ...Rain, wind and construction in progress — all the elements for a successful outdoor videoconference, right? No matter how much technology progresses, Mother Nature always has the last word and the key to overcoming the obstacles is to have a knowledgeable, flexible and creative group of people as partners. On May 16, 2003, MOREnet bridged a videoconference from Frontier Riverfront Park in St. Charles, Mo., the National Park Service and the Cooperating School Districts to provide information on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. This pilot tested all the connections and technology necessary for future remote events with The Discovery Expedition's Education Initiative. The May 16 broadcast from the banks of the Missouri River in St. Charles, Mo., included commentary by videoconference moderator Tim Gore, educational coordinator at Wydown Middle School in Clayton, Mo.; speakers from the National Park Service in Omaha, Neb.; Merriwether Lewis portrayed by Scott Mandrell from the Missouri History Museum; students from the Wydown Middle School/Clayton, Mo. School District; and Western Hills Elementary School students in Omaha, Neb. MOREnet staff observed and assisted with coordinating the connections in St. Charles. Jim Sturm, Enrichment Facilitator at Wydown Middle School, first approached MOREnet three years ago to discuss transmitting remotely from sites along the Missouri River during the re-enactment of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. At that time options were limited and very expensive. MOREnet periodically checked in with him and exchanged information as new technologies became available. After Ohio State University demonstrated its satellite trailer during a MegaConference, MOREnet forwarded the information to Sturm. He was able to use OSU's trailer for the May 16 broadcast. Technical Information
The remote transmission was made possible by a portable satellite Internet access system built by OARnet and the OSU Office of the CIO. The trailer carries a small (1.2 meter diameter) dish antenna, plus all related electronics and can be pulled by any vehicle with a trailer hitch. It will provide 24 ports of 10/100 Ethernet to connect to any nearby computers or LANs. The total speed of the satellite connection is 1.5 Mbps/sec downlink and 512Kbps/sec uplink, at guaranteed rates. The system includes local wireless capability, which can penetrate the wall of a nearby building and provide normal 802.11b connectivity inside the building. It also includes a generator and batteries so it is totally self-contained and can run for more than 24 hours unattended. The system is designed so one person can set up and operate it. The broadcast used a Polycom Viewstation codec with a wireless microphone and mixer for the commentator. The keelboat carried a wireless Polycom ViaVideo codec. They were unable to broadcast successfully from the boat while it was in motion, though when it was docked the video transmission was fine. They also will need to add a wireless microphone for successful audio. Even though the keelboat broadcast wasn't available for this pilot event, the conference went very well considering all the variables being tested. The satellite transmission was sent to Tachyon, Inc. (provider of broadband satellite communications) in Ca., which transferred it to Internet2 and connected to Ohio State's MCU. MOREnet's MCU had connections to Ohio State's MCU via IP, Cooperating School District via H.320, National Park Service in Omaha, Ne. via ISDN and MOREnet's Polycom VS4000, which connected to a VCR to tape the conference. Ohio State had a connection to a Starbak streaming server that provided live and stored streams of the conference. Cooperating School District connected the Wydown Middle School, Valley Park School, Missouri History Museum and Western Hills Elementary in Omaha, Ne. Apple Computer, Inc. connected to the Cooperating School District via ISDN to receive a live stream that they then rebroadcast. The stored stream is available from Apple's site at http://newali.apple.com/ali_sites/ali/exhibits/1000693/. Future PlansThe May 16 broadcast originated from the banks of the Missouri River in St. Charles, Mo., next to the Lewis and Clark Museum, which is still under construction. A bobcat, concrete saw and cement trucks added distractions during the testing process and also limited the test time. Shortly after the conference began, rain and wind further complicated the live event. Despite the weather conditions and technological obstacles, this pilot conference proved successful and informative. The staff from the Wydown Middle School and Ohio State were great to work with and very professional. Because several different pieces of technology and groups were involved, the commitment that made this conference successful predicts success for future events planned by this project.
Jim Sturm will join the Lewis and Clark re-enactment expedition to transmit videoconferences and/or streaming video to K-12 schools throughout the bicentennial celebration; MOREnet will bridge the conferences using the most current technologies available; Tim Gore will join the crew periodically on the trail. The Lewis and Clark Then and Now: Linking the Trail to America's Students Project offers an interactive website for students and teachers, distance learning via videoconference and live broadcasts and archived materials available via CD ROM and DVD. For more information on educational opportunities, contact the project directors at lewisandclark@clayton.k12.mo.us. For More InformationThe Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Mo. Apple's Lewis & Clark resources MOREnet's collection of Lewis & Clark educational resources |
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June 3, 2003.
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