Scopia Desktop

Scopia Desktop is a desktop video conferencing (DVC) technology. DVC enables communication with other people using audio and video equipment attached to a desktop or laptop PC. A better term might be "personal video conferencing," which distinguishes DVC from systems which use more sophisticated equipment (cameras, microphones, and speakers) and can be used for larger numbers of people at each site.

Scopia Desktop requires a camera, speakers, and microphone. It is preferable to use a headset that includes a microphone. This prevents echoes from occurring at the other end (caused by sound from the remote site entering the microphone and being transmitted back to the remote participants). Instead of a headset, which can only be used by one person, echo-cancelling microphone/speaker combinations are also available. DVC is intended for one person at a time to be seen and heard from a single computer. Multiple computers can be connected, but only one person per computer.

Scopia Desktop is a combination desktop video conferencing/multi-point control unit. The unit is capable of being used for teaching and administrative meetings. Scopia Desktop allows a person to connect to other people and systems in multiple ways. Scopia Desktop users can also connect to each other, independent of connecting to a video conference system.

Several Scopia Desktop virtual meeting rooms of different “seating capacities” are available, including one 20-seat virtual Scopia room and several 10- and 5-seat virtual rooms. Scopia Desktop virtual meeting rooms can be scheduled in the same manner as physical conference rooms, using the university’s Exchange calendaring system via Outlook. Use “video conf” as a search term when searching for Scopia meeting rooms in the calendar.

For more information, please consult the UWF Video Conferencing article at http://portal.knowledgebase.net/article.asp?article=293890&p=6390.