[OPLINTECH] OPLIN and Video Services
OPLIN Support Center
support@oplin.org
Fri, 20 Feb 2004 07:56:18 -0500
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This announcement has been posted to several lists. Our apologies for
any duplication.
************************************************************************
*
OPLIN and Video Services
At its February 13th meeting, the OPLIN Board voted to discontinue the
underwriting of multipoint video scheduling services for public
libraries. Because we have been out of contract for several months now,
the impact of this decision is that we will discontinue scheduling
multipoint video conferences immediately. Conferences already scheduled
will go on as scheduled, but we will schedule no more conferences.
The Board believes that multipoint scheduling services are not a
cost-effective use of OPLIN's resources for several reasons:
* Costs continue to be high. The commitment we would have to
make to continue is double what we have been paying (with limited use),
or three times what we have been paying (for unlimited use).
* Usage continues to be low. Even at current rates, each
conference costs thousands of dollars.
* Implementation has been slow. A very small percentage of
libraries have video units, and that number is not growing.
* Almost half of the units that do participate are not in
individual public libraries, but in state or regional offices. The
service was intended to benefit libraries.
In other words, demand is low and costs are high, which is not a good
value equation.
When public libraries began to implement video over IP (or H.323 video,
or Internet video) a few years ago, OPLIN sponsored the multipoint
scheduling or "gateway" services. We did this to encourage usage, and
did not want fees for gateway services (usually a monthly fee whether
the service is used or not) to be a barrier to participation during a
time when it was uncertain what sort of content would be created for
video.
Libraries with interactive video units can contact any other unit
point-to-point over the Internet with no intervention. Much of the
usage of video has been point-to-point in this manner, and has been used
for meetings and discussions. There are some notable exceptions. Kent
State SLIS's distance learning program has been highly successful, and
the gateway services for that have been and will continue to be provided
under the university banner. OPLIN's decision will not impact that
program. There have also been a few excellent CE programs involving
multiple points. We hope the providers will explore other options and
continue to explore ways to use the technology effectively.
Libraries that wish to use gateway services have a number of options:
* DAS Network Services is adding H.323 and full scheduling
services to its gateway services. That service is $325 per month per
certified unit. You can find more information at
http://das.ohio.gov/itsd/telecom/vid.htm H.323 (IP) support is not yet
listed but all other information applies. They expect to have IP video
service official in the next few weeks.
* Dataserv has offered the services to their customers in the
past. They are currently not working directly with individual schools
and libraries for gateway services. However, they expect that situation
to be temporary. No cost data is available. For information you could
call them at 800-276-6564.
* OARnet provides Kent State's services. Our impression is that
they generally fold gateway services into their network services to the
universities that use video.
For its part, OPLIN will continue to configure library network services
for video Quality of Service, prioritizing video traffic when in use.
We will ourselves continue to use video in point-to-point mode and will
explore streaming and archiving in the coming months.
OPLIN Support Center
support@oplin.org
614-728-5252
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<div class=3DSection1>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>This announcement has been =
posted to
several lists. Our apologies for any =
duplication.</span></font></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>*****************************=
********************************************</span></font></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>OPLIN and Video Services</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>At its February 13th meeting, the </span></font>OPLIN Board =
voted to
discontinue the underwriting of multipoint video scheduling services for =
public
libraries. Because we have been out of contract for several months =
now,
the impact of this decision is that we will discontinue scheduling =
multipoint
video conferences immediately. Conferences already scheduled will =
go on
as scheduled, but we will schedule no more conferences.</p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>The Board believes that multipoint scheduling services are not a =
cost-effective
use of </span></font>OPLIN’s resources for several reasons:</p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3D3
face=3DWingdings><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>Costs continue to be high. The =
commitment we
would have to make to continue is double what we have been paying (with =
limited
use), or three times what we have been paying (for unlimited use).</p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3D3
face=3DWingdings><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>Usage continues to be low. Even at =
current
rates, each conference costs thousands of dollars.</p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3D3
face=3DWingdings><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>Implementation has been slow. A very =
small
percentage of libraries have video units, and that number is not =
growing.</p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3D3
face=3DWingdings><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>Almost half of the units that do participate =
are not
in individual public libraries, but in state or regional offices. =
The
service was intended to benefit libraries.</p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><i><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>In other =
words,
demand is low and costs are high, which is not a good value =
equation.</span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>When public libraries began to implement video over IP (or H.323 =
video,
or Internet video) a few years ago, </span></font>OPLIN sponsored the
multipoint scheduling or “gateway” services. We did =
this to
encourage usage, and did not want fees for gateway services (usually a =
monthly
fee whether the service is used or not) to be a barrier to participation =
during
a time when it was uncertain what sort of content would be created for =
video.</p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Libraries with interactive video units can contact any other =
unit
point-to-point over the Internet with no intervention. Much of the =
usage
of video has been point-to-point in this manner, and has been used for =
meetings
and discussions. There are some notable exceptions. Kent =
State SLIS’s
distance learning program has been highly successful, and the gateway =
services
for that have been and will continue to be provided under the university
banner. </span></font>OPLIN’s decision will not impact that
program. There have also been a few excellent CE programs =
involving
multiple points. We hope the providers will explore other options =
and
continue to explore ways to use the technology effectively.</p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Libraries that wish to use gateway services have a number of =
options:</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3D3
face=3DWingdings><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>DAS Network Services is adding H.323 and =
full
scheduling services to its gateway services. That service is $325 =
per
month per certified unit. You can find more information at <font
face=3DHelv><span style=3D'font-family:Helv'><a
href=3D"http://das.ohio.gov/itsd/telecom/vid.htm">http://das.ohio.gov/its=
d/telecom/vid.htm</a>
</span></font>H.323 (IP) support is not yet listed but all other =
information
applies. They expect to have IP video service official in the next =
few
weeks. </p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3D3
face=3DWingdings><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>Dataserv has offered the services to their
customers in the past. They are currently not working directly =
with
individual schools and libraries for gateway services. However, =
they
expect that situation to be temporary. No cost data is =
available.
For information you could call them at <font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>800-276-6564.</span></font> =
</p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3D3
face=3DWingdings><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>OARnet provides Kent State’s =
services.
Our impression is that they generally fold gateway services into their =
network
services to the universities that use video. </p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>For its part, </span></font>OPLIN will continue to configure =
library
network services for video Quality of Service, prioritizing video =
traffic when
in use. We will ourselves continue to use video in point-to-point =
mode
and will explore streaming and archiving in the coming months.</p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>OPLIN</span></font> Support Center</p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><a =
href=3D"mailto:support@oplin.org">support@oplin.org</a></span></font></p>=
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>614-728-5252</span></font></p>
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