Video conferencing gains popularity on campus

Buying a round-trip ticket to Europe: $800. Downloading Skype: free.

Communicating via video and audio conferencing can dramatically cut travel costs for faculty, staff and students participating in conferences and seminars.

Skype isn't the video conferencing tool of choice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, but the popularity of audio and video conferencing has increased on campus, said Michael Ruhrdanz, director of Information Services' Communications and Operations, in an e-mail.

"There are various costs to have personnel travel and attend meetings, seminars or conferences," Ruhrdanz said. "Depending upon the type, location and duration of the conference, costs for an in-person conference can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars."

Video and teleconferencing are not only cost-effective, but they are also convenient.

Several departments on campus use these technologies. Faculty and staff use teleconferencing for weekly and monthly meetings, while students use it for job interviews and research.

In October, the College of Journalism and Mass Communications used video conferencing to host a global town hall meeting. Students from South Africa, Kosovo, Norway, Mississippi and Nebraska chatted about terrorism via video.

"Video conferencing certainly has a role here," said Barney McCoy, an associate professor of broadcasting who helped coordinate the conference. "It would be impossible to take these participants and p ay for them to get together. To afford the airfare and accommodations would be impossible."

However, the technology does have some limitations. The distance between users can cause audio delays, and sometimes people forget to turn off microphones when they're not using them, causing feedback, McCoy said.

"It's a wonderful, wonderful way to share viewpoints, but it's still not as good as having people interacting spontaneously," he said. "It's still not the same as being in person."

However, the technology's limitations aren't holding back the college. On Nov. 24 at 9 a.m., the college will host another global town hall meeting on climate change in Andersen 224.

Any UNL student or faculty member can get in on the virtual discussion, McCoy said.

"It's a very efficient way to share conversation globally and allows us to step outside our preconceived notions," he said.

McCoy also sees other possibilities for video conferencing technology.

"If breaking news hits, we could put together one of these in a matter of hours, if need be," he said.

Ruhrdanz also envisions expansion of audio and video conferencing.

"I think many of these sorts of teleconferencing technologies and services will continue to grow in their popularity and use," Ruhrdanz sai d. "Quality, reliability and price will generally determine what people use and how much they use them."

courtneypitts@

dailynebraskan.com