In particular because of the AMX-manufactured control interface for the Tandberg system, and strong reference reports from other sites, we selected the Tandberg Educator 5000 package. PictureTel was a strong contender, and had a great deal of emphasis on future IP-based videoconferencing systems. Especially with Denison's major new network initiatives in partnership with Cisco, we felt that it will be critical to watch these developments. Traditional H.320-based systems can be connected to H.323 based (IP) systems through gateways even now, but the best course of investment in this area remains unclear. The selection of the Tandberg systems was a conservative choice but one that would enable our faculties to begin immediately to experiment with the best possible remote collaboration performance.
As we moved toward the final selection of systems for Denison and Kenyon, we began to confront non-technical issues which were vital to the success of the effort: finding a space to dedicate to the videoconferencing systems, and planning for space renovations. Denison considered placing the VC systems in a newly renovated conference room but upon hearing that flexibility in room layout was critical, decided to locate the remote collaboration classroom in the Learning Resources Center. Kenyon negotiated with the registrar to identify a classroom that could be dedicated and found one in Ascension Hall. Neither of our rooms are exclusively dedicated to video conferencing, and they should be to minimize disruption to the systems, changes in setups from the curious, conflicts that prevent testing new connections, etc.
We also began to understand that our local telephone companies would provide some challenges as well. While Denison's telephone company could provide ISDN services needed to connect traditional videoconferencing systems to others worldwide, Kenyon's phone company had yet to bring ISDN services into Gambier.
Continue on to the installation phase of this report.