11. Audio / Video conferencing facilities

Teleconferencing equipment can range from a simple webcam arrangement to a fully fledged multi-media suite. Of course the cost is also very different between the two!

Facilities to be considered are

• Can it support multiple locations or is it one-on-one only
• Can everyone in the intended facility be heard i.e. no dead spots or lack of sensitive mikes
• Can additional resources be shared such as a screen or whiteboard
• Can applications be run remotely, especially important in training scenarios
• Is there an effective and simple login system to the conference
• If it includes video is it of sufficient quality for the data link available
• Is it high resolution, high bandwidth setup or a low-resolution lower bandwidth application
• What are the bandwidth requirements
• Can panning and zooming of the remote camera be carried out