Microsoft $300 Videoconference System?

Posted on March 24, 2008 by Janine Lim

Reading my VCInsight news and found this announcement from the March 17 issue:

At VoiceCon Orlando 2008 this week, Microsoft Corp. announced broad availability of its conferencing solutions and continued customer and partner adoption of its Unified Communications platform. Polycom and TANDBERG videoconferencing systems (74% of the installed base of room systems) will work with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007. In a keynote address, Microsoft revealed that it has plans for the OCS Server to handle High Definition video and that the company is developing a HD videoconferencing camera with TANDBERG, priced for the masses at $300.

This sounds really intriguing. It sounds like a desktop type unit, but I wonder if it would have audio that could work in a classroom?  It sounds like it might require the OCS server, which might be a complication for schools. Still, it’s nice to know the vendors are competing over a low cost videoconference system, which should continue to benefit K12 education.

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Elevate 2008 Schedule

Posted on March 24, 2008 by Janine Lim

Did you know the Elevate 2008 draft schedule is posted now? I can see already that it’s going to be a great conference. I hope to see you there! Here are some features I’m looking forward to:

  • Optional daily hikes, right during my usual exercise schedule. Should be fun! Bring your hiking boots!
  • Afternoon Nutrition break and networking. Doesn’t that sound fun?!
  • Live VC demonstration from educational content provider. I wonder which providers they will be featuring. I hope I can see a new one.
  • VC Showcase demonstrations and displays. I’m sure I’ll be blogging up a storm with all the new learning at the showcases!
  • Two great preconference workshops on Sunday for a cheap $25! How will I choose which one to attend?

Check out the schedule and get your passport soon!! Banff is going to be gorgeous in August! Can’t wait!!

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Blog Anniversary & Passion Quilt Meme

Posted on March 24, 2008 by Janine Lim

I can talk to anyone!

To celebrate my 3rd blog anniversary, I thought I’d finally respond to Gail Desler’s tag for a passion quilt meme. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, so this is the result of simmering.

My passion, as you well know, is bringing engaging experiences to students, generally via the technology of videoconferencing. I want students to know and believe that they can talk to and learn from anyone! I guess the quilt idea got in my head too so I wanted more of a collage. The collage includes videoconferences with a blind author, children’s author, World War II veterans, Iditarod racer, students in Benton Harbor, MI, Wales, and Pakistan, a rattlesnake and a caterpillar. The girl in the center is one of my favorite student pictures from Microsoft Clip Art.

Ok, so here’s the rest of the meme information:

Rules:

  • Think about what you are passionate about teaching your students.
  • Post a picture from a source like FlickrCC or Flickr Creative Commons or make/take your own that captures what YOU are most passionate about for kids to learn about…and give your picture a short title.
  • Title your blog post “Meme: Passion Quilt” and link back to this blog entry.
  • Include links to 5 folks in your professional learning network or whom you follow on Twitter/Pownce

And I’m tagging Roxanne, Kevin, Rebecca, Andrea, and Ashton.

Finally, in honor of my blog anniversary, thank you to each of you, my readers, who share, comment, pass the word, send me resources, and in general nudge me to keep learning! If you want to take a stroll down memory lane, wander through some Selected Posts.

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