
WebcastingConsiderations Gary Gildert, Alan Rossiter, Chris Tagoe
Why Bother? • Widely dispersed membership • Share technical program with other sections • Outreach to student chapters
AIChE Webcasting Experience • AIChE Webinars • East Tennessee LS: Remote Presenters • South Texas Section: Meeting Webcasts (2010) • Virtual Local Section (2011) • Texas Energy Forum “Webinar” (2011)
Issues to Consider • Volunteers & technical competence • Hardware & software • Changes to meeting format • Limitations on central meeting venues • Satellite meeting venue requirements • Individual (home) access vs. group meeting • Financial cost
Webcasting Satellite Considerations • Venue • Equipment • People
Places to Meet • North Houston group has tried several venues • Local College • Free • AV equipment available – working? • No feed or drink after hours • Restaurant • Good food and drink • Questionable AV equipment • Could be noisy
Satellite Location Equipment • Computer • Webex Software • Windows PC < 5yrs • Have a spare • Sound card? • Projection Equipment • Room layout • Testing • TV • iTunes, Media Player • Youtube.com • Webex • Sound Equipment • “Tinny” is ok • Distortion is bad • Consider sound card • Internet connection • < 100 kbps bad • 250 kbps ok • > 1,000 kbps is normal • Webcam • Ask questions live • TEST
Two roles = Two people • General organization • Registration • Finances • Coordinate with venue manager • Technical • PC setup • Audio and Video setup • Link to central
Main Site Volunteers • Meeting chair • Timing • Questions from floor • Moderator • webcast host; • contact with satellites; • controls access/mutes • Local equipment support volunteer (geek) • Tech/web savvy • Experience with AV systems • Redundancy: Need to cover absences
Changes to meeting format • Strict(er) timing of announcements, presentation, and end • Additional set-up & testing • Ensure PowerPoint presentations work with Webex (e.g., video clips & sound bites) • Podium etiquette (educate presenters) • Q&A Discipline
Limitations on central meeting venues • Internet access (ethernet preferred) • Confirm compatibility of equipment (sound system) • Lighting for webcams
Main Location Equipment • Computer • Webex Software • Windows PC < 5yrs • Have a spare • Sound card? • Projection Equipment • Room layout • Link to PC • Testing • PowerPoint • Webex • iTunes • Internet connection • Hardwire better • < 100 kbps bad • 250 kbps ok • > 1,000 kbps is normal • Webcam • Headshot of speaker • Link with audio • TEST
Audio Equipment • Local sound (mixer) • Podium mic • Lapel mic • Wireless mic • Audio from presentation • from Webex • Feedback! • Open mic • Signal to Webex • Dedicated mic!!! • Simple & reliable • No pres. sound • No Live Q&A • Mixer to presenter's PC? • No control • Mixer to aux PC?
Hardware & software • AIChE Software Standard: Webex • 3 laptops + spares, web-enabled • Internet connections (ethernet preferred) • Microphones • Sound mixer • Webcams • Cables (including power). Beware tripping hazard!
Have Fun • Meet new people • Learn new skills • Contribute to the benefit of others Gary Gildert, Alan Rossiter & Chris Tagoe 31 March 2012