Stanford Otolaryngology
Fee Library Streaming Video Upgrade
2008
Project Profile:
David Carroll Associates was contracted in 2005-2006 to develop a technology program to support the Otolaryngology departments educational and business needs during their move to new facilities on Welch Road. A new AV system was designed and installed by in the Willard Fee library, and provided a wealth of AV technology, including wide screen HD projection with a multiple window video processor that enables up to four video images to be presented simultaneously for compare and contrast applications and to support remote collaborations technologies such as telemedicine.
In 2008 we were approached again by Dr. Jackler, chair of the Otolaryngology department, with the need to facilitate a remote tele-presentation from the Fee Library to their Otolaryngologist friends in Australia. The requirements included the transmission of high resolution, full motion video from presenters' powerpoint slides (with embedded video) along with live session video and synchronized audio. DCA evaluated several solutions including the use of HD videoconferencing technology, and settled on a solution from NCAST due to it's ability to support low bandwidth connections and to capture simultaneously with streaming. The NCAST telepresenter was used to capture and stream live at 1280x720 at approximately 15 fps. Although it would have been possible to stream at full frame rate, the hotel in Perth proved to be the limiting factor on the internet connection, and a 512Kb/s target rate was chosen.
The slide above shows the basic layout of the telepresentation, including a full XGA (1024x768) content pane, a live video pane for the presenter, and two slides that were changed during the presentation to provide additional data.
At the Perth end, the stream was received and projected on a large screen in HD, and over 300 members of the Australia OHNS society were able to enjoy the presentations by over 9 Stanford Professors in full quality, with live Q/A, as if the presenter were in the same room. At the end of the sessions, the Australians gave a standing ovation for the quality of the presentation and experience.
The system was installed permanently and is available for grand rounds and other training and outreach programs.
The picture at the right shows the remote site coming back via webcam (upper left tile) for Q&A.
Project Engineers: David Carroll, John Brenneis
Scope of work: Requirements analysis, technology program design and budgeting, system design, integration, installation and programming, and operational support.
