Technical Requirements:

Please schedule a site certification two weeks prior to your scheduled program.  We want to ensure the best connection for your Electronic Field Trip.  We can accommodate single or multipoint videoconferencing. Liberty Science Center uses three technologies to make distance learning possible in your classroom.

Videoconferencing via IP:

IP known as “Internet Protocol” uses the internet to connect through videoconferencing technology hardware.  Polycom and Tandberg are the most common videoconferencing hardware manufacturers.   Our standard bandwidth is 384kbps but it can go up to 1920kbps.

Videoconferencing via ISDN:

ISDN connects using a phone line, also using videoconferencing hardware.  ISDN bandwidth ranges from 384kbps to 768kbps.

Videoconferencing via Desktop:

The last technology is desktop videoconferencing using Skype.  No videoconferencing hardware is required except for some accessories.  Please see below for the Skype requirements.

Skype Desktop Videoconferencing Requirements:

In order to ensure a desirable level of video and audio quality, Liberty Science Center requires that their videoconferencing partners adhere to a set of minimum specifications:

  • Webcams or video cameras should be able to achieve a minimum resolution of 800 x 600
  • An ideal resolution is 1280 x 720
  • For Skype certified webcams visit:  http://shop.skype.com/

Participants should use an external microphone that is separate from the webcam; if a microphone is integrated into the camera, please disable it. Most common USB and desktop microphones should suffice.

Additionally, participants should have a display device (e.g. projector, LCD screen) to display the feed coming into Skype from LSC, along with basic sound reinforcement, such as a desktop speaker system or room audio.

Skype Multipoint will require the additional following requirements:

  • A high-speed broadband connection of 4 Mbps down/512 kpbs up and a computer with a Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz processor or a high-speed broadband connection of 512 kbps down/128 kpgs up and a computer with a 1 GHz processor.
  • Skype 5.0 or higher or Skype business version