Video link brings academics together

Colleagues from the Faculty of Information Technology will soon be able to share a coffee break and have a chat across campuses through a new video link-up.

The video wall link-up between the School of Computer Science & Software Engineering staff rooms at Clayton and Caulfield will be tested this week.

The link uses a more advanced version of video-conferencing technology which projects a video image onto the room's wall, allowing staff to see and hear each other.

According to the head of the school, Professor David Abramson, the aim of the video link is to mimic normal perspective as closely as possible. "Imagine two rooms right next to each other with a sheet of glass in between them - that's the effect we want," he said.

Unlike video-conferencing, however, the link was not designed for business purposes, Professor Abramson added.

"It's specifically designed to be social," he said. "Since our school is split between campuses, especially Clayton and Caulfield, the video link will allow academics to talk and socialise without the need to travel."

It is hoped that the link will be in use within a few months. For more information, contact the School of Computer Science & Software Engineering on extn 32787.