The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Interactive Video Services is a division of the Office of Academic Technology. This group began work as a grant-supported activity in 1998 and is dedicated to implementing and expanding the use of Internet-based multimedia services in health education. We provide videoconferencing facilities, a web-based PC desktop collaboration system, and live and on-demand multimedia streaming for meetings, special events, grand rounds, and the curriculum.

Background: Interactive Video Services records and/or broadcasts many classroom events on a routine basis. These include the Medical School curriculum and Grand Rounds for the following departments: Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Anesthesiology, OB-GYN, Microbiology and  Neuroscience. In addition, there are several special events that are recorded. Among these are the Clinical Research Curriculum, guest lectures for various departments, and special lecture series such as the Dean's Lectures and President's/Dean's Town Hall Meetings. Some departments have extended their recording schedules to include seminars and resident training events.

Recordings are in one of two formats depending on where the event takes place, audio/video only or as a web page that includes these as well as high resolution PowerPoint slides.   In most cases, events that are being recorded can also be broadcast live over the Internet for near-real-time viewing from any personal computer.  Captured content for an event can also be made available as a so-called "Podcast," a low resolution audio or audio/video format suitable for portable playback devices such as the Apple IPod. With some additional editing, content can be made available in a format suitable for playback on many smart cell-phones.

Medical School rooms that are equipped for high resolution recording and broadcast include: MSB 1.006, 2.006, 3.001, 2.103 and 2.135. Lower resolution recordings can also be made in G.100, B.100, B.605 and B.620. With the exception of MSB 1.006 and 2.006, the same rooms are also capable of interactive videoconferencing. That is, participants at remote locations can participate fully in the scheduled event. Beyond these sites, there are many others throughout the various buildings of the Health Science Center that, with sufficient lead time, can be scheduled for conferencing and/or content capture. In addition, there are easily learned methods for producing recordings on a personal computer in the comfort of one's office.

Procedure: Lecture captures, broadcasts, videoconferences and training can be arranged through Interactive Video Services by entering a request at: http://med.uth.tmc.edu/msit/mshelp.htm

1. Login with your e-mail address and password
2. Change the Department to Interactive Video
3. Enter a detailed request in the text box including your contact information, the nature of your request ( e.g. videoconference, lecture capture), the date and time you want to reserve and any special audio-visual requirements. If the request is for a videoconference, please include the contact information of the party with whom you wish to connect and contact information for a technical person at that location. If the request is for a lecture recording, please include the name of the speaker, their affiliation and the title of the talk.
4. Click on the "Submit Request" button at the bottom of the form.
5. A member of the Interactive Video staff will contact you.

Please note:

1. Videoconferences to sites outside of the University of Texas system typically require connectivity tests. We need as much additional lead time as possible. Minimally, a week is sufficient.
2. Room availability for videoconferencing and/or lecture capture can be an issue, particularly during the noon hour.
3. Interactive Video Services hours of operation are from 7AM until 6PM, Monday through Friday. There will be a charge of $75.00/operator/hour for events outside of those hours or on University holidays that require staffing .  Please supply an account number when you schedule your event.