University Business - November 2009 - (Page 9)

THe MOney FacTOr It can typically cost up to $215,000 or more for a single location of Cisco TelePresence equipment in addition to personnel to manage the equipment. But for most solutions, for up to $20,000 per month for a single location, the AT&T Telepresence Solution provides AT&T‑owned telepresence equipment, installation, full monitoring and management of the application, network provisioning (including AT&T VPN transport), and remote help desk service, as well as on‑site equipment maintenance and repair. The system also creates opportunities for generating revenue. Schools can rent out the telepresence room to local companies or external organizations. Also, with distance learning, companies might subscribe to an executive MBA program and pay to connect to a lecture from a professor. Alternatively, they could come to a campus and connect to a lecture at a remote endpoint. Additionally, Federal grants and loans may help colleges and universities implement the AT&T Telepresence Solution. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 authorized $53.6B in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF). The Act allowed for a portion of the SFSF funds to be used at state governors’ discretion in various areas, including higher education school modernization. These funds may be available for facilities improvements such as new telepresence systems. television,” Chapman said, whereas the telepresence experience feels like going to an interactive movie. On a Smaller Scale Te le p re s e n ce a l s o co n n e c ts campuses on a regional level. By the end of 2009, the University of Missouri (MU) is set to have a Cisco TelePresence system linked to AT&T’s global network up and running on each of its four campuses. “We’re moving in this direction for two reasons: first, to facilitate collaboration among campuses and beyond, and second, to save money on travel,” said Terry Robb, director of IT at MU. MU’s journalism school has a project going on in Beijing, and Robb hopes they can use telepresence to connect with them one day. But primarily, he said, the system will be used for administrative purposes and business meetings. Compared to older systems, the telepresence system is more efficient because users can schedule appointments in Microsoft Outlook. Also, the life‑size aspect of the technology allows people to catch nonverbal cues. “You’re immersed,” Robb said. “You can pick up on the body language. A lot of the communication between people is through body language, which you can’t see with audio conferencing. That’s a big step up right there.” On the Horizon O’Connor has been assigned by CUNY’s Building Performance Lab to be a program manager to help promote sustainability initiatives by acting as the liaison between Cisco and the students. Telepresence has the potential to support these initiatives by giving students access to guest lecturers and professors in far‑off places. “We could integrate telepresence into a classroom of the future,” he GOOd FOr THe earTH The telepresence videoconferencing system has the potential to h e l p t h e e n v i ro n m e n t b y reducing the carbon footprints of individuals who use the technology. Employers don’t have to fly from Los Angeles to New York for face‑to‑face meetings with clients. American students can collaborate with foreign students onscreen. By going to local telepresence sites, participants avoid generating carbon emissions associated with long‑distance t r a v e l . W h e n i t c o m e s to reducing our impact on the planet, the AT&T Telepresence Solution is a smart choice. said. “And in doing so, match our efforts to increase sustainability and operating efficiencies.” Telepresence has taken off in the private sector, but has myriad uses in education, as the aforementioned universities have shown. And in the next 50 years, the possibilities of such a system in schools worldwide are limitless. “In the long‑term, we see tremendous benefits for telepresence in the higher ed space,” said Brad Wealand, strategic account manager at Cisco. “From our perspective, it wa s d ef i n i te ly s o m e t h i n g t h a t enabled us to reach out and help an educational institution.” © 2009 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. This document is not an offer, commitment, representation or warranty by AT&T and is subject to change. For more information, contact your AT&T Representative or visit us at www.att.com/business http://www.att.com/business http://www.att.com/business

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - November 2009

University Business - November 2009
Contents
Editor’s Note
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Behind the News
Sense of Place
Viewpoint
Money Matters
Human Resources
35 Smart Building Ideas
Campus Fires: Prevent to Protect
Pushing ADA Beyond the Limits
Internet Technology
End Note

University Business - November 2009