IET collaborates with JANET to enable academics to share cutting edge research for free
24 September 2007 - The IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) has today announced it will be collaborating with JANET, the UK’s national network for research and education, to enable academic institutions to web stream important research seminars, conferences and lectures, via IET.tv, the institution’s web streaming service.
Users will now be able to access the Research Seminar channel on IET.tv via the JANET network, which connects education and research institutions across the UK (including schools, FE colleges, Universities and large research institutions). JANET also provides ongoing connectivity to other national education and research networks (NRENs) across the globe via the pan-European GEANT network and the global internet.
This IET initiative is a first for the academic community, giving them access to valuable web streaming technology, free of charge, as part of the IET’s charitable remit.
The research channel initiative (on IET.tv), provides users with the ability to create live and on-demand video presentations that can be uploaded on to the internet and distributed to a global audience. Eleven universities are already using the service following the beta trial and now the research seminar channel will be rolled out to all Universities.
The JANET network, with its capacity for real-time data transfer, empowers research projects in a variety of fields and has an infrastructure capable of meeting the explosion of data predicted by research communities.
Robin McGill, Chief Executive of the IET said: “The IET is committed to raising the profile of science, engineering and technology to society and sharing the latest technological advances. Therefore, the IET is very pleased to be collaborating with the JANET network to offer the services of the Research Seminar channel on IET.tv to academia and ultimately open up a variety of opportunities for sharing ground-breaking research worldwide.”
“We are delighted to be working with the IET, one of the world’s leading institutions for engineering and technology. JANET will play a key part in enabling global interaction and collaboration within this innovative community. Addressing the ongoing needs of our users and implementing leading technologies is key to ensuring that the JANET network is meeting the contemporary needs of its users,” says Tim Marshall, CEO at JANET(UK)
The technology enables users to host their own webcast with video footage synchronised to any media e.g. PowerPoint slides, Flash or Excel spreadsheets, allowing viewers to see the slides transition as the speaker changes them.
An additional feature is the distribution of video and synchronised media across a timeline, which allows the viewer to fast-forward or re-wind to any point in time within the presentation, offering an enhanced user experience.
Viewers who tune in to a live webcast can put forward their views via the Q&A forum facility and interact with other viewers and the speaker.
Dr. Lee Gillam of the Department of Computing at the University of Surrey said: “The IET.tv research channel enables Universities like Surrey to engage with much wider audiences than would be reached through a traditional presentation.”
“IET.tv offers the opportunity for research groups within Universities to become content producers. This has significant potential for extending the dissemination and potential impact of research activities. Distances and time-zones are general difficulties in international collaboration; IET.tv can bring researchers just that bit closer together.”
ENDS
For all media enquiries and for case studies please contact:
Jenny Bond
Media and PR Officer
The Institution of Engineering and Technology
T: 020 7344 5445
Notes to the editor:
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For more information or to apply for this service email Kim Letchford at the IET on kletchford@theiet.org.
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If you would like to learn more about IET.tv research channel initiative and see demonstrations of the technology, visit us at the Streaming Media Europe Exhibition:
Streaming Media Europe
Stand 11
4 & 5 October 2007
Copthorne Tara Hotel, London, UK
About IET.tv:
IET.tv is a web streaming service with one of the largest collections (approx. 2,000) of interactive engineering and technical presentations on the web. IET.tv uses the latest cross-platform technology to deliver synchronised multi-media content to PC and MAC browsers anytime, anywhere in the world. Programmes from practising engineers, technologists and key industry speakers can be streamed either live or on demand.
www.iet.tv
The IET
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is one of the world’s leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community. The IET has more than 150,000 members in 127 countries and has offices in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. The Institution provides a global knowledge network to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas and promotes the positive role of Science, Engineering and Technology in the world.
For further information visit www.theiet.org