IT and Library Services

Video / Desktop Conferencing & Webinars

A videoconference is real time interaction between two or more people using simultaneous video and audio transmissions over a network.

Its main purpose is to serve a conference but it can be used to support distance learning, small and medium scale meetings, collaborative working and interviews.

Desktop Conferencing

Desktop (video) conferencing is a similar concept to traditional video conferencing, but using your PC / Laptop or even mobile device instead of dedicated hardware. A software solution and built in, or a cheap additional microphone and webcam, allow anyone to join or create a conference environment anywhere.

  • Find out more about  Microsoft Teams and how it can be used for real time communication, including screen sharing and remote control

Webinars

A webinar is essentially just a seminar or workshop held over the Internet, and it can be a presentation, discussion, demonstration, or other instructional session.

  • The university has a limited number of licences for Adobe Connect
  • Webinars can be performed via Microsoft Teams (as a Desktop Conference)
  • The university also has a very small number of licences for Zoom.  These have been purchased for very specific cases.  Unless there is an overriding business case, you should use Microsoft Teams.

Our video and webinar tools page will tell you more about the range of tools available to you.