Echo360 Pilot Project

Currently, CELT are exploring the use of Echo360 as a pilot within several venues on campus.

Download Information Sheet

How Echo 360 Works

The Echo360 system automatically captures and publishes lectures, providing an on-demand service for students. This system captures lectures in real time digitally, using video and /or audio.

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1. Scheduled Captures

Lecturers can establish semester-long schedules based on date, time, classroom and speaker. The Echo360 system integrates with existing technologies and, lecturers are not required to do anything in order to have their lectures captured. They simply need to ensure they are wearing the tie microphone in the venue. At the end of the lecture, the recording is automatically remotely stored and a link to the recording is published in chronological order within the Blackboard course you specify, and an announcement made to students. All that is required of students is to go to Blackboard, and click on a link. Students can watch the synchronised recorded lecture including PowerPoint slides and movie clips as frequently as they like and choose whether they watch using a high or low speed connection or download to view offline using their MP3 players, MP4 players, laptops or desktop PCs.

Those involved in the pilot of this system can find the relevant booking forms below:

Booking for single scheduled recording

Booking for mulitple scheduled recordings within a single course

2. Ad Hoc Captures

For ad-hoc events, lecturers can start and stop captures through an easy-to-use web interface. This is suitable where the lecture or seminar might not have a specific start or end time, and the lecturer wishes to manually control when their recording begins and ends, or where you haven't scheduled the recording in advance with us. If you get in touch, we can show you how to undertake adhoc recordings in your lecture venue.

You will need to email us, each time, after you finish undertake an adhoc recording to let us know the following details:

1. The speaker's name and email address - this is the address to which the links of the recording will be emailed.
2. The preferred title of the recording
3. The module code (if any) on Blackboard to which the recording should be published - if applicable.

See Operating Instructions for Clinical Sciences Large or Small Lecture theatre.

View Demo

Are you wondering what the Echo recordings look like? You can see an online demonstration and case studies for Echo 360 at: www.echo360.com/showcase/

Viewing Requirements

What are the system requirements to view the recorded lectures?

1. Have a Flash Player installed for the Full Rich Media Playback version

You require at least a Flash player plug-in (Release 9.0.0 or greater), to view the Full Rich Media Playback video. The EchoSystem rich media player includes a full-motion replay of every course visual synchronised with the instructor’s voice for a highly engaging experience. By using Adobe® Flash technology, students on Windows, Mac and Linux platforms can replay lectures on any browser without client software downloads, other than the Flash player.

A handy way to know what version of Flash is currently installed is to click on http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_15507

This webpage will confirm your version of Flash player. When you click on the above link, your player version will be displayed on screen, as illustrated below:

Screenshot (Windows): Indicating the Flash Player version 9.0.45 is installed	Screenshot (Mac): Indicating that Flash Player 10.1.102.64 is installed.

2. Bandwidth Requirements for the Full Rich Media Playback version

The minimum bandwidth for Full Rich Media Playback is 180 Kbps. If your connection is slower than this, consider downloading the lecture audio, or vodcast (lecture video), as per the notes below.

3. Possible organisation or company firewall problems for the Full Rich Media Playback version

If you are behind a company firewall, and are unable to view the video, you will need confirm with your network administrator that firewall ports 80, 8080, 554, and 1935 are open to allow the Full Rich Media Playback be viewed.

4. To view the downloaded audio or video recordings of your lecture, you will need client software installed

We mentioned earlier that there are four different types of products that the Echo360 produces. The most commonly viewed product is the Full Rich Media Playback version. For this you simply need a flash player, a web browser, and adequate broadband, etc. as in (1) to (3) above.

Alternatively, if you wish to listen to the downloaded audio of the lecture, this will play on any mp3 player, or on a range of different audio playing software packages, depending on what is installed on your computer. Similarly, for the downloaded video of the lecture, this will play on an iPad, iPod or any mobile device that allows video to be played. As with the audio, the video file will play also on your computer using a range of different software packages depending on what you have installed, most commonly being using Quicktime, iTunes, or VLC player. If you check out the links under the File Format column on the table below, you will see some recommendations on the best software to use for based on what type of computer operating system and version you have.

Notes on how to view recorded lectures

Product	File Type	Description	How to view	File Format
	Full Rich Media Playback	A fully synchronised multimedia presentation of the captured lecture, combining audio, video, presentation visuals, and indexing marks	You can click the first link under each captured recording to watch the full multimedia presentation online, using a web browser.	streaming web (Flash flv)
	Lecture Audio	An audio file, also known as a standard podcast	You can download this file onto your computer or transfer to any mp3 player.	mp3 file
	Enhanced Audio	An audio file that displays images synchronised with the audio. Enhanced podcasts allow users to skip to "chapters" provided by thumbnails.	You can download and watch this file on your computer, or transfer onto ipod or mobile device allows for video to be played.	m4b file
	Vodcast/ Lecture Video	A video file that containing the screen visuals and audio captured from the lecture.	You can download and watch this file offline on your computer, or transfer onto an ipod or mobile device that allows video to be played.	m4v file

Note: If you experience any technical difficulties, please email echo360nuigalway.ie and we will do our best to assist.

Consent

All speakers will need to download and complete the Speaker Agreement Form below:

Download Speaker Agreement Form

There is also useful information from JISC examining the legal implications of recording lectures at UK FE and HE institutions, focusing mainly on the issues of copyright and consent. It includes a flow chart of the legal issues and model consent form for institutions to use. See the JISC Legal website

Further Support

For assistance email: echo360nuigalway.ie

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