Innovative Uses For Teleconferencing Technologies For Bme Education

The opportunities for use of teleconferencing as a teaching tool have changed dramatically in the last few years, and more change is anticipated. The driving factor has been the introduction of a set of strong international teleconferencing standards that have had the byproduct of dramatically reduced prices, enhanced interoperability, and the addition of LAN-based solutions. CUA, as part of ongoing initiatives in telehealth and telerehabilitation, has been using and evaluating a broad range of teleconferencing technologies, including systems that communicate through ISDN, LAN, and regular telephone. Technically, there are three core aspects to such evaluation: video, audio, and data-sharing. Data-sharing includes tools for sharing files, a whiteboard, and applications (e.g., PowerPoint, Matlab). The latter includes the possibility of a shared mouse or keyboard, and to date this capability has been underutilized by the academic community. Taken together, these technologies open the way for minimizing the barrier of distance between students and instructors.