Spotlight on Information Technology
TelePresence
TelePresence improves videoconferencing’s two-way audio and video telecommunication experience by offering high definition video communication, using the best equipment available, and allowing for complete network control. While videoconferencing operates on television style sets, Telepresence’s 55-inch plasma screens allow the “life size” view of the remote location to include important details like facial gestures and real-time eye contact. This immersive experience means participants at a distant site feel as if they were physically present in the room.
Room 312 Burruss Hall was the first TelePresence room at the university, followed closely by 1100 Torgersen Hall for larger groups. The National Lambda Rail’s TelePresence Exchange links the Cisco TelePresence rooms among the four universities—Virginia Tech, George Mason University, James Madison University, and the University of Virginia. Courses originating at one university can include students at other universities, participating simultaneously alongside their distant, fellow students. |
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Mission
The mission of Virginia Tech's Information Technology organization (IT) is to serve the university community and the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia by applying and integrating information resources to:
- Enhance and support instruction, teaching and learning;
- Participate in, support and enhance research;
- Foster outreach, develop partnerships with communities and promote the capabilities of advanced networking and communications;
- Provide, secure, and maintain systems allowing the university to accomplish its missions.
Oversight of the security of university information technology resources and information is entrusted to the Vice President for Information Technology by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors »
The Current Annual Activities Report describes the organization’s accomplishments for the 2010-2011 year.
The computing.vt.edu website provides information on IT services.
