An inexpensive desktop video conferencing system can be converted for use in a classroom with software upgrades and hardware additions. Improvements in features and performance have occurred in this technology over the past year which make this possible.
Students can interact with a remote instructor by audio, video, and keyboard.
Certain patterns of room layout maximize the possibilities. Educators thought that there must be a use for DVC in their environment as well. Some schools began trying it out for advising, testing, or placement. Almost in the same breath that advocates praised the potential of the technology it was also judged inadequate. The obvious use is course delivery, but DVC would be incredibly expensive if it could only be used with individuals either on an individual studies basis or in a classroom with individual workstations.