VNS is part of North Carolina state government's Office of Information Technology Services. VNS provides a comprehensive set of video and multi-media services and provides North Carolina's state agencies with national and worldwide videoconferencing connectivity. VNS suite of services offer tools that, used appropriately, can result in dramatic cost savings for North Carolina's state agencies.
VNS Services :
Interactive Videoconferencing
This service is ideal for bringing communities across the state together to conduct meetings, distance learning, worker training and other collaborative applications. Videoconference technology allows people to interact face-to-face with two-way video and audio communications. Videoconferencing is a great tool to increase productivity, reduce travel expense, and quickly meet with a number of geographical locations across the state, nation or world. Training, site coordination and 24/7 technical support will be provided to clients who subscribe to the monthly subscription service in addition to problem reporting/resolution support from the Customer Support Center. Two different videoconferencing technologies are supported by VNS : the North Carolina Information Highway (NCIH) and Video-Over-IP.NCIH (H.320)
The NCIH is a dedicated statewide network providing data and videoconferencing services. Video applications which are supported over the network include distance learning for K-12 and higher education, state agency meetings, statewide training activities, emergency response assistance, public hearings, etc. Currently, the NCIH supports approximately 100 video sessions daily and over 15,000 yearly. Universal Service-Network
access to all parts of North Carolina.
Equalized Rates-Same usage rates regardless of geographic location.
Shared Resources-Elimination of duplication and assurance of interoperability;
utilizing accepted standards.
Public/Private Partnership-Capital outlay is made by the private
sector and the usage base is provided by the state.
NCIH sites utilize VNS
videoconferencing services. In most cases, ITS data services are accessible
through the same transmission facility to that site. Currently, NCIH sites
support at least one classroom (some sites have two or more classrooms) equipped
for video services to support distance learning and video conferencing. The
video sites are fully interactive, with participants able to see and hear
each other as though everyone was within the same room.
A complete list of sites is located at http://www.ncih.net/operation/ds1sites.html.
Video-Over-IP (H.323)
In addition to the NCIH, Video-Over-IP (H.323) services are available that allow videoconferencing services based on the Internet Protocol.Streaming Video
The streaming service (webcasting) enables clients to broadcast live events over the Internet. ITS can stream an audio and/or videoconference. Hundreds of users are able to watch a live event over the web by using Real or Windows Media players on their computer.Web Conferencing
The ITS Web Conferencing service provides real-time meeting and interaction from different computers over the internet using clients� web browsers. The service provides the user with a virtual online office that can be joined from anywhere and used to share documents, provide training and education, collaborate, solve problems and make decisions. Web Conferencing is a secure, fast, money-saving alternative to travel that can be used by any state agency or educational facility. Some of the features of this service include software demonstrations, application sharing, real-time voting and polling and remote control access to end user�s desktops.Event Production
VNS staff will consult with any state agency and assist with the planning and technical production of on-line events using any combination of our video and multimedia services. ITS employs experienced multimedia professionals who can consult, manage and train people to utilize any of the technologies we offer.