Web Conferencing Options Available in CityU
What is Web Conferencing Service Provided?
It is a commercial web conferencing service called CISCO WebEX (or WebEX). This new service is arranged and supported by the Computing Services Centre (CSC) and is now available for application.
As one of the leading applications in the market for holding online meetings (“web conference”), it is an interactive two-way video and voice communication application running on a desktop computer. Similar to other web conferencing tools, WebEx has a function to share anything on a presenter’s desktop to its participants, such as a PowerPoint presentation, a Word document or even the whole desktop. This helps a lot for meetings that need to share and show programs and data among members joining the web conference. The following are some of the features that you may find in WebEx:
| Features | Description |
| Inviting participants | |
| Schedule meeting | Schedule a meeting at anytime and inform participants using email invitation. |
| Create instant meeting | One-click Meeting allows users to start a meeting instantly with a single click. |
| During meeting | |
| Invite participants when a meeting is started | More participants can be invited even after a meeting is started. |
| Expel attendee | Unwelcome participants can be expelled from the meeting room. |
| Transfer mouse and keyboard control | With presenter's permission, other participants are allowed to control the presenter's desktop using the mouse and keyboard. |
| Sharing selected applications/desktop | For collaborative work, participants can share applications or desktops to others provided that the share options are allowed. |
| Instantly change presenters | The host or the current presenter can transfer the presenter. |
| Whiteboard | Similar to a physical whiteboard, the whiteboard in WebEX can be used as a writing and drawing area to facilitate discussion. |
| Text Chat | There is a text chatting panel in WebEx for communication with other participants by means of typing. |
| Mute participant | Presenter has the authority to mute any participant in a meeting room whenever it is necessary. |
| Multiple videos control | Up to 6 participants can be communicated with each others in a video window. |
| Survey | Questionnaires can be presented and collected using WebEx application. |
| Recording conference | If the option is allowed, participants can record the conference in their local computer for future use. |
| Restrict Access | The host or presenter can disallow anyone to enter the meeting room. |
| Integration | |
| Outlook integration | WebEx can share the MS Outlook's calendar and address book to make meeting schedules and attendee records conveniently. |
Who will need it?
As the WebEx offers all functionalities of a regular meeting in an online location, the following users may find WebEx particularly beneficial:
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Lecturers who find it difficult to booking a physical room and not flexible enough for them to arrange ad hoc classes
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Overseas Lecturers who teach classes in CityU
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Project leaders who look for rooms to meet with their members locally or overseas
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Interviewers who require face to face interviews with overseas applicants
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Seminar/Conference Organizers who want to broadcast the event to other participants in other locations.
How can you apply for using WebEx and what are the options?
There are two service options centrally provided by the CSC. They are: “Shared Host Option” and “Named Host Option”. Here, we refer a “host” as the organizer of an event (such as meeting, interview, seminar … etc.) who will start a conference session for participants to join. Only the “host” but not the participants require an account to operate.
1) Shared Host Option
| Service Aim |
This is for meetings with known schedules. One host account is shared by different users at different times. |
| Registration |
Registration through CSC Work Request is required. The service is on a first-come-first-served basis. The requester should register at least ONE WEEK in advance. |
| Participants | Maximum number of participants in a meeting room is 15. |
| Charge | Free of charge for academic or administrative use by staff. |
2) Named Host Option
| Service Aim |
This is for frequent meetings and/or no defined schedule. One host account is owned by one user. |
| Registration |
Registration through CSC Work Request is required. The Computing Services Centre will help to purchase the required host account from the supplier. The requester has to give a lead time for purchasing a licence prior to the first meeting. |
| Participants | Maximum number of participants in a meeting room is 15. |
| Charge | Around HK$600 (US$75) per host per month (contract period applies) and may vary from time to time. |
What is the equipment requirement?
You should have a Pentium 4 (3.0MHz or above) with 1 GHz memory. Basically, you should also need to have a webcam, a microphone and a speaker to enable video and audio options.
Learn More from WebEx Official Sites
User Guide:
https://cityuhk.webex.com/mc0800l/meetingcenter/support/support.do?siteurl=cityuhk&Action=user_guides
Downloads:
https://cityuhk.webex.com/mc0800l/meetingcenter/support/support.do?siteurl=cityuhk&Action=downloads
Live Training:
https://cityuhk.webex.com/mc0800l/meetingcenter/support/training.do?siteurl=cityuhk
(Sign in with a guest account)
FAQ:
https://cityuhk.webex.com/docs/T26L/mc0800l/en_US/support/faq.htm