Acrobat Connect (WebMeeting): Accessories and connectivity

Connectivity, hardware and software

On-campus, you should use a wired connection for a WebMeeting session. 

Off-campus, you will need a broadband connection from an Internet Service Provider (ISP).  Dial-up modem connections do not provide sufficient connection speed. 

Most recent computer hardware has sufficient power to run this application and process the video/audio contant.   You will need certain add-in software for desktop sharing, etc.  You can test your computer's capacity and connection speed here.

Video

To send your image to others, you will need a webcam -- a small video camera that takes still or moving images and sends them to your PC via a USB or FireWire cable.  (Some computers, like Apple MacBook Pros, have webcams built in.)

You can spend a little or a lot on a webcam -- the quality of image capture is determined by the webcam's lens, optical sensor and the frame rate the camera can transmit.  As with most things in life the more you pay (generally) the more you get, but very good cameras are now available for $100 or less. 

Standard minimum resolution today is 640x480 pixels and the frame rate is almost always 30 frames per second.  Most webcams are fixed-focus (meaning you have to sit within a given distance range from it).  Some will pan and tilt automatically, following your face; most just point at a fixed location.  Some deal better with low- and poor-lighting conditions than others.

Most webcams designed for Windows PCs plug in to a USB port -- usually a USB2 connection, which is backward compatible with the much slower USB1.  (Both use identical-looking plugs and sockets.  You have to use a USB2 device on a USB2 port to get the high speed.)   Webcams for Macs typically use a FireWire connection. 

Be sure your computer exceeds the manufacturer's minimum specification for operating system, processor speed and memory to run the webcam of your choice.  

Audio

In order to listen during a meeting, you will need some kind of PC speakers.  Almost all laptops now have speakers built in, and almost all PCs come with free-standing speakers or a monitor to which speakers can be attached.

In order to speak to others, you will need a microphone.  Most webcams now come with a built-in microphone, but not all.  Many laptops also have a built-in microphone, as do a few add-on keyboards.  Otherwise, you will need to purchase one separately.

Consider a headset-and-microphone combination.  Headsets often render speech more clearly, and eliminate the problem of having others overhear your meeting conversations.  (This is something to consider for both politeness and security reasons.)  

Headset microphones often provide a dramatic improvement in the quality of your transmitted voice, for the same reason that talking on a telephone handset is generally superior to using a speakerphone.

More information

Webcam reviews (Cowboy Frank)
Straightforward reviews of the most popular webcams from a somewhat idiosyncratic source

For more information about this application, see Adobe Connect (WebMeeting): Resources.