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A webcast is a live video stream, accessible over the Internet. If the webcast is of a virtual seminar, we include pointers to the stream from the project webpages – see http://www.wun.ac.uk/chinacenter/seminars.html as an example. Because we have no control over the software running on viewers’ computers, we currently offer streams for Windows Media, Real Media and Quicktime video players.
Service provider |
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Series |
Windows Media Player | Quicktime | Real Media Player |
| Earth systems | Wisconsin Madison rec | Penn State | Penn State |
| Contemporary China | Wisconsin Madison rec | Bristol rec or Leeds | Leeds |
| Human Geography | Wisconsin Madison rec | Bristol rec or Leeds | Leeds |
| Security | Wisconsin Madison rec | Penn State | Penn State |
| Nanomanufacturing | Wisconsin Madison rec | Leeds | Leeds |
| South Asian Studies | Wisconsin Madison rec | Leeds | Leeds |
Other series may also require streams. The general rule for Quicktime & Real Media streams is that these will be provided by Penn State so long as they have participants on site. Otherwise Leeds or Bristol (the latter by arrangement only) will stream. Wisconsin Madison have responsibility for streaming Windows Media regardless of whether or not there is a local audience.
Please email Louise Heery at if you want to arrange for a webcast of a series that doesn’t appear above. Louise will also act as coordinator making sure that the correct urls are on the relevant website.
We will collect statistics to determine how many people are watching the webcasts, though we are unable for the timebeing to tell you where these people are located.
A podcast is a recorded multimedia stream but adapted for use on a handheld MP3 player. Jules Smith handles all post production. These are done systematically and you should not need to request a podcast specifically.
WUN has purchased a Marratech virtual room. At the moment, the Marratech client is free for use within higher education. However, there are sometimes issues with local firewalls so it is worth checking that the software will run well in advance of any formal meeting.
GIS run test sessions on Tuesday afternoons at 16h00 – 17h00 GMT - see http://www.wun.ac.uk/virtualseminarscalendar.php to check for local times and make sure these are running. They are willing to open these sessions up to anyone wanting to try out Marratech for the first time but please email Louise Heery at so that we know to expect ‘outsiders’.
To arrange to use the WUN room for virtual Meetings, check the Virtual Seminar calendar before logging your event. Please check the calendar before doing any sort of test session as there is no password protection on the room and we would like to avoid disruption to scheduled events. For the address of the virtual room, please email Louise Heery at
This software is robust and GIS are using it successfully. They have run seminars connecting 50 clients and over 70 users. Marratech is a viable alternative to traditional video conferencing but you need to be familiar with the environment before launching a whole series. It is also possible to link the Marratech room to a traditional video conference and this is done via JVCS. However, it is strongly recommended that you test this well in advance of any formal event.
For more information about Marratech and etiquette, please see these guidelines.
Using access grid for WUN virtual events seems to have diminished over the past 12 months. Access Grid is a good intermediate between traditional video conferencing and desktop video conferencing since its dedicated rooms are designed to facilitate discussion.