DDN – Digital Dakota Network: The Digital Dakota Network is a hard-wired infrastructure that connects all K-12 schools and Board of Regents universities in South Dakota with T1 (Internet) lines and videoconference lines. This technology may be used to connect two or more sites together for a course. Participants at all sites are able to see, hear and interact with the professor and with participants at all linked sites. To deliver a course over the DDN network, the faculty member must use a DDN room equipped with videoconference technology. These courses can only be delivered to comparably equipped DDN rooms within South Dakota. Use of this technology outside of South Dakota is prohibitively expensive for courses, but may be feasible for one-time special events. There are 10 such rooms on the NSU campus. Courses delivered with this technology are always synchronous courses with designated start and end dates and regularly scheduled class sessions. The NSU NET Services Distance Delivery and Media department schedules the use of these rooms and provides faculty training in their use. To learn to use these rooms or to schedule one to use, call NSU Help Desk at (605) 626.2283.

Tandburg: Tandberg is an international market share leader in the visual communications industry today. The Tandberg endpoint is designed to be end-user friendly, via incorporating all basic functions into one handheld remote control. Tandberg endpoints can connect via dedicated phone lines (ISDN) or using the existing Internet infrastructure. The cheapest type of connection is through the Internet. NSU, has participated in video conferences nationally and internationally via the internet including locations such as the Czech Republic, S. Africa, Germany, Canada, Mexico, New York, Texas, California, and are able to connect to any location that has pre-existing architecture! This cutting edge technology is located in Lib. 118 of the Library.

IP Videoconference: Internet Protocol (IP) videoconferencing technology may be used to hold point-to-point or multiple site videoconferences over the Internet to individually connected computers. Because the sites receiving the course are not standardized, as are the DDN rooms, some time must be spent prior to beginning class to verify the compatibility of the technologies being used by each student. Also, each receiving computer must be equipped with the necessary software, sound card and camera and have high speed Internet connection. At NSU, courses can be delivered through IP videoconferencing from Library 118, MJ 141, MJ 244 and GB 203. In addition, any of the 39 smart classrooms can be used for IP videoconferencing by connecting the smart podium to a mobile IP videoconference cart. Courses taught with this technology may be entirely synchronous or this technology may be used to provide synchronous sessions within an otherwise asynchronous course. The IP videoconference classrooms and carts can be scheduled by calling the NSU Help Desk at (605) 626.2283.