When instructors and students are separated by physical distance, technology can be used to bridge the gap. A Distance Learning setup includes the seamless integration of the following equipment at multiple locations:Specialized Cameras Video Equipment Video Monitors Audio Delivery Equipment Microphones Microphone Mixers and Equalizers Encoding and Decoding Devices Computers WAN Equipment WhiteboardsDistance learning reduces travel time and costs. It also enables sharing of limited teaching resources to provide consistency of knowledge across the board. Distance Learning is a boon for students with special needs or those who are located at geographically hard-to-reach locations.Old video systems used analog technology. However, recent developments in video technology such as digitized video, interactive video, streaming video and real-time audio/video have revolutionized the field of Distance Learning. Video signals can be captured, digitized, stored and edited on a video server, and be streamed over IP networks or the Internet, thereby making the process scalable, cost-effective and flexible. The demand placed on infrastructure and bandwidth depends on desired applications and usage.Video presentations are of three types: Video Broadcasting, Video-on-Demand, and Video Conferencing. Of the three, only Video Conferencing is a two-way transmission, the others are essentially one-way.
Interactive Audio and Video Conferencing provide real time interaction at multiple sites. This is also a very cost-effective way to incorporate experts and guest speakers for training. Various media such as blackboards, handwritten or printed documents and videos can be used. Document sharing can also be incorporated into the Distance Learning setup.