April 18, 2008 Minutes
Information Technology
MEETING MINUTES
Friday, April 18, 2008
10:00 am T-6
Members Present: Adrian Agundez, Mimi Collins, Jack Gallon, Rick Garcia, Mark Gibson, Richard Hudson, Brian Jean, Chad Mickelberry, Mack Stephenson, Rob Teel, Linda West, Henry Yong.
Recorder: Michaela Young
Meeting start: 10:02 am
Agenda: Video Server Update: Real vs. Quick time
Copier replacement
Video Server Update:
Adrian explained that TC is currently using Real and is considering going to Quicktime. The Real server has been used for at least 4 years now and has reached its limit and age. He said they needed to ask themselves if they wanted to maintain the standard of Realtime. Adrian advised that he did not budget for replacing this server and would have to talk to Willie about the funding. He discussed that Windows Media is still a strong contender but in his opinion Quicktime supersedes Real.
Rob stated that the new videos were made with Quicktime and they needed to decide which way they wanted to go.
Mark explained that no matter which way they decided to go, they would have to purchase a new server. The cost would be approximately $7,500 to $10,000, which offers a “middle-of-the-road” solution. The issue is space and the Real server ran out of space. He pointed out that the IBM box could be extended; the Apple would need external space.
Rob said that mpeg4 could do more video.
Jack Gallon asked what would happen to what is on the server now – will it transfer?
Rob explained that it will not transfer but they could do audio capture or audio/video capture.
Adrian suggested putting together a list for the next semester to get priorities from faculty of which videos are still needed.
Rob showed two videos to demonstrate the difference – mpeg4 with 1.4 megabites loads faster, uses up less space.
Mark discussed the cost, stating that the Real server annual cost is appx. $1000.00; with Apple you would have the initial software cost but maintenance is free after that.
Adrian pointed out that Quicktime is more secure, as, contrary to Windows Media, it does not let you copy and paste onto the desktop.
Brian added that they do a lot of projects embedding, etc. Quicktime has an easier, friendlier format to work with.
Adrian inquired on the possibility of putting videos on CD-ROM to have available at the prison.
Mark said they could fill out the license request from Apple free of charge.
Rob requested that they go with at least Version 7 of Quicktime.
Adrian added that it needed to be compatible for students at TCI and other students.
Mark pointed out that the server is using 1% of CPU time on Quicktime when running videos versus currently 3%. He is not sure if it is linear or not.
Adrian asked if the group wanted to go with Apple or IBM server as a platform.
Mark suggested going with Apple – native with Apple.
Brian is planning on purchasing the server with Title V budget funds.
The group made a unanimous recommendation to go to Quicktime
Mark suggested that Rob get training to keep up the server.
Brian stated they will maintain the server – it will have a 3-year warranty, they will support the hardware, if IT
will support the training.
Mark will set up and configure a back-up server to have a back-up plan if the server went down.
Brian asked Jack Gallon if they were doing embedded captioning. Jack replied they did not want to do that; they
will send it out to have it done; it was not a financial issue for them.
Copier Replacement
Adrian discussed the bad condition the copier in the mailroom was in. He said the machine already has run over 7
million copies. The lease expires the end of April and Adrian asked the group to make a recommendation to
replace the old unit and not re-new the lease.
Mimi said it was too late in the game now but for the future the college might want to consider going with a
centralized program as a cost saver.
Adrian added that he would like to see a full-blown color copier system maintained by a designated person or
remote printing.
Brian stated that the college is quickly approaching a need for that. The copier in G-2 is a back-up and another
unit to replace the one in the mailroom is a must.
The Committee made a unanimous recommendation to replace the copier in the mailroom.
Chad inquired who would service the replacement unit.
Adrian advised Ikon has provided better service and would service the unit. Adrian then advised the group that
Michaela will be sending out a new version of the AUP. Brian has reviewed it with Adrian and the group now
had to come up with an acceptable version to be submitted to Willy for final approval.
Adrian then informed everyone that Mimi’s department was moving soon.
Mimi said they will have Faculty Friday in May 16 in the new building. She will have an open-house tour on that
date. She pointed out that this is a community-shared building and it will be opened up to the public.
Adrian discussed that the security cameras are coming up on-line now and cameras will be in place to watch
walkways and hallways.
He stated that Student Banner should be live next week for Summer II and Fall registration. Rick has been
working on Luminis and they will do a slow roll-out in June/July.
Brian inquired on the status of the e-mail issue edu versus org.
Adrian explained that edu will have an automatic forward to org. Willy voiced some concerns and would like to
see First Class more portable for mobile devices. He asked if they want to go with Luminis or an exchange
server. There are not charges or limits on accounts in Luminis. Adrian said they sent out a survey and received
feedback that the survey was too hard to understand, so they will release another survey which might be more
easily understood. He advised that they could afford Microsoft Outlook and could look also at open-source
products. This issue will have to be re-visited but Taft.edu will not be changed for now.
Brian asked if the college would always have edu?
Mark said that would depend on what they decide to go with for e-mail – we are only allowed one edu.
Brian pointed out that faculty wants to keep edu and asked if Sungard could change it from org to edu.
Adrian stated that it will cost $15,000 to re-load everything through Sungard. Adrian has talked with people who
use CMS. Luminis comes with Course Studio System. They removed it and moved in “moodle”, a free, opensource
management system, which is very flexible to work with.
Henry inquired on the possibility of a new mode of distance learning – video conferencing. He asked if they had
two more systems on campus, would there be enough fiber backbone to support it?
Adrian said this was very do-able and could be done very quickly. He would like to see a video streaming server
to have, e.g. web- conferences from your desktop through webcams, etc. CCC-Confer is free through the
Chancellor’s office.
Brian said that the current version has web-cam capabilities.
Adrian said that this was a good possibility and he would like to see that in the future.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 am
Meeting was adjourned at 10:55 am