Hello,
I would just like to share with everyone that NCDM-UIC has successfully
created a "super" PIG that has 2 webcams and an echo-cancellation
microphone for small group AG sessions. I was not sure it was going to
work but our sys admin here made the suggestion, and I happily discovered
that this configuration worked. Although we are currently using a single
display, there seem to be plans in the works to obtain another video
display card that will allow for two displays (one for the node operator
and one for the local participants). The two cameras really make a
difference and do not seem to overpower the Dell Optiplex GX280 Pentium 4,
1 GB RAM PC (with hyperthreading enabled). Although have cameras that
adjust would be nice, the solution is sufficient for the lab's purposes.
The webcams that we are using are a Logitech Quickcam Pro 4000 (works
perfectly) and the Creative Live Ultra for Notebooks (using the "Configure
on Transmit" option in VIC prevents errors since the webcam driver cannot
seem to "remember" the correct resolution and minimally makes VIC crash,
and, in worse cases, makes Windows XP SP2 crash with a blue screen). The
microphone is an echo-cancelling ClearOne AccuMic PC which works very
well.