What is Video Window University?
Video Window University is a persistent, always-on video connection product that links university campuses, faculty spaces, and student-facing areas. It enables students and staff to see and interact with each other across locations in real time, just by walking past a screen.
Why would a university use Video Window?
Universities with multiple campuses face the challenge of fragmented student experiences and a lack of cross-campus community. Video Window University creates a persistent visual bridge between locations, helping students feel part of one unified community and enabling spontaneous cross-campus interaction.
What problem does Video Window University solve?
It addresses the isolation and disconnection that students feel across dispersed campuses, satellite locations, and partner universities. It creates a sense of belonging and shared identity that is hard to recreate via most virtual activities like message boards and forums.
How is it different from a video call?
Video Window works as a window, not a meeting. It is always on and visible in public spaces, allowing casual, spontaneous interaction as students walk past, just as they would pass someone in a hallway.
Can it connect classrooms across campuses?
Yes, Video Window University can be placed in hallways, student unions, classroom entrances, welcome week pods, and partner universities to create seamless always-on connections across any locations.
Is it suitable for research collaboration?
While primarily designed for student engagement and community building, the persistent video connection can support ongoing collaboration between research teams or faculty across campuses. Contact Video Window to discuss research use cases.
What are the core use cases?
Core use cases include:
- Campus-to-campus connection (linking buildings, departments, and entire campuses)
- Welcome week activation (helping new students connect immediately)
- Student union portals
- Hallway connections for casual cross-campus interaction
- Partner university links for international exchange students
How does it benefit student engagement and retention?
Research shows that a strong sense of belonging is one of the biggest predictors of student satisfaction and retention. Video Window University helps students feel connected and part of the community from day one, reducing isolation (particularly for students on smaller or satellite campuses) and building cross-campus identity.
Does it work across partner universities internationally?
Yes, Video Window can link partner universities across the world, directly connecting campuses and promoting exchange, with no geographic limitations.
Where can Video Window University screens be installed?
Screens can be installed in hallways, student unions, welcome week pods, classroom entrances, kiosks, and any student-facing common areas. They can also be installed in partner universities for international cross-campus connections.
What hardware is recommended?
Large-format touchscreen displays (55–75″) are recommended for high-impact public installations. Wall-mounted, kiosk, or freestanding configurations are all supported. Standard Video Window hardware specs apply (PC/Mac/Linux PCs meeting minimum requirements).
What are the technical requirements for deployment?
Minimum: Intel i5 (10th gen) or AMD Ryzen 5 (3rd gen) CPU, 8 GB RAM, Windows 11/macOS 13+/Debian Linux, 25 Mbps network connection. Wired Ethernet is strongly recommended. Campus network firewall settings may need to be configured to allow Video Window traffic.
Does it require IT staff for ongoing management?
Video Window is designed for minimal ongoing management. Once installed and configured, it runs persistently with automatic daily diagnostics and uptime reporting. A central administrative control panel allows remote management. Minimal IT involvement is required day-to-day.
Can students interact with Video Window?
Yes, students can walk up to a Video Window screen and join audio to have a live conversation with students or staff at another campus. The interaction is spontaneous and requires no scheduling or prior planning.
Can social media be linked to Video Window?
Yes, the Digital Signage can be configured to display social media feeds or other web-based content on the Video Window device, either alongside or in place of the video feed.
How does Digital Signage work?
When Video Window is not in active use, digital signage (any web URL) is displayed on the screen which is ideal for campus announcements, events listings, or student union content.
What signage platform is required?
No specific platform is required. Any web URL can be used as a digital signage source.
Which universities currently use Video Window?
Ulster University is a documented case study, having used Video Window across three campuses in Belfast, Coleraine, and Derry during Welcome Week. Contact Video Window for a full list of university customers.
