IEEE Ottawa Section -Video Discussion Page - last updated 03 March 2003

I volunteered to be the Section co-ordinator for videos at the November 1997 Executive Meeting. Since that time, I have perused both the printed and on-line web IEEE catalogues, andhave some videos on hand; some are on permanent loan from the LEOSOttawa Chapter. I have had e-mail correspondence with both IEEEstaffers and the Ottawa Section colleagues on permitted usage.

Proposed uses

Just like printed books there are, ofcourse, many possible ways to use the videos. Perusal of the catalogshows that there are three basic types. I will generalize on proposeduses for these three general types available: all uses below comply,I believe, with IEEE guidelines.

1. Home specialist training
Somevideos, 30-60 minutes and longer, offer basictraining in writing and presentation skills. Selected videos would be purchased, and a permitted duplicate would be rented out to Ottawa Section members.

2. Short "documentary" typevideos, 30 - 60 minutes
Thesevideos can serve a number of uses.
2.1As introductions to evening lectures. Where a lecturer has been invited to give a specialist presentation, the IEEE video can serveas a more general introduction to the subject. Where possible, thevideo would be introduced by the invited speaker. A short break after the video permits not only questions but also the orderly arrival of late attendees not wishing to see the video. A VTSmeeting, February 1998 was of this format, and advertized as such: the introductory video was from a non-IEEE source, and was fully "produced" with cartoons, crisp videotext and professional narration.All attendees (19) showed up early for the video, which was useful even to the "experts" - I enquired afterwards.
2.2 Asinformative,informal, lunchtime informationsessions. These can be arranged asappropriate -in a Kanata pub for example, or byprior arrangment with a small hi-tech company. The example shown wasa regular live presentation to an IEEE Section: it included basicstills of the overheads used. Some images had detailedtext, whch was ONLY properly visible on the printed material - a significant restriction. These presentations I regard as Ottawa Section meetings,with a chairman, an attendance list, and the ususal IEEE promotional material. Care should be exercised to ensure that these meetings do not subsitute for training seminars that a hi-tech company may wishto run: they can buy their own videos!!
2.3 Home specialisttraining. A legal copy can be rented out to individual Section members as per para 1 above; this option is less useful since most topics, in general, duplicate typical articlest hat can be found in periodicals such asSpectrum..

3. Specialist, longer, video packages
These are often between 4 and 8 hours induration. I propose that selected packages be purchased to serve Ottawa Section members in such a way that our investment can be recouped almost immediately.
3.1A sday/evening training sessions -i.e.specialist educational seminars
Aselected topic of interest will be advertized, with a higher fee for non-IEEE members. Rent a suitable location with weekly schedule. Perhaps a reduced fee for registered full-time students, or for those paying 3 months in advance on speculation - before the video was ordered!! The topic Visual Communications, (16 hours total) was billed as three separate sub-courses. A third course is planned on Semiconductor Failure Mechanisms. Also how this may take place is suggested, together with a breakdown by topic. The sourse was re-run. A specialist 100 micron semiconductor course is planned for Spring 2002.

The basic objective is to select a title and advertize to recoup the Section's investment with a single set ofshowings. Any repeat showing would be a bonus. Any further delay isinadvisable: these videos get dated and become obsolescent quite quickly. This process was put to the test in late 1998 for an RFdevices course . Forty-five personsattended; the IEEE Ottawa Section deemed the activity a success. The above topic, Visual Communications, took place February - April 1999; 24 attendees.

3.2 Home specialist training. A legal copy (per IEEE guidelines) can be rented out to individual Section members as perparagraph 1 above; this option is difficult to set up and control; it is not advisable. The use of these expensive videos must be tightly controlled.