Ms. Suzanne Lammers
The Ohio State University

My name is Suzanne Lammers. I am currently an undergraduate student at The Ohio State University studying Industrial and Systems Engineering. I am doing research over the summer with Gregg Trueb, fellow REU student and Prasad Calyam, Senior Systems Developer/Engineer for OSC. My research project pertains to high definition videoconferencing. I will be determining the differences between high definition and non-high definition videoconferencing. I also intend to look at how high definition videoconferencing is being used today and how it will be used in the future. This entails reading others’ opinions/research, my own experience with high definition videoconferencing, and my thoughts on its future.

I have begun to gather literary reviews and surveys on this topic. I plan on having meetings using high definition videoconferencing with experts to broaden my understanding of the application. I will begin my experiments using high definition videoconferencing equipment at OSC. I am working towards building a testbed to compare non-high definition and high definition videoconferencing.

After I have the testbed setup, I will run experiments to collect quantitative data of traffic characteristics and evaluate its effect on usability. After completing a notable portion of my planned research, I will be going to the Annual Distance Teaching and Learning conference in Madison, Wisconsin. There, I will discuss my experiments and ideas with others by actively participating in the ADEC booth. I hope to be able meet and discuss with others interested in my research and also learn from experts involved in large-scale use of high definition videoconferencing.

My involvement in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program will lay a solid foundation for the rest of my life. It will provide me basic skills for future research in computer and industrial systems. I even intend to build contacts with whom I can collaborate with on my future endeavors in science and technology.