Graduate students at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in Illinois, participated in a successful "experiment" this past November 3, Election Day, using ViaTV Videophones to provide live news coverage feeds from remote sites for a webcast.

"I think the technology worked wonderfully as a teaching tool for giving our students the experience of going 'live' to our website. While the picture was not broadcast quality, it was certainly fine for our purposes that night," said Larry Stuelpnagel, Lecturer at Medill. "I think [the ViaTV Videophone] has real potential as not only a teaching tool, but also, if the quality is improved, to be a force in broadcasting."

Medill broadcast students used six ViaTV Modular Videophones on the election night. With the equipment, students trained by Stuelpnagel in the art and craft of live-shot television reported from different candidates' headquarters.

Gary E. Swanson, assistant professor of television said the Medill experiment was aimed at "emulating satellite feeds and giving our students live experience...The ViaTV is a tremendous learning tool. The School can't compete with local TV stations and network broadcasters and their $500, 000 microwave trucks."