To ensure smooth and effective operation on the VCE™ web app, it’s important to understand the flexibility of the hardware and connection requirements, which depend on the number of outgoing streams used during a session. The more devices you use, and the more participants are involved, the greater the demands on your system. Here is a breakdown of what to consider.
Requirements in short
Hardware and connection
Requirement | Minimum | Ideal |
CPU | 4-core processor | 8-core processor |
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB or more |
Camera | Basic webcam | Wide-angle camera + High-definition external camera |
Microphone | Basic internal or external mic | High-quality external mic |
Ports | 3x USB-A 3.0 | 4x USB-A 3.0 |
Network | 30 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload | 50 Mbps download, 30 Mbps upload |
Output | Max. 4 outgoing streams, 20 incoming streams | 4 outgoing streams, 250 incoming streams |
Software requirements (for Clinicians & Students)
The VCE web app works on the latest versions of Windows and macOS.
The VCE web app is NOT compatible with these browsers: Microsoft Explorer and Safari.
We recommend you use the Google Chrome browser.
Detailed recommendations
Ideal requirements: based on moderate to high usage
To handle 5 clinician streams (such as several cameras and medical devices) and 20 student streams.
For clinicians:
CPU: 8-core processor (e.g., Intel i7 or equivalent)
RAM: 16 GB or more to manage simultaneous streams and data processing.
Network: Internet connection with at least 50 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. This ensures enough bandwidth for multiple outgoing and incoming streams (e.g., 4 outgoing and 20 incoming streams).
Devices: Multiple high-definition cameras, medical devices, smart glasses, etc.
For students:
CPU: Quad-core processor (e.g., Intel i5 or equivalent) to handle several incoming video streams (e.g., 4 high-resolution streams).
RAM: 8 GB or more to support video conferencing and multiple incoming streams.
Network: Internet connection with at least 20 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload to accommodate multiple incoming video streams.
Minimum requirements: based on low usage
To handle 2 clinician streams (such as several cameras and medical devices) and 20 student streams.
For clinicians:
CPU: 4-core processor (e.g., Intel i5 or equivalent) to manage one or two outgoing streams.
RAM: 8 GB for basic operation with fewer streams.
Network: Internet connection with at least 20 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload to support one outgoing stream and fewer incoming streams.
Devices: A basic webcam and microphone, with fewer connected devices.
For students:
CPU: Dual-core processor for handling one or two incoming streams.
RAM: 4 GB to manage a small number of incoming video streams.
Network: Internet connection with at least 10 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload for basic video conferencing needs.
Usage considerations
The bandwidth and hardware requirements vary based on how many video and audio streams are being sent and received. For every outgoing stream (e.g., a camera or medical device sending data to the session), your system needs additional upload capacity. Likewise, for every incoming stream (e.g., receiving video from students or other participants), your system needs more download capacity.
For example:
Outgoing streams
Each camera or device that you use to broadcast video and audio during a session requires bandwidth. For instance, sending one high-definition video stream typically requires 2 Mbps of upload bandwidth.
Incoming streams
Each student or participant video stream you receive requires download bandwidth. For example, if there are 20 participants, each sending a video stream, you would need 40 Mbps of download bandwidth (20 x 2 Mbps).
This means that the more participants and devices you have connected, the higher your bandwidth and hardware requirements will be. Therefore, the metrics we recommend are based on typical usage scenarios—if you are using fewer devices or participants, your requirements may be lower; conversely, using more devices or having more participants will increase the necessary computer and bandwidth resources.
Note: To test your bandwidth, visit fast.com. Wait for the test to run, and click on "More Info", and take note of the results.
If you need further assistance, you can:
Use the support tool (bottom right) in the VCE™ web app to ask a specific question. It has many more solutions for you.
If you don’t find what you need, send us a message through the same tool.