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Video Conferencing for Business
source: Computer Business
Review
release date: 27-10-2004
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The driving force behind the growth of the video conferencing
business is pressure to bring down costs. It is not only the
travel itself, but also the cost of staff time that can be
saved. Taking a plane has also lost some of its glamour. Other
benefits include the rapid face-to-face resolution of urgent
situations.
The aim is to deliver an experience as natural as
being there, and allow executives to appear to be in two places
at once. Manufacturers claim video conferencing promotes increased
collaboration, faster decisions, and improved relationships.
More and more companies are becoming international, from builders
to banks, and time is money. As the global market becomes
smaller and sales are lost in minutes rather than hours, those
that learn to use modern technology to their best advantage
are going to be leaders in their fields. You don’t just
have to work harder, but also to work smarter.
Tailor made solutions are becoming more common. Various meetings
can go on at the same time without anyone being away from
their workstation.
EQUIPMENT
For a long time the equipment was extremely expensive to buy,
and would often sit rotting in a cupboard unused. Now the
market is opening up and equipment can be hired. Needs can
be assessed and facilities customised to suit a particular
company’s needs.
The costs start at several hundred pounds to hire equipment
for a day’s video conferencing. There is also a wide
choice, and products are advertised on company websites
For example Tandberg offers end-to-end real-time video solutions.
Their products exist on every continent in almost every industry.
Polycom is the leading provider of the Unified Collaborative
Communication converged voice, video web and data solution
for emerging broadband networks. Their virtual communications
are easy to deploy, manage and use.
Sony Videoconferencing Solutions provide image quality, and
are good for high resolution presentations. With its headquarters
in Italy, Aethra develop, manufacture and market most video
conferencing equipment. They distribute products through more
than forty telecommunications carriers worldwide.
Motion Media provide affordable products, including desktop
videophones, and video communications technology. They are
used by businesses worldwide.
TRAINING
Staff need some training to be comfortable on camera, and
also to learn the dos and don’ts.
1 Before the conference make sure participants know how they
will be connected, and their dial-in numbers…that the
timing is correct for different time zones.
2 The usual principles of polite behaviour required with any
meeting apply for conferencing - the trick is to understand
that extra dimension supplied by the technology.
3 In a video conference the introductions are important. You
can’t have someone saying, ‘ Who’s that
guy again?’ Make sure everyone is introduced at the
start, preferably zooming in, so facial expressions and features
can be clearly seen. Introduce yourself before you speak,
and place location signs behind participants, so everyone
knows where people are from.
4 Don’t mumble or shout. The microphones pick up paper
shuffling and tapping. Whatever you say or do, can probably
be heard by someone so be careful!
5 Make sure lighting is direct onto faces and windows and
other light sources behind participants do not form silhouettes.
6 If the conference is being recorded, ensure this is understood
and people know where and how to find replays.
GETTING CONNECTED
IP (Internet Protocol) is becoming the standard video conferencing
network technology for getting connected. Until recently video
conferencing took place on circuit switched networks such
as ISDN, ATM and leased lines. IP is gaining favour because
it reduces cost and increases speed and quality.
The latest bridging service providers offer multipoint or
point to point services. There is no need to queue or pay
an operator. You can be in control of setting up your own
video conferences.
THE LATEST RESEARCH
According to recent research, understanding from the spoken
word is less than from the tone of voice and non verbal gestures.
In a recent study by Alton Barbour, Non-verbal Communication,
he suggests that as little as 7% of our understanding is from
the spoken word, whereas the tone of voice accounts for 38%,
and 55% id due to non-verbal gestures. Such research is fuelling
the growth in the video conferencing industry.
PRODUCT BOX
ICU (GLOBAL) Ltd have launched GlobalIPindex , a revolutionary
IP platform, in partnership with Cisco at the Wave exhibition
in November at Olympia. It is designed to solve the problems
of choppy transmission for video conferencing over IP. By
providing a platform for the IP or ISDN networks it gives
seamless and secure connections.
GlobalIPindex connects the networks of different service providers
while upgrading quality and downgrading cost for video conference
transmissions over IP. It is suited to international businesses.
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