NEXT GENERATION VIDEO CONFERENCING
In recent years, the need for video conferencing has grown dramatically, in large part due to the need for face-to-face meetings without the time and costs associated with travel. Currently, the shift in video conferencing is turning to telepresence. But what exactly is telepresence and why do we need it? How is telepresence different than traditional video conferencing and what are the applictions for telepresence?
Telepresence is a simulation of a lifelike, full size meeting. It differs from traditional video conferencing due to it's immersiveness. Telepresence allows people to communicate in real time, more naturally and efficiently, and allows one to confirm and see that the other person is understanding the issue at hand. In essence, telepresence combines the best of both worlds: the efficiency and speed of a phone call with the dynamic human interaction and realism of in-person, face-to-face meetings.
Telepresence enables the behavioral and social aspects of communication with it's high quality audio and video, reliable networks, and special acoustics and lighting. This combination in design gives telepresence users the illusion of being in the same room as the person on the other end of the video call. While telepresence is provided in rooms that are solely dedicated to video calls, traditional video conferencing, on the other hand, is often setup in rooms that are used for multiple purposes. Such multi-purpose rooms, however, subsequently create an unfortunate awareness of the technology, which can often times be distracting for the user due to seating positions, lighting, audio, and camera placement not being placed in the optimal position for visual communication. Additionally, the life-size setup of telepresence rooms/suites allows the noticeable exchange of both verbal and nonverbal communication skills, which is increasingly important when a language or cultural divide is present.
Below are a few of the many possible telepresence applications for the AEC Industry:
- Contract Negotiations
- Job Interviews
- Project Meetings
- Training
- Supply Chain Management
- Remote Expert
- Virtual Branch
- Distance Learning
To read more on the evolution of traditional video conferencing to the next generation of video conferencing — telepresence — please download TANDBERG's White Paper, "Telepresence: Reengineering Business Collaboration."
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2010 Q2: NEXT GENERATION VIDEO CONFERENCING | Solutionzinc.com
