Telepresence joins global dots

Telepresence and video conferencing technology is gaining applications in everything from dynamic fashion design to graduate internship programmes.

Polycom's global director for higher education and training, Marci Powell, says the impact of the global downturn has seen people turning to a form of communication that brings them as close as possible to a face-to-face experience. “With cuts in travel budgets, video communications are providing businesses and higher learning institutions with the next best thing to meeting in person.”

Polycom and US networking consortium Internet2 announced a partnership initiative last week, called E2Bconnect, to enable colleges, universities and businesses to collaborate on corporate training and educational opportunities via visual communication.

The free online networking programme includes ways for educational institutions to share resources regardless of location, such as distance learning programmes, greater interaction between academic research centres, and shared faculty training.

In terms of education, says Powell, distance learning has grown tremendously, with two-way video communications taking place across geographically distant sites, which is helpful for global studies. “A lot of universities right across the US are using immersive telepresence for MBA programmes and to expand classrooms to remote sites for research purposes.”

Powell notes the growth in high-definition video capabilities is enabling people in all markets to access very strong visual images. For developing countries, however, the costs of installing the technology and networking infrastructure, not to mention the bandwidth costs, are significant challenges.

But Powell argues that the cost of visual communication has gone down enormously, making solutions like desktop video conferencing affordable even in emerging markets. “The limitation globally has always been bandwidth, but the technology is now such that you can use IP for all of it.”

She says service providers are reaching out to universities across Africa, adding there are many cultural exchange initiatives where American students learn about African heritage and culture. “I've seen and participated in events between the US and African countries where there've been no bandwidth issues.”

Video communications provide the next best thing to meeting in person.

Polycom's global director for higher education, Marci Powell.

Powell adds that many countries are putting in 4G networks, which would allow people to video conference on a cellphone. Given Africa's mobile penetration, this could make visual communication capabilities available on the continent's most widespread digital device. “The technology is already there in a lot of countries, and the incoming 4G networks will enable two-way video conferencing on a handheld.”

At the moment, notes Powell, streaming of mp3 files is available, and while it may not offer the kind of two-way interaction of higher-end visual communications, it still allows the user to be a passive participant in a live event. She adds users could make the experience a bit more interactive through chat functions or forums. “That's here today, and two-way interaction is coming soon.”

“What I hear most often from the higher education sector is that they need to extend classrooms and increase enrolment for certification and graduate-level courses at businesses, without building bricks and mortar,” explains Powell. “So if the universities have video conferencing facilities and the business has the facilities, it serves the corporate need for training in collaboration with higher ed.”

She points out that businesses need continuing education, certifications, and talent development, but struggle with budget constraints and geographically dispersed employees. Visual communication solutions means educational programmes can be delivered to any location, in a live, interactive format, she explains.

Another area where this is useful, says Powell, is during the interviewing and recruitment process. “It's beneficial from a business perspective because traditionally you would have to send someone to a site, which involves travel, staying in hotel, and the interviewing process, with maybe 10 candidates then being singled out.”

She adds that while a management executive should ideally be involved in candidate screening, it usually falls to an HR person, because of the time and travelling involved. “Now, with visual communications, managers can quickly log in, screen the various interns, and decide, out of 10 candidates, these three would work. All of this without any of the planning or work that usually goes into setting up something like a career fair.”

Also, from a higher education and business perspective, notes Powell, there's the possibility of sharing subject matter expertise. “For example, if I'm teaching a marketing class, what better way to do it than to link to an actual marketing manager? Executives love to give back but their schedules don't allow for it. With desktop conferencing, this is possible - the technology is enabling that level of collaboration.”

Powell says businesses are starting to realise the actual benefits coming from video conferencing, such as getting information out faster and gaining knowledge quicker. “People in business who need to make a decision quickly, and perhaps have to share visual documents or consult on a manufactured part, can gain consensus and make a decision faster.”

In another example of visual communications providing business benefits, BT recently signed a deal with fashion house Tommy Hilfiger, to deliver 'virtual fitting rooms' via telepresence technology. This will enable the company to reduce travel time and costs, and lower its carbon emissions.

According to the brand, the virtual fitting rooms facilitate global 'in-person' communication between Tommy Hilfiger's designers and manufacturing facilities, which are spread across offices in Amsterdam, New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

It includes features such as mobile cameras and recording capabilities to enable the design team - based in Amsterdam and New York - to collaborate quickly with the manufacturing team in Hong Kong. The company says this will allow it to discuss the development of design collections face-to-face, without having to take long-distance flights.

Bas Burger, CEO of BT Benelux, adds that the solution will also significantly lower carbon emissions.

Powell notes an interesting trend, whereby concerns around the environment were chief motivators for video conferencing prior to the economic crisis. “Before the downturn, the trend we saw was companies and educational institutions going green, and considering their carbon footprint.

“The focus was all about cutting greenhouse gas emissions and reducing travel, but with the downturn it hasn't been at the forefront. Priorities have changed; when the economic downturn hit, cutting costs became more important. Now the green element is a side benefit to reducing costs, whereas before it was the other way around.”

Regarding future innovations in visual communications technology, Powell says Polycom is working on a solution that will cut bandwidth needs in half. “That's huge, especially in places in Africa, and will allow more people to participate in video communications. You can cut the bandwidth needs in half, but the quality is still up there.”

She says the biggest benefit of visual collaboration tools is for people with a specific interest, whether it be in research or for corporate training. “For example, following the recent oil spill disaster, BP could contact engineering schools to design a solution, so it doesn't happen again.”

Powell notes the technology can even be used for things like special events. “Take someone like Richard Covey; he's always travelled around the world giving presentations, and is still doing keynotes. But at 86, travel is somewhat difficult. So he's set up a video conferencing suite in his home, allowing him to continue speaking all over the world and consulting. There are just so many applications.”