Networking giant Cisco has unveiled its TelePresence video conferencing technology, which provides a high-definition, large screen, no latency video and audio system.
At a media event in London this week, Cisco demonstrated TelePresence in a live conference with the company`s US office.
The offering is touted as being so real that someone once tried to reach into the plasma screens and shake the hand of another person inside.
The full system, including three 65-inch high-definition plasma screens, speakers, codecs, the conference table and all room assessment and installation work, costs $300 000. A single screen option is available for $80 000.
"The custom-designed codecs, handling video and audio feeds, run in as little as 6Mbps of bandwidth - that`s incredible," says Rick Moran, Cisco`s VP of solutions marketing, unified communications and emerging technologies.
Virtual dining
While the early adopters of TelePresence are expected to be large multinationals with offices around the world, Moran believes the quality is good enough to make sci-fi ideas of virtual dining and telemedicine a reality - as well as virtual box seats at sports events and remote classrooms.
While previous teleconferencing technologies have been hampered by poor quality standards (especially in terms of visual definition, latency and complex procedures), there are various factors driving new-generation teleconferencing technologies, noted Moran and his fellow executive colleagues. These include:
* Business travel is becoming increasingly expensive.
* Terrorism and increased airport safety checks make travelling time-consuming and unpleasant.
* Larger companies in many countries are being pressured to reduce their energy emissions.
* A younger generation of executives are more open to technology.
* People now realise virtual conferencing can be effective, although it cannot replace an initial, face-to-face meeting.
Locally
"This provides an 'in-person` experience, over vast distances, and because we have removed the latency to an imperceptibly low level, it stands apart from other video conferencing options," noted Chris Dedicoat, Cisco`s president of European markets.
It takes four times longer to communicate a message by e-mail than by real-time verbal communications, he noted, adding that today 64% of all communication is non-verbal.
Trish Thompson, marketing director of emerging markets, says the initial results of Cisco`s research shows companies in the oil and gas, mining, and financial industries are interested in deploying the technology.
"There`s been tremendous interest across many of the emerging markets," she said, on the sidelines of the event. Thompson was unable to provide specific South African business expectations.
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