Archive for December, 2010

Rustic Brick Concrete Patio Designs for Your House

asked:




Rosemary
 

Is High Definition Video Conferencing Right for Your Business?

Nina Parker asked:




If you are looking into purchasing a video conferencing solution for your business, chances are you are considering whether to invest in high definition (HD). Just as HD is changing the television viewing experience by depicting shows with vastly improved clarity and detail, HD video conferencing is transforming the way businesses experience collaborative communication.

True high definition video conferencing delivers such fine detail that the end result is amazingly life-like quality. Images are clearer and crisper, colors are more vibrant, and motion is smoother. As a result, high definition improves the user experience so that meetings become more productive.

However, there are aspects of HD that may be a challenge to implement, depending on your type of organization. One major concern for some businesses may be that high definition requires a large amount of bandwidth to transport calls across the network. Fortunately, even if your company does not currently have enough network bandwidth to deliver HD, you still have options available to you.

The good news is that you do not necessarily have to take the leap from the amount of bandwidth rates that you are currently using to HD rates to enjoy the quality benefits of HD. In fact, the technology that is on the market today provides greatly improved audio, video and content sharing quality without the necessity of waiting for your network department to upgrade its bandwidth.

HD Defined

Recent innovations in video conferencing technology have resulted in great improvements in resolution, which is the number of pixels and lines that make up an image. High definition video conferencing delivers such great detail because of an increase in resolution.

HD resolution is better quality because it contains more horizontal lines per screen (720), and each line contains more pixels. This allows a greater amount of information to be captured. Traditional business quality video conferencing calls are CIF (common interface format) resolution. Standard definition (SD) is 4 times the quality of CIF, and high definition is 9 times CIF.

If you are in the market to use video conferencing for traditional business meetings and want to experience higher quality calls, then HD may not be required to meet your needs. A typical video call requires data rates of 384k. Standard definition is delivered at 768k, and true high definition requires bandwidth of at least 1.0 Mbps. However, by using the new technology you can enjoy high quality calls, but at standard definition data rates (4CIF).

When you purchase HD hardware components you still get improved call quality, even if you choose not to invest in the bandwidth required for HD. The camera, processing power (codec), and monitor are much more powerful, so that the overall effect is enhanced quality even without the additional bandwidth.

Recommendation

In some cases, high definition is a business necessity. This includes fields such as telemedicine, when it is important for doctors in multiple locations to see fine details so as to learn new surgical procedures. High definition may also be essential for apparel manufacturers who must be able to decipher the fine stitching on a garment in a factory overseas. HD quality can also be critical for the government as well as distance learning applications.

However, if HD is not critical for your type of business, and you think it would be hard to justify the cost, you can still enjoy the quality benefits of HD video conferencing at lower bandwidths by purchasing the latest video conferencing hardware from companies like Polycom and TANDBERG.

For example, the Polycom HDX 9000 series offers end-to-end high definition voice, video and content sharing in point-to-point and multipoint conferences. HDX products are built on high-definition TV standards, and you will experience video conferencing at a higher quality level of audio and video, even at 4CIF resolution.

You may also want to choose the high quality TANDBERG PrecisionHD camera that is available with all TANDBERG Edge Series systems. TANDBERG’s PrecisionHD camera allows users to experience high definition video quality at any bandwidth. This HD camera is designed specifically for a superior video conferencing experience.

Not only do these products provide high quality video conferencing at various data rates, but when bandwidth does becomes more readily available you will not necessarily need additional parts, or to upgrade your system should you choose to increase your network bandwidth to high definition.

Tammy
 

Using Collaboration Software to Increase the Effectiveness of Virtual Teams

Tia Jones asked:




Virtual teams need the support of a secure, easy to use, web-based collaboration environment that allows them to work and share ideas across time zones and continents.

There are many online collaboration software solutions that support efficient communication among members of virtual teams, their superiors and their clients. These web-based collaboration tools provide group calendar management, task management, online conferencing, group forums, spreadsheets and more. In addition, these collaboration software solutions can even track the amount of time that you spend on a project, which is valuable from a project management perspective.

In order to be successful, virtual teams have a few basic needs in common:

o communicate in real time

o share files, photos, audio and video

o manage project milestones, resources and tasks

Most importantly, all of the members of the team need to have access to the most current information in real time so that they can effectively complete their tasks, and contribute to the team’s objective.

Online collaboration tools have greatly facilitated the effectiveness of virtual teams. These tools have saved organizations substantial amounts of money in travel and relocation expenses and allowed teams to assign tasks to employees in distant locations because they help to solve many of the dilemmas suffered by virtual teams.

Most knowledge workers have used email and IM or chatting as a means of collaborating with team members and other co-workers for many years now. But online collaboration software is quickly transforming the world of online collaboration.

So, with the support of a robust online collaboration environment, virtual teams can use the various collaboration software tools to manage their tasks, communicate with each other, and share resources easily and securely to help the team be as effective as possible.

Jose
 

Maximize Teamwork and Project Data Management with Online Collaboration Suite

Rama Krishna asked:




What is a Collaboration Suite ? How is it benefit to businesses?

Collaboration suite is an integrated package of tools offering a virtual platform to effectively collaborate business issues across the globe. Collaboration tools help you to communicate, collaborate, organize and share business data securely and thereby maximize business interactions.

An online collaboration suite serves as a secure central database to store and manage business data. You can tap into one single virtual platform and quickly safely access up-to-date business information.

Without physical presence in office, using an online collaboration suite you can collaborate with managers, employees, customers or vendors on demand. Distance is no longer an issue. You can share schedules, hold virtual meetings, organize training sessions, conduct discursions, supervise employee performance, plan sales and market campaigns, provide appraisals, share business files in real-time, and thereby maximize teamwork.

What to Look for in an Online Collaboration Suite :

Few features you may find in an online collaboration suite include – audio/video support, secure email, instant messaging, document manager, file manager, task manager, contact manager, reminder, calendar, virtual drive, notepad, web publishing, group discussion tools, online administration, and multi language support.

Are you buying the right Collaboration Suite?

With numerous collaboration solutions flooding the market, how can you find the perfect collaboration suite for your individual business?

Here are few tips to help you:

 

Hosted Web Conferencing – 5 Things You Should Know

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Holly
 

Business and Video Teleconferencing

Richard Coppin asked:




Nearly all businesses strive to make a profit and saving time is money in the pocket. Video teleconferencing is one tool a business has that not only saves money in time but also in travel costs. In today’s fast paced marketplace this is not only ideal but is essential. There are a rather large number of advantages with using the latest video audio technology including:

o Little initial investment to set up video teleconferencing communications
o Geographical restrictions removed
o No time consuming logistics of standard meetings
o The ability to work on ever-changing demands of the marketplace with simplicity
o The ability to share and evaluate digital as well as audio presentation from across the world instantly
o Simultaneous communication and collaboration on projects with time sensitive projects
o Noticeable and dramatic cost savings
o The ability to hold board meeting consistently and on schedule

Moderators are given the ability to control things such as attendance, time, content and frequency of meetings with video teleconferencing as well as having the freedom to deny access to those whose presence is not welcome.

Like all technology, various software packages allow for customization to a business’ unique needs and concerns. What all can your businesses achieve with increased productivity and communication that also saves money?

There are so many companies on the market which are offering the latest business video technology. Make sure you shop around! Find out more from the web, there are reviews of all the latest conferencing equipment.

Video teleconferencing has been popular over the last 10 years and the high spec technology has improved so much.

Vincent
 

Video Editing: A Step Ahead With Green Screen Technology

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Ida
 

Video Conferencing Equipment For First Responders

Pam Nene asked:




Video conferencing has become a part and parcel of almost all the major meetings and it has provided solutions to lots of communication problems. It is very important to get the right kind of video conferencing equipment so that you can perform the conference without any trouble.

You must make sure that the equipment provides a clear picture as well as clear sound. There are various companies which manufacture these equipments. It is also very much essential to choose the right kind of company.

Other than this, video conferencing requires more than single equipment. All these equipments are equally necessary. The video conferencing systems are quite cost effective and have proved to be quite profitable for the users, specially the companies.

Other than the business institutions this equipments are equally popular among the first responders such as the police, fire fighters as well as the medical team. Conferencing has helped save lots of time as well as money. It provides a lot of support when the lives are at stake.

The users of the conference must have a desktop or a laptop with a webcam. Other than this, it must also have a microphone and internet connection which must be of high speed. You also need to have the proper software for the conference.

It is very important to purchase these products from trustworthy company which will provide a guarantee for the software and will also provide the product at a good rate. You can even compare the price of the various companies with the help of the internet.

There are certain rules which need to be followed during the video conference. It is very important to maintain decorum. The participants of the conference need to behave properly. Other than this, you also need to make sure that the participants can see as well as hear each other.

If you find problems in seeing or hearing a particular person then you must ask him to take his position in a better way. This must be followed more by the first responders. It has been found that many a times they work with the help of the video conference.

People on the other end provide instructions which they need to follow. So it is very important to see as well as hear clearly. The other thing which you need to follow is that try stay in one place.

If you move from one place to the other the person on the other end might get distracted. When you are speaking to the first responders during the emergency situations always try to be calm and speak slowly so that they can understand the instructions well and carry out the necessary steps to save lives.

Roland
 

Web Conferencing Collaboration Enhances Your Business

Dinesh Kharakiya asked:




Evolution in the field of telecommunications over the past few decades has enhanced the way of communication. There are many collaboration tools which have helped in the growth and development of various businesses. Among all these collaboration tools, web conferencing collaboration has really changed the functioning of business organizations all over the world. It has enabled the people to stay in touch with each other through world wide web, whether for educational, recreational or business affairs.

It is one of those technologies which has enabled the sharing of business applications and documents over the internet. It allows you to conduct live presentations, demonstrate products, conduct group discussions and is an easy solution to organize polls. Web conferencing not only saves time but also money. It is because of this reason that this web based collaboration tool is gaining popularity among the business organizations all over the world.

In this conferencing, professionals use their computers to stay connected with each other on the internet. Availing the services of conferencing, clients and employees of an organization, located in different parts of the world can easily collaborate on common blue prints, business documents etc.

There are several benefits of using web based conferencing over other means of communication such as instant messaging, message boards, chat rooms etc. For instance, business organizations using video web conferencing can watch each other while working. Even majority of the communication procedures through internet requires a person to set up an account in order to log in, results and techniques are different.

Online communication is one of the real times interaction where more than two individuals can have conversation over the internet, either using latest techniques like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or typing in. Although, there are some applications which have integrated sound but only those applications which are intended for web based conferencing are based on VoIP.

In the present times of cut-throat competition, this conferencing software has turned out to be one of the basic necessities for business organizations for an easy collaboration with all their employees and clients. Using web conferencing tool, you can conduct meetings, presentations and seminars for all your business delegates, situated in different parts of the world. Web-conferencing is a cost-effective medium that enhances productivity and efficiency of an organization. It alleviate documents and file sharing and organizing professional presentations.

Pamela
 

Desktop Video Conferencing – a Collaborative Technology for Confidential Military Services

asked:




Glenn