Our environment has become even more pervasive in the last three years since that was written. At work, I was lucky enough to test Cisco's latest communication technology, TelePresence. Like my father, I expect videoconferences to be hokey, fuzzy, unclear, and problematic. The limitations of previous technology do not enable smooth, clear, communication over the airwaves. However, I was extremely impressed by my company's engineering of this product. I set up a meeting with my parents and I in San Jose, and my brother Don in Los Angeles. Each TelePresence suite is designed exactly the same, so that every participant feels like they are in the same room. The table across the screen looks as if it is part of yours. Microphones are placed throughout the room, so that when one sound occurs, the closest camera automatically picks it up, and records whoever or whatever was making that noise. The audio is crystal clear, and the HD video is life-like. People are portrayed life-size, so it really feels like you're in a face-to-face meeting. The video conference is literally a button push away when you walk into the room, as everything is prescheduled in the system. No looking up phone numbers for other suites, and no bringing pieces of paper with meeting codes.
Working for a company whose philosophy is clearly "Meet with anyone, anywhere, anytime," has been very interesting for me, as I am privileged enough to see each brand new product that releases to enhance global communication. These life-changing innovations also seem to do well even in times of dire economic strain, as people would rather purchase a great quality online meeting rather than purchase a long flight or fuel overseas.
Wow, technology has definitely come such a long ways... The TelePresence sounds like an awesome technology. We don't currently use videoconferencing at my job, just plain old phone conferencing with annoying dial in codes and sometimes Web Conferencing... but that would be a very good thing to have. Your BLOG kind of reminded me of the technology that has come around for my mother who is deaf. When I was little, they used the TDD/TTY phone, which is kind of like a typewriter in a sense... but now, they have VRS/Sorenson Video which allows deaf people to communicate by having cameras hooked up to their TV and phone through a cable connection, and see each other sign to each other. It makes such a difference to see them, especially when my mother would use the relay service to call me. It was hard talking to an operator who was reading what my mother was typing (she did not grow up in the States, so her English grammar/usage is not the best). I could tell the operators would have difficult times trying to decipher her message, whereas when she calls me using the video relay, the operator is able to SEE what she is signing, and it's much clearer to explain to me on the phone. I can only imagine what technology will come up with next.
ReplyDeleteThis technology is great! The ability to communicate face to face over long distances has been a lifesaver for me on several different occassions. One of the great things about communication is the hidden truths that are revealed. The ability to watch other's mannerisms and look into their eyes really aids in providing the full context of the dialogue. For example, lying over the phone is fairly easy, however many people don't realize that when they lie, their facial expressions and eye activity reveal that they are being less than honest. On the flip side, this technology enable us to exhance in "warm" conversations as well.
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