Phew…quite a few pointers. Will do my best!

I have to admit that I have little personal experience of using video conferencing software (apart from Access Grid and VRVS). The University of Bath have a Video conferencing suite so that might be a good place to start.

Anyway will keep you posted!

Marieke

In this month’s PCW there is a review of some Videoconferencing kit (Aastra Telecom Vipr). Review very positive describing it as “an affordable and easy-to-manage” solution, before going on to outline the cost of £7700 per terminal + £2798 for the Application server (both ex VAT)!

Having looked at the use of video just for site-to-site conversations, I’ve struggled to find options that allow good multi-way video conferencing. The Apple iChat solution looks good, but only if you’ve all to Macs. The Windows Live and Office Communication Suite doesn’t handle multiple video streams (not properly anyway). I found some software called ooVoo which offers some multiple video stream functionality (up to 6 participants) at what looks like a reasonable $17.95 per month – but although we did a bit of testing, we haven’t got further than the free trial.

One challenge is getting people to use the software – it definitely takes some getting used to, and again, like face-to-face communication, you have to feel it is worth it to use it as opposed to a phone call or email etc.

Finally, while I’m commenting, a suggestion for another future post I don’t think you’ve covered ‘presence’ notification stuff on the blog? I mean s/w which allows you to see when your colleagues are available – Messenger supports this a bit, and the MS OCS (Office Communication Suite) has presence integrated with Exchange so your calendar can update your availability. I always really like this idea, but I have to admit it doesn’t seem to work in practice – I’m not sure why.

Yes. I’ve just covered ‘content’ reasons in the list but travel, budget and environmental reasons have a big role to play.

I’ve heard of people flying out to the states for a 1 hour meeting. Hopefully the recession has put an end to activities like that. The environmental impact aside, what a waste of commuting time, though at least now people can work whilst travelling….but jetlag has a cost too.

Personally I’m really pleased that face to face contact is still seen as important. Living only in a online/virtual world is enough to make anyone go a little skewy!

Marieke