Cisco's TelePresence is a combination of very high quality audio
and video communications and multiple physical environments (with
identical setup) that attempts to replicate the intimacy of an in
person meeting in a single room.
Cisco's TelePresence may seem like a more expensive version of
videoconferencing, a technology that never lived up to its promise,
however, those that have witnessed TelePresence live realise that
the experience is totally unlike anything videoconferencing has
delivered before.
I have long been a critic of
traditional videoconferencing systems. I believe in the concept
of video communications, but my past experiences have been
disappointing for a number of reasons. Roll-around video systems
normally required thirty minutes or so of IT time to set it up, so
that removed any possibility of spontaneity. Room-based systems
often had issues where the voice and data streams were out of sync
creating a very distracting user experience. The setup process was
made cumbersome by clunky devices, and B2B communications were
typically done over ISDN necessitating a participant versed in
SPIDS. All in all, the complexity of set up far outweighed the
benefits of such a system.
I expected much of the same from Cisco's TelePresence. I went in
very skeptical, expecting just another video call. However, I was
pleasantly surprised at how different the experience really was.
The initial set up did not require any knowledge of the other
endpoint (IP address, etc). A quick push of the buttons on the
IP phone and we were connected.
Another selling point was the amazing picture clarity and lucid
sound. Anyone that's ever been on a videoconference has probably
experienced a jittery picture, audio/video that was out of sync or
quality so poor that it was more effective to call the other person
back on the phone. The experience I had with TelePresence was so
clear visually that I could read what the person "across the table"
was writing and audibly that I could hear even quiet whispers.
Overall, the combined audio and visual quality with the other room
dynamics did provide the feeling of intimacy so often lacking with
other videoconferencing systems.
TelePresence does not end with an amazing audio visual
experience. Users should expect more in the way of "peripherals" to
enhance the "just like being there" experience. Cisco just added a
document projector for replication of PowerPoints and other
documents. Future peripherals might include a shared whiteboard and
a business card reader/printer system for exchanging business
cards. All things are indeed possible with TelePresence.
Despite all the benefits I have detailed, the big drawback to
this system is its cost. Systems range from $100K and up and
average an additional $3K to $10K for bandwidth charges. If
companies mandate TelePresence use in lieu of corporate travel, the
ROI could be quite rapid. A trip to Asia from North America can run
several thousand dollars and multiple days of travel time. For
corporate executives, TelePresence may be a more efficient
alternative to expensive, time-consuming travel.
As a person that spends far too much of my life on planes, I'm
hoping that the uptake of TelePresence is faster rather than
slower. I'd encourage anyone that has tried to use video as a way
to collaborate over land and sea to take a serious look at this
tool. Make sure to involve your corporate executives early on, as
they may need to cut the corporate travel budget as a way of paying
for the product.
Zeus Kerravala manages Yankee Group's infrastructure research
and consulting. His areas of expertise involve working with
customers to solve their business issues through the deployment of
infrastructure technology solutions, including switching, routing,
network management, voice solutions and VPNs.
Before joining Yankee Group, Kerravala was a senior engineer
and technical project manager for Greenwich Technology Partners, a
leading network infrastructure and engineering consulting firm.
Prior to that, he was a vice president of IT for Ferris, Baker
Watts, a mid-Atlantic based brokerage firm, acting as both a lead
engineer and project manager deploying corporate-wide technical
solutions to support the firm's business units. Kerravala's first
task at FBW was to roll out a new frame relay infrastructure with
connections to branch offices, service providers, vendors and the
stock exchange. Kerravala was also an engineer and technical
project manager for Alex. Brown & Sons, responsible for the
technology related to the equity trading desks.
Kerravala obtained a B.S. degree in physics and mathematics
from the University of Victoria (Canada). He is also certified by
Citrix and NetScout.