[LINK] travel slashed at Cisco

[Ash Nallawalla]

Seems that different companies have different levels of success with
videoconferencing.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jan Whitaker
> Sent: Friday, 6 February 2009 10:39

>  From someone [me] who worked in videoconferencing implementation for
> more years than I like to admit, you are absolutely right, Roger. The
> technology varied, sure, but the lack of attention to the adaptation
> to the medium is mind-blowing. In very few circumstances were/are the
> people using the technology trained. 

We have three or four rooms outfitted for this (for about 4000 people). The
room mentioned later is a no-brainer. The others are quite easy to use as
well, as there are cheat sheets in display books. The camera turns towards
the loudest voice and zoom in (which has the beneficial effect of curbing
side chatter). We have a few more AV rooms minus cameras where a large LCD
panel and rack of equipment are on call - VCR, DVD, desktop PC, TV tuner etc
- all controlled via a removable touch panel mounted in the wall.

Our main use is for "important" meetings where external people haven't "met"
all the participants, but we use them at internal, inter-city meetings as
needed. 
 
> No one positions mics appropriately. No one understands camera
> operation. Few get it that everyone in the meeting, including those
> in the remote sites, must be provided with the printed materials IN
> ADVANCE and not as 'handouts' during the meeting.

Our boardroom has worm-shaped, screwed-in mikes in front of each seat and
speakers in the ceiling. There are two permanent rear-projection screens
showing the local camera view and remote view respectively. There is an AV
help desk person who can turn up within a couple of minutes if something
fails. For the board meetings, all PowerPoints are distributed in print a
few days earlier for review. For our worker-level meetings we try to email a
PPT with the Outlook appointment request and try to avoid printing as far as
possible (green policy).

> BUT all that is teachable. It's a pity the organisations that put
> these technologies in provide so little support for using them,
> making for awful if any communication. And when they do, the
> participants often sneer, rather admit that they need to add a new
> skill or two. 

I am guessing that our company's median age would be in the low 30s, so most
seem to be comfortable with this technology and can "figure it out". At the
best of times, travel is restricted and for the majority of staff, there is
no travel.

Cisco would be an unusual case, as it has a global market and their people
probably fly Business Class to distant, remote locations.

- Ash