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Video conferencing: the coming boom Video conferencing is set to revolutionise the way we do business, communicate and share information. Here’s a quick rundown on PictureTel’s new SwiftSite system. By SAMMY ISREB Video conferencing has traditionally been very expensive and, in the past, has been the preserve of big business and gov­ernment. For the rest of use, a face-to-face meeting with someone in another state or country has meant getting up early to catch the plane. The new video conferencing tech18  Silicon Chip nologies are set to change that. These technologies are a natural outgrowth of the multime­dia revolution and the development of high-capacity ISDN tele­phone lines. To put it simply, video conferencing supports 2-way video and audio communication, similar to those videophones you see in sci-fi movies! This means that two or more people at different locations can see and hear each other at the same time. More sophisticated video conferenc­ ing systems have the advantage of allowing data to be exchanged as well, using differ­ent protocols, along with group video conferencing. Video conferencing uses At the present time, the cost of setting up a video conferencing system is still quite high – so high, in fact, that it remains out of the reach of the average person. And although the cost is falling very rapidly, video conferenc­ing is still limited to a few key uses. In schools, for example, video conferen­ cing is ideal for providing equitable access to resources for at-risk or special-needs students. It is also ideal for isolated rural populat­ions, replacing the traditional radio schools. Also, being an interactive medium, 2-way video offers the advantages of establishing a more personal communication between people, allowing the use of body language, along with other visual teaching aids. The health industry will find video conferencing a great boon, as it allows patients in remote locations to consult with doctors and specialists that they would not normally have access to without travelling. Businesses will also benefit enormously from the new video conferenc­ ing technologies. Video conferencing will slash travel costs and allow staff in different geographical locations to communicate effectively. It will be possible to effectively demonstrate products and service procedure as well as to hold company meetings. How it works When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, most video conferencing equipment works in a similar manner. Basically, you need an audio-visual setup that consists of a monitor, camera, microphone and speaker. And, of course, you need some way of trans- Unlike many units, PictureTel’s SwiftSite is a standalone video conferencing system. All its functions, including the camera and a microphone, are integrated into a small module which weighs less than 5kg. A remote control handpiece, similar in size to a TV remote control, is included. mitting the information between the different locations. A broadband satellite-based system giving broadcast-quality video would be very nice but, as you can imagine, that is less than practical for cost reasons. More recently, advances in computer and telecommunications technologies have sparked an interest in compression based video systems. These systems can transmit information via the Internet, a telephone network, or microwave link, thus greatly reducing the cost of video confer­encing. In fact, most of today’s video confer­ encing systems operate on a single ISDN telephone line. A CODEC (short for coder-decod­er) handles the compression/decompression task Video Conferencing Terms Explained Like most other electronics-based industries, those in the video conferencing field have their own jargon. A list of these terms appears below: Group System – a video confer­ encing system that is designed for use in a conference room; hence, it is sometimes called a “room” system. This type of system usually involves large monitors, remotely controlled wide-angle cameras, a document scanner and other tools that facilitate participation in the meeting. Rollabout System – a portable group system on a wheeled cart that can be rolled into an office or meeting room and used for ad hoc conferences. Personal System – a computer-based video conferencing system that is typically used by a single person; sometimes called a “desk­top” system. These can be general-purpose computers that are enhanced with the addition of a video confer­ encing card, a small camera and so forth (just like the PCS 50). CODEC – specialised microprocessor for compressing and decom­ pressing data. A CODEC is necessary at each site that partici­pates in a video­conference. Data Rate – the speed at which a network can carry data. It is sometimes also called “channel rate.” The higher data-rate net­works are more expensive and usually convey higher-quality video signals. Group systems typically use higher data rates than personal systems. Point-to-Point Call – a videocon­ ference involving two locations, just like a regular 2-party telephone call but with the ability to see the person or people with whom you are speaking. It also includes the ability to digitally “hand” them all types of data, regardless of distance. Multipoint Call – a more complicated setup involving three or more locations simultaneously. Multipoint calls can be used to teach classes at several locations at once, or for corporations to efficiently make policy or product announcements. Video conferencing Tools – these are any of a wide variety of communication and presentation tools that can be incorporated in a video conferencing system. These tools include several types of cameras, 35mm slide projectors, overhead projectors, VCRs, com­puters, computer white­boards and so forth. March 1997  19 PictureTel’s Video Conferencing Breakthrough PictureTel, one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of video confer­encing equipment in the world, has just released two new systems that have slashed the price of video conferencing. The first of the systems, the SwiftSite, is designed to act as a stand­ alone video conferencing system. The alternative PCS 50 Desktop System is intended for installation in a PC and allows for data exchange. The SwiftSite system is a breakthrough for PictureTel, as it eliminates the need for any PC equipment. According to David Lardinais, the Managing Director of PictureTel Australia, Swift­Site will become an integral part of business communications and will support all kinds of new applications. The SwiftSite System The SwiftSite video conferencing system operates using a single ISDN basic rate interface (BRI) telephone line. All the electronics of the system, along with the camera and microphone, are integrated into a small module which weighs less than 5kg and sits on top of the monitor. The system conforms to the H.320 Plus video conferencing standard, providing up to 15 frames a second using an ISDN BRI telephone line running at 128Kb/s. Other features include an infrared remote control that is similar in size to the average TV remote control. SwiftSite also has the advantage of being simple to install, requiring only three connections: an RCA audio/ video cable bet­ween the television and the unit, a power connection and an ISDN cable connection. One of the best features of the SwiftSite system is the ability to upgrade its software remotely, using the Swift­ Site Software Server. This is claimed to be the world’s first ISDN, H.320 standard upgrade server for use with video conferencing systems. By using the SwiftSite system, any user can con­nect with the server and download the latest software upgrades. The PCS 50 System The PCS 50 System is an PC-compatible based system with some of the performance features of the SwiftSite system. The system consists of various modules, such as the CODEC desktop component. This consists basically of the CODEC card(s), as well as other modules, such as a high-end graphics accelerator card, 29-inch SVGA monitor, software and a video camera. The main advantage of this system is that it is easily upgraded, just by changing a couple of cards. It does, however, lack the versatility and portability of the SwiftSite system. Both systems are very similar in price, at around $15,000 each. Acknowledgement: thanks to Manoj Murugan of Media Solutions for his help in supplying information on behalf of PictureTel. and is usually based on a dedicated microprocessor. The CODEC samples the incom­ ing analog video signal, digitises it and then subsequently compresses it. The CODEC at the other end then has the job of reversing this process. Depending on the transmission standard used, the picture quality can be surprisingly good. The downside is that there is usually a slight delay (generally less than a second) in receiv­ ing the picture. Conclusion The SwiftSite video conferencing system is designed to sit on top of the monitor to which it is connected. Only three connections are required: an RCA audio/ video cable bet­ween the television and the unit, a power connection and an ISDN cable connection. 20  Silicon Chip The video conferencing industry is still in its infancy and it will be several years before we see solid standards set. At the same time, costs will have to continue falling in order to make video conferencing affordable for most people. Finally, medium-sized establishments that have a need for video conferencing but have concerns as to whether they can afford it should study the two new PictureTel systems (see panel), as these are a breakthrough SC in their price bracket.