DECEMBER 2017CIOAPPLICATIONS.COM8hen we talk about video collaboration, those of us who are engineers like to geek out about video compression algorithms, codecs, firewall transversal--the technology and geek-speak features behind the experience. Most of us, though, aren't engineers and we just want technology to work--and to work well. It should work easily and consistently.Office environments today incorporate a blend of open work spaces, conference rooms, private offices, and huddle rooms--smaller, more informal meeting rooms that are often the most logical places in an office to outfit with video. However, most traditional front-of-room video systems aren't suitable for reasons of cost, size, and complexity, which have given rise to a wealth of new solutions.While many vendors will tell you, "These solutions are good enough." I'm here to tell you good enough is absolutely not good enough.Let's step back.Why do you use video collaboration? You likely use it to drive better connections between people who are geographically distributed. This gives you the added benefit of reading non-verbal communication as well as the verbal otherwise heard on an audio conference call.Body language and facial expression contribute significantly to understanding. Eye contact is a key element in the perception of credibility and to gain influence. Whether you're making a persuasive argument for budget funding, or to launch a new project, or to impact a sales projection, you want to have eye contact with the people you are trying to effect.So why isn't good enough, good enough?Many huddle rooms are barely outfitted with an electrical outlet, which means camera-equipped laptops or tablets are brought into the room and WHEN IT COMES TO VIDEO COLLABORATION, "GOOD ENOUGH" ISN'T GOOD ENOUGHWMICHAEL FRENDO, EVP OF WORLDWIDE ENGINEERING, POLYCOMIN MYVIEW
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