Telepresence – The Next Generation

Telepresence is becoming more dynamic these days in an attempt to meet the increasing demand of enterprise users. No longer satisfied with poor quality sound and video, companies want a crisp resolution, flexible manipulation and content sharing, along with the ability to connect with users from a range of mobile devices. For the next generation of telepresence, emphasis will shift from the meeting itself to the quality of collaborative user experience.  

Telepresence is no longer just a medium for conversations. It is used from corporate offices, military front lines, banks and hospitals to scan QR codes, share blueprints, work on a document or exchange business cards and pictures. Virtual business meetings are taking place utilizing multiple mobile devices using secure, high-quality bandwidth.

Bandwidth itself is a big concern for regular enterprise users of video networking, particularly those who require a top-quality, sophisticated service. The video industry is striving hard to keep up to the pace of user-demand, as can be seen with the latest three-screen systems that enable 20 percent less bandwidth consumption than comparable devices.

There’s no magic bullet but in 2013, there will be an industry standard that will ease the strain as the codec standard H.265 is approved by ITU-T. This means high quality video will be available while simultaneously reducing bandwidth consumption by up to 50 percent. This move will be key to transitioning video presence from something that is something of a novelty to a necessity.

Industry experts predict that cloud-based telepresence services will become the norm and will help businesses large and small enter the next generation of telepresence. Telepresence in the cloud promises delivery of a secure and reliable service that will also be highly affordable.

As telepresence capabilities develop, small businesses can benefit by not having to dish out up-front costs or invest money in expensive infrastructure. This will allow developing companies to appear larger and have a more flexible option to scale their telepresencing as their enterprise grows.

Mid-to-large sized enterprise will be able to use telepresence in the cloud to connect with remote locations, branch offices or teleworkers. The practicality, cost-efficiency and simplicity of a cloud-based telepresence service will drive telepresence into the next generation by creating a much wider user base, inspiring new innovations, and enhancing collaborative user experience. As web-based conferencing comes of age, its ability to maintain success will hinge on its continued ability to meet or exceed growing user demands. (CU) Link