Today I attended a Cisco 'Telepresence' meeting, thanks to an invitation from Social Life to join a discussion about innovation in the regeneration of a housing suburb of Malmo in Sweden. I've used videolink conferencing facilities before, but this was definitely a step up. High-definition cameras pick up the attendees, who sit round similarly shaped tables, with similar backgrounds. The Screens are arranged as an extension of the table and the cameras are voice-activated. The link is absolutely instantaneous with no perceptible lag. It does actually feel like you are in the same room, to the extent that you can hear if people are whispering to each other.
People joined from Brussels, Seoul, New York, Chicago, Malmo and London and it was an interesting debate, though I think more ideas were expressed than fully explored, but there will be follow-ups. The criticism of these things is normally that you don't feel like you've actually met the other people, which is necessary to develop a kind of professional bond, that then allows you to work effectively at a distance. With high-definition cameras and zero lag, it does actually feel like you've met, though. If I'm right, then this has pretty big implications for the future. At the moment, the main problem is there is only one Cisco office with these facilities in each city and several people had to travel right across town to make the meeting. Obviously its easier than flying to Malmo, but when this technology proliferates, it will really change things. Broadband capacity is presumably the limiting factor, but when that improves, maybe we'll never need to leave the house again, to meet, go to school, or down the pub?
People joined from Brussels, Seoul, New York, Chicago, Malmo and London and it was an interesting debate, though I think more ideas were expressed than fully explored, but there will be follow-ups. The criticism of these things is normally that you don't feel like you've actually met the other people, which is necessary to develop a kind of professional bond, that then allows you to work effectively at a distance. With high-definition cameras and zero lag, it does actually feel like you've met, though. If I'm right, then this has pretty big implications for the future. At the moment, the main problem is there is only one Cisco office with these facilities in each city and several people had to travel right across town to make the meeting. Obviously its easier than flying to Malmo, but when this technology proliferates, it will really change things. Broadband capacity is presumably the limiting factor, but when that improves, maybe we'll never need to leave the house again, to meet, go to school, or down the pub?
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