high definition videoconferencing

www.orbitone.com

Raas van Gaverestraat 83B-9000 GENT, Belgium E-mail [email protected] Website www.orbitone.com

Tel. +32 9 265 74 20Fax +32 9 265 74 10VAT BE 456.457.353Bank 442-7059001-50 (KBC)

3 October, 2009 High Definition videoconference, deep dive

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.orbitone.com/

3 October, 2009High Definition videoconference, deep dive

Agenda

Why videoconferencing Types of videoconferencingLifeSize 200 series modelsMultiple monitorsTechnical guidelinesMeeting Room adjustmentsAdditional equipment


Why videoconferencing?

Videoconferencing is the ideal solution todramatically lower travel costsimprove time efficiency

Meet more regularly with your teams, partners, customers

Green, less CO2 emissions!


Market & competition

The professional videoconference market is headed by 4 companies:Polycom www.polycom.comTandberg www.tandberg.comLifeSize www.lifesize.comCisco Telepresence www.cisco.com

LifeSize delivers superior quality flexibility at unmatched price performance

Cisco is out of competition, and delivers incredible telepresence solutions at incredible prices (> 100k)

http://www.polycom.com/

http://www.tandberg.com/

http://www.lifesize.com/

http://www.cisco.com/

Types of videoconferencing

High Definition videoconference, deep dive3 October, 2009


Web conferencing

Starting at €50 Use from any location Low to medium quality, not guaranteed Good for short conversations,

where eye-contact is not essential

Popular softwareSkypeLive Messenger Office CommunicatorGoogle TalkWebExLiveMeeting….


HD Videoconferencing

Starting at €8.000 Meeting room, large screen High quality, for short to long meetings Eye-contact possible


Telepresence

Starting around €200.000 Dedicated, specially designed telepresence room Very high quality,

for medium to long meetings Near-real-experience,

feels like the person is present

LifeSize 200 series models October 2009

* Prices excluding VAT, monitor, installation and support contracts.


LifeSize Express 200

€6.499 * No multipoint Dual monitor (2nd monitor only for PC signal) Up to 1280x720 resolution, 30 frames/sec


LifeSize Team 200

€10.299 * (with dual micpod) €11.199 * (with phone system) 4-way multipoint Dual monitor support Up to 1280x720 resolution, 30 frames/sec


LifeSize Room 200

€15.899 * 6-way multipoint Up to 1920x1080 pixels at 30 frames/sec Dual monitor support


High Definition videoconference, deep dive

LifeSize Phone

€1.099 * Very good audio quality, even in less ideal situations Ideal for larger rooms 16 microphones circular array Use stand-alone

Alternative to Polycom SoundStation Or connect to LifeSize Team/Room

Power over Ethernet (PoE) Connect to VoIP PBX

SIP, H.323 Also compatible with analogue phone line

3 October, 2009

Typical scenario

International company with 3 offices:Brussels (headquarters)New-YorkLondon

LifeSize Team 200 in Brussels LifeSize Express 200 in New-York and London

Total cost Including 50” Plasma monitors, installation and 3-year support contract

Approximately €45.000 excl VAT



Contact us!

Demo

MonitorsPopular models


SAMSUNG 400MX-2 40” LCD

Resolution 1920x1080 (full) €1.492, includes

HDMI interfaceSpeakers

Different mounting availableTable/cabinetFloor standMobile standWall mount


Panasonic TH-50PH11EK 50“ lasma

Resolution 1366x768 (HD ready) €1.990, includes




Panasonic TH-58PF11EK 58“ Plasma

Resolution 1920x1080 (full HD) €5.290, includes




Multiple monitorsAdvantages of a 2nd monitor



Multiple monitors

PowerPoint presentationThe speaker on the left screenThe PowerPoint (PC signal) on the right screenYourself in the small window on the right bottom of the left screen


Multiple monitors

3-way conferenceParty one on the left screenParty two on the right screenYourself in the small window on the right bottom of the left screen

Not available on LifeSize Express System automatically detects active speaker


Multiple monitors

4-6 way conferenceThe speaking party on the left screenThe other 2 meeting rooms on the right screenYourself in the small window on the right bottom of the left screen

Not available on LifeSize Express System automatically detects active speaker

Technical guidelines



SD vs HD quality

Standard Definition (HD)Since 199?Up to 768x432 pixelsUp to 30 frames per second

High Definition (HD)since approx 2006Up to 1920x1080 pixelsUp to 60 frames per secondAllows for eye-contact

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HDTV_example_-_Fish_40x46_squares.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Raster_graphic_fish_20x23squares_sdtv-example.png


ISDN vs IP

Old technology: ISDN64k per channelExpensive in usageLimited to low bandwidth (mostly up to 384k)Call initialization typically takes 30-60 seconds

Now and future: IP over InternetUnlimited bandwidthFlat-fee, no usage costsClick and connect, no waitingNo guarantees, unless you have end-to-end QoS

All new models support IP, Some organisations only allow for ISDN calls


Multipoint (MCU)

Conference between two meeting rooms is called point-to-point. Does not require any special equipment, one room simply calls the other.

Simultaneous videoconferencing among three or more remote points is possible by means of a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU).

Types of MCU:Embedded in a video endpoint

•High-end videoconference systems, such as the LifeSize Team 200 and Room 200 have a build-in MCU.

•Up to 4 or 6 participants.Dedicated MCU

•Located in datacenter / server room•12-48 participants•Extra functionality such as recording, web-sharing, ...•Popular brands:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multipoint_Control_Unit

http://www.codian.com/index.htm


Transcoding

Without transcoding, all participants get video and audio quality of the least powerfull device

With transcoding, everyone gets the best possible quality

Video transcodingReal-time conversion of video resolution between videoconference participants.

Audio transcodingReal-time conversion of audio codex and quality between videoconference participants.

Bandwidth transcodingReal-time conversion of connection bandwidth between videoconference participants.


Bandwidth usage

Some examples128 Kbps (400 x 244 pixels) Widescreen FCIF 384 Kbps (768 x 432 pixels) Cable TV512 Kbps (848 x 480 pixels) DVD Resolution768 Kbps (1088 x 608 pixels) 2x DVD Resolution1.1 Mbps (1280 x 720 pixels) High Definition1.7 Mbps (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD

LifeSize automatically adjusts image quality and frame rate based on available bandwith

Both upstream and downstream are requiredADSL and Cable type connections usually have low upstreamA reliable internet connection is key to success!

Tip: test your connection using http://www.speedtest.net

http://www.speedtest.net/


Network latency

Latency, a synonym for delay, is an expression of how much time it takes for a packet of data to get from one designated point to another

Type of network links:Fibre links: >1msDSL / cable: >10msSatellite links: >500ms

Latency increases with distanceFibre link from Europe to US: 80-150msSpeed of light is the limiting factor

http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci212736,00.html


Network latency and videoconferencing

Try to keep below 150 millisecondsExcessive latency increases the chances of people "talking over one another" because

they don't realize that the person at the other end has started speaking too. This is less significant in calls with less than 50ms of network latency. It can become very troublesome in calls with more than 150ms.

Reference table< 50ms: humans do not notice any latency50-150ms: small noticeable latency, interactive conferencing still very comfortable150-250ms: noticeable latency, interactive conferencing possible but need users may

need some adaptation (not talk at same time)250-400ms: very noticeable latency, interactive conferencing possible is users wait until

other have finished talking>400ms: interactive conferencing becomes very difficult


Firewall configuration

Public IP address Enable Quality of Service (QoS)!

3 October, 2009

Meeting Room adjustments



Table and camera position

Example of ideal configuration

3 October, 2009


Table and camera position (continued)

Less optimalPeople need to turn their head to face the screen/camera

3 October, 2009


Table and camera position (continued)

Much better

3 October, 2009


Select the right monitor size

Distance to monitor:< 2 meter: 37 inch monitor (private offices)2-3 meter: 42 inch monitor (very small meeting room)4-5 meter: 50 inch monitor (small meeting room)5-6 meter: 58 inch monitor (medium meeting room)7-8 meter: 65 inch monitor (large boardroom)> 8 meter: High definition projector (large boardroom)

Especially important to read small text and PowerPoint graphics

3 October, 2009


Lights

Light on participants faces should be between 700-1000lux (vertical light) with less than 200lux variations in the area. Horizontal light should be between 900-1200lux. The area with the monitor screens should have less than 300lux.

Things to avoidWindows in the camera view (direct sunlight)Spot lightsHalogen lightingColors: (ea. Walls)Avoid primary & hard colors (such as: pure red, pure green, pure blue,.....)Avoid very bright colors (such as bright/pure white)

3 October, 2009


Lights (continued) Recommendations

Use fluorescent light with a color temperature of 4000K (Kelvin) (ea. Osram 11)Use louvers with reflectors (60x60 - 3 tubes or 120x30 - 2 tubes)

Example : ETAP UI44/318 - 60x60 louver normalized yield 0.57 ; 3 light tubes of 26mm/18W/4000K ; color index : 85 ; 4350 lumen luminance

Use dimmers on all light circuitsUse at least 3 separated light circuits

• One circuit above the table (direct light for participants)• One circuit for the background lighting (Back & Side walls)• One circuit for additional light (ea. near the system cabinet, door entrance,...)

Cover all windows with blinds or curtains.Use a conference table with a 50% reflecting surface (not shining or mirroring). Recommended color

is light grey.Colors:

Use of any color, situated between off-white/beige and light/medium grey. (ea. pastel/pale colors). Recommended : Blue-grey or green-grey color (as they enhances the natural & flesh tones). Most colors mixed with grey are suitable. Avoid too dark colors and those too white. Note: The human eye is not always a good judge for choosing colors; we tend to choose hard colors.

3 October, 2009

Sound / Acoustics

The room reverberation time should be conform to the RT60 specs and less then 400ms. The ambient noise in the room should be conform to the ISO 35 (NR) curve.

Things to avoidHard surfaces in microphone pickup ranges , especially windowsHard surfaces are reflectors and create echo!!ea. whiteboard, wooden walls/cupboards/cabinets,..., brick walls, windows, doors,...

Noisy (adjacent) rooms and corridorsNoisy equipment in the room (ie. HVAC - Air-conditioning, printers & fax)Air-conditioning in- and outlets in the microphone pickup ranges usually from the border of the conference table (nearest to the cabinet) up to the back

wall


Sound / Acoustics (continued)

RecommendationsCEILING

Preferably use a modular T-Grid with acoustic panelsExample : Rockfon Fibral 567, 25mm (60x60)

WALL BEHIND CABINETNo acoustic treatment necessary (may be/preferably a hard surface) if the participants are not in eye contact with each other (color is preferably white or pale)

SIDE WALLS and BACK WALLUse an acoustic absorbing or diffusing tissue. (The sound absorption can be enhanced by also using 10-25mm fiber glass isolation material between the tissue/fabric and the wall.) In case windows need to be covered, use an acoustic curtain. Especially the back wall should be strongly absorbing. Note: mind the colors (see ‘Light’)Example : Cover AplixBlue-Grey ; Ref: Nopal 074 ; absorption factor 0.46 ; acoustic isolation : 6dBExample : Mur de SilenceBlue-Grey ; Ref: M20170 ; absorption factor 0.41 ; acoustic isolation : 4dB

FLOORUse a (preferably antistatic) carpet. Color is not important, but preferably medium/dark grey



Additional equipment

3 October, 2009

Document, object cameras


Table model Ceiliing visualizer


Video-friendly lighting

3 October, 2009

Portable Ceiling mounted


www.orbitone.com

3 October, 2009

high definition videoconferencing

Technology

deep dive3

deep divewhyvideoconferencing

deep divetelepresencestarting

deep divemultiple monitors4

lifesize room

lifesize expresssystem

right screenyourself

lifesize teamroompower