Telepresence: why program solution VIDEOCONFERENCING get the best

In classical understanding telepresence (Telepresence) is an image of people full-scale, a picture resolution of Full HD and space audio in which illusion is created that the sound proceeds directly from the person. Now under this determination systems with the name Immersive Telepresence get. The English adjective of immersive is translated as "polydirectional, with simultaneous impact on the person by means of several channels of perception (hearing and sight)".

The Multikodekovy systems – a top niche

The technology of immersive telepresence assumes broadcast of the image full-scale of very high quality. For the solution of this task turn on several hardware codecs in a system (on one on each screen), video flows, necessary for processing, in the Full HD (1920x1080) format. Use of several "boxes" for coding and decoding of data also gave the name "multikodekovy". Many vendors also use other classification based on the number of the screens used in a system. Respectively, the solutions including several screens are called multidisplay.

From the moment of the emergence and till today of technology of immersive telepresence remain niche, intended for the few favorites. In many respects development of these technologies was the marketing mix of giants of the industry (such as Cisco) which promoted growth of popularity of VIDEOCONFERENCING technologies in general. Outside a niche of immersive telepresence of implementation of the multikodekovy systems remain rather point as odnokodekovy visual communication systems and their younger relatives – software solutions successfully cope with other tasks.

Among examples of use of the multikodekovy systems outside the sphere of immersive telepresence it is possible to select implementation in the model house of Tommy Hilfiger. The fashion designer uses a multikodekovy system for creation of a virtual podium on which models from one city appear at designers from another.

Research Duke University (Durham, Northern Carolina, the USA) equipped the classroom with multikodekovy visual communication system. But considering that the station of artificial climate, the laser on free electrons, installation on the basis of a nuclear magnetic resonance and many other things are a part of the educational equipment for students of the university, the room for occupations equipped with a multikodekovy system does not seem such exotic any more.

Why the odnokodekovy systems win

The hardware solutions for video conference using only one codec for video processing (usually is established on top the screen or the monitor) are called odnokodekovy (single-codec). Systems including only one screen by the similar principle are called one-screen. Earlier was considered that odnokodekovy solutions are used generally for the equipment of jobs and small meeting rooms, for creation of high-quality "normal" group video conferences and for personal use.

In this time any solutions maintaining HD quality often hereinafter are referred to as the systems of telepresence as in modern understanding the effect "teleprezens" is any system of video conferences which supports resolution of HD (720p). At the same time it is not important where the picture is displayed (on the screen of the notebook or on big plasma) and what processes video (the soft codec or hardware). Thus, today it is possible to call any modern system the system of telepresence.

At the same time they can be both odnokodekovy, and multikodekovy (the Cisco CTS-1300 system has one codec, and the Cisco TX9000 system – four). Besides, the number of codecs is not always equal to the number of screens: at TX900 system of screens three, and codecs – four. One more codec is intended for processing of the presentations (and any other materials which are shown during the meeting) with a frequency of 30 frames per second.

When the multikodekovy systems for telepresence appeared in the western market, the prices of the equipment did not seem excessively high, and video conferences in HD quality remained the privilege of top managers. According to Gartner analytical company, the implementation cost of one multikodekovy system of telepresence fluctuates from 200 thousand to 700 thousand dollars.