Videoconferencing for the Real World

Videoconferencing for the Real World

by John Rhodes
Released April 2001
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781136024658

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Book description

"John Rhodes' Videoconferencing for the Real World, is a one of the world's most comprehensive blueprints on the awesome power of videoconferencing."
From the Foreword by Brad Caldwell
Chairman ICIA and President of
Integrated Media Services, Anaheim, CA

Designed to be useful to both technical and non-technical managers, Video-Conferencing for the Real World demystifies the subject of video communications. It provides easy-to-follow guidelines for deploying a cost-effective video-conferencing solution tailored to an organization's specific needs.

Developed to flexible to the readers need, Video Conferencing for the Real World offers dynamic problem-solving techniques for the communication challenges facing managers today. Examining the technical, economic, and organizational aspects of each requirement and solution, this book offers a sound base of technical information and provides practical solutions based on a wealth of professional experience. Combining his own ideas with the input of system managers and users, service providers, consultants, and manufacturers, the author has developed a guide that will help readers make more informed investments of their time and money. Special attention is paid to conducting an effective needs analysis, and the development of solutions that will adapt easily to future changes in organizational requirements.

Covering a variety of solutions, this book explores the advantages and disadvantages of desktop systems, set-top systems, rollabout systems, and room systems. In addition to compression, multipoint conferencing and data conferencing, this book also addresses topics such as, pilot projects, the preparation of RFPs, service contracts, training, content creation, and convergence.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Dedication
  6. Table of Contents
  7. List of Illustrations
  8. Foreword
  9. Acknowledgments
  10. 1. Introduction to Successful Videoconferencing
    1. Great Expectations
    2. The Purpose of This Book
    3. What is Videoconferencing?
      1. The First Steps
      2. The Inside Track
    4. Key Issues and Trends
      1. H.323 and Packet-Switched Networks
      2. Set-top Systems Versus Desktop Conferencing
      3. The Role of Telecommunications Service Providers
      4. Pay Me Now-Or Pay Me Later
      5. Operations and Network Management
    5. The Human Factors
  11. 2. Videoconferencing Applications
    1. Executive Summary
    2. Application Areas
    3. General Business Applications
      1. Executive Support
      2. Teamwork
      3. Sales and Marketing
      4. Service
      5. Human Resources
      6. Training
    4. Distance Learning
      1. Ohio SchoolNet
      2. Georgia's Statewide System
    5. Government
      1. Justice for All
    6. Industry-Specific Applications
      1. Banking and Financial Services
      2. Electronics and Aerospace
      3. Pharmaceuticals
    7. Telemedicine
      1. Uses of Telehealth Networks
      2. Typical Telemedical Applications
      3. Systems for Telemedicine
    8. Conclusion
  12. 3. Needs Analysis-Defining Your Ideal System
    1. Executive Summary
    2. Conducting a Needs Analysis
      1. Major Steps
      2. Request for Proposal
    3. The Twelve Steps
    4. Needs Analysis and Deployment Checklist
  13. 4. Choosing the Right System
    1. Executive Summary
    2. Basic System Selection
      1. Selection Guidelines
    3. Overview of Basic Systems
      1. Desktop systems
      2. Set-top systems
      3. Rollabout systems
      4. Room systems
    4. Analysis of Basic Systems
      1. Desktop Systems
      2. Set-top Systems
      3. Rollabout Systems
      4. Room Systems
    5. Peripherals and Other System Enhancements
      1. Copy-Stand Cameras
      2. Electronic Whiteboards
  14. 5. Networks and Advanced Technologies
    1. Executive Summary
    2. Developing a Future-Proof Strategy for Multimedia Communication
    3. Network Type and Configuration
      1. Networking and Compression
      2. ISDN
    4. Networks for High-Volume Conferencing
      1. Ethernet and IP Video
    5. Why Try Video over IP?
    6. Bandwidth
      1. Quality of Service
      2. Not on My Network
      3. What Is H.323?
      4. Web-based Conferencing
      5. What to Do?
    7. Other Networking Technologies
      1. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
      2. T1
      3. DS3
      4. Frame Relay
      5. DSL
      6. SONET
      7. OC3
    8. Compression
      1. DCT and Other Animals
    9. Multipoint Conferencing
      1. Basic Functions of MCUs
      2. Dataconferencing
      3. H.323 MCUs
      4. Multipoint Challenges
      5. Help Is on the Way
      6. Bridging Services
    10. Conclusion
  15. 6. Putting It All Together-The Challenges of Integration
    1. Executive Summary
    2. What Is a Pilot Project?
      1. More Than Just a Demo
      2. Planning Your pilot
    3. The Request for Proposal
      1. Taking the Necessary Time
      2. Functional Controls
      3. Request for Information
    4. Consulting with Experts
      1. Money-Saving Consultants
      2. The Buck Stops Here
    5. Outsourcing Integration and Support
      1. Finding a Fit
      2. Time on Your Side
    6. Project Management Considerations
      1. The Speed of Change
    7. The Changing Role of Integrators
      1. Innovative Applications
      2. Teamwork Works
      3. Taking Control
      4. Up Against the Video Wall
      5. More Than Just a Box
      6. Are You Being Served?
      7. Future Integration Trends
  16. 7. Managing the Conferencing Process
    1. Executive Summary
      1. Common Reasons for System Failure
    2. Internal Marketing
      1. Taskforce Is a Nine-Letter Word
      2. Marketing Nuts and Bolts
    3. User Training
      1. Training of Support Personnel
      2. End-user Training
      3. The Power of Presentations
      4. Getting Help
    4. Scheduling, Planning, and Conducting Meetings
      1. Scheduling
      2. Scheduling Systems
      3. Scheduling Software
    5. Content Creation
      1. Presentation Materials
      2. Communication Skills
    6. Help! They Need Somebody
      1. Room Coordination and Meeting-Support Services
      2. Technical Support
      3. A Reasonable Strategy
      4. Key Support Concerns
    7. Outsourcing Support and Management Services
      1. Outsourcing Criteria
      2. Common Mistakes
      3. And the Answer Is
  17. 8. The Future
    1. Executive Summary
    2. Safety Nets
      1. ASPs to the Rescue
    3. Integrated IP Multimedia
      1. Back to the Future
      2. ISDN Forever
      3. Videophones
    4. Wireless Wonders
    5. Technoshock
  18. Appendix A: Case Studies and a Research Summary
    1. Case Study 1: Corporate Customer Service Training Program
    2. Case Study 2: Government-The U.S. Navy's Video TeleTraining Project
    3. Research Summary: Educational Telecommunications and Distance Learning-The State-by-State Analysis, 1998-99
  19. Appendix B: General Resources
    1. Associations
    2. Publications
    3. Research Studies
    4. Other Information Sources
  20. Appendix C: Commercial Resources
    1. Service Providers
    2. Public Room Videoconferencing Services
    3. Manufacturers
    4. Consultants, Integrators, VARs, and Resellers
  21. Glossary
  22. Index
  23. About the Author

Product information

  • Title: Videoconferencing for the Real World
  • Author(s): John Rhodes
  • Release date: April 2001
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781136024658