The Los Angeles Times takes a look at video conferencing, but is only telling part of the story.
Over the past few days I’ve been holed up my friends hotel in Carmel Valley as the house remains under construction. The hotel, the Hilton branded Homewood Suites, and its neighboring Hilton Garden Inn, would never have a room based video conferencing system like the ones described in the article.
Why not? Price.
On the other hand, I’ve had perfect video conferencing experiences using client SightSpeed and some use of Skype from my hotel room, using my own laptop computer. Candidly, the experience is far more pleasing that having to go to a special room, where some IT guy has to help.
What’s more, I don’t have to “reserve” the room (there’s usually only one.) Think of having to go to the restroom and someone’s inside or there’s only one stall. That’s what room based video conferencing is like.
By having video conferencing software and a webcam on your laptop delivering a 640 x 480 pixel size image at 30 frames per second you get one heck of an experience. Toss in really good bandwidth and you have everything the room based systems promise, but anywhere you are.
One other point. I’ve used both SightSpeed and Skype over AT&T’s HSUPA wireless broadband network on both my Mac Book Air and a series of Acer Aspire One and Asus eee PC’s (901 and 1000) from multiple locations without even a room around me.
So while the room based conferencing systems may be a nice “status symbol” or perk like a company car or club membership was or is for the corporate types, those of us who are Global Nomads and accustomed to Working Anywhere know better, and how to stay connected.