Connect. Any Way You Want.
Application Briefs by Polycom®
Polycom Video Communications
Collaboration Solutions
Visual Collaboration using Polycom iPower Video Conferencing Systems
Visual Collaboration using Polycom® iPower™ Video
Conferencing Systems
Polycom People+Content™
Collaboration on meeting content has become as important to video calls as high quality
audio and video technology. This application brief will explore the many ways content is
introduced into a meeting through the use of an iPower visual collaboration system from
Polycom.
What is the Polycom People+Content Collaboration Model?
The People+Content model assumes that meeting information (Content) presented for
collaboration must be handled differently and appropriately for an overall superior and
natural meeting experience. The basic principles for this collaboration model are:
• “What I see, they also see”: ensure meeting attendees always view the same
information displayed locally and remotely
• Content should be shared in high resolution: meeting information is displayed in
its native format so it can been seen clearly by all in the meeting
• People view should still be available while sharing content: never lose sight of
your remote audience while sending content
All sources and displays are classified as either people or content. Using an iPower
system, sources are shown within the
iPower People and Content list (menu on
the left in the picture) . A small thumbnail
that is the “map” that shows available
content sources accompanies each source.
The Polycom People+Content model does
not stop at point- point calls. Using the
Polycom MGC™ line of multipoint
bridges or the integrated multipoint
feature, users can enjoy the same
collaboration experience within a
multipoint call as they do within a pointpoint call. People+Content method is
supported within all Polycom iPower
systems as well as the Polycom
ViewStation ™ FX, EX and VS4000
videoconferencing systems.
ImageShare™
For iPower users, the Polycom ImageShare II device acts captures laptop information to
be shown using the People+Content model.
The ImageShare II is a unique tabletop device that allows
users to add their laptop as a source of content for display
in a conference room meeting or a videoconference, by
simply connecting it to the laptop and pushing its blue
button. Only Polycom provides the convenience of the
single blue button.
ImageShare allows you to plug-in a laptop as if you are
plugging it into a projector, with standard VGA and audio inputs. ImageShare captures
the signal from the laptop’s VGA output and allows the transmission of this image; live
(full motion), at its native resolution (up to full XGA, 1024x768). It also provides an
audio input for multimedia content that includes sound (up to 14 kHz fidelity). The blue
button on ImageShare allows the user to activate the content in the conference – and it
also allows the user to “deactivate” the input, turning focus back to a people view without
the need to reach back to the remote control. Now, there is no need to locate any other
control devices in the room. If you are connected to ImageShare, then the blue button is
always right there.
Show Windows Desktop: The “Software” ImageShare
iPower’s Show Windows Desktop
mimics the ImageShare II actions,
but takes information directly from
the PC that is built-in to the iPower
system and presents this information
into the videoconference using the
People+Content model of
collaboration. This information
could include the last revision of a
Microsoft Excel ™ spreadsheet, a
competitor’s newest website, or any
Microsoft Windows ™ file stored on
the iPower system PC.
Collaboration through Application File Sharing
iPower’s PC platform allows for more traditional method of collaboration through the use
of network drives and commands. Since the iPower system will most likely be resident
within a conference room or office, it is logical to connect it to the company LAN to
access company network resources. Commonly used network file transfer commands,
such as FTP and mapped network drives are another method used for collaboration. The
file needed for the meeting discussion is placed on the iPower PC, its drive is mapped or
the file is sent to a PC that would act as a content host for the meeting call. This method
of collaboration is most successful with out a firewall security system in place.
iPower Embedded collaboration tools
The iPower application leverages the open PC
environment and provides access to embedded
collaboration tools that allow users to edit content
on an interactive basis. These tools can be found
from the iPower application menu as shown in this
graphic. These tools are used when the participants
need to make real time changes to the presented
data. These changes can be stored and updated to
the iPower PC or to a LAN server on the network.
T.120 application devices (interactive whiteboards)
Interactive Whiteboards can also be used as a collaboration tool with the iPower systems.
An interactive whiteboard replaces an existing conference room whiteboard and allows
the realtime capture of any handwriting and meeting points written on the whiteboard to a
PC. An electronic whiteboard transforms an existing conference room whiteboard into
an interactive whiteboard for capturing interactive meeting discussion.
The iPower application embedded T.120 tools can receive and render from any T.120
based interactive whiteboard. That means if a meeting participant writes on a whiteboard
connected to the iPower system, all remote participants can view that information and can
use their own iPower connected whiteboard to proactively interact with the realtime
discussion displayed on each whiteboard.
Collaboration through the Web
Browser based collaboration tools allow
an iPower user to collaborate on data
over the Internet. With an iPower
system and the Polycom WebOffice
collaboration tools, iPower users can
launch a browser -based content
presentation and sharing session through
an optionally integrated WebOffice
client. The iPower user loads the
WebOffice client, invites meeting
participants to their WebOffice and
simply uploads a file to share within the
meeting. The file is then presented to all
on the videoconference, even those that
only have access to a PC and a phone by
simply pointing to the WebOffice URL
that is hosting the data.
Conclusion
An effective videoconferencing collaboration platform must be ready to :
• Distribute both content and people media appropriately
• Allow users to easily connect to the appropriate and preferred content source to
the system
• Provide the right resolution to render the meeting material readable.
• Provide flexibility to exchange and engage interactive collaboration tools when
needed and when appropriate.
All these capabilities are designed within iPower systems that provide a consistent user
experience for both the presenter and the audience and support the meeting dynamics of a
single-site meeting in a multi-site environment.
With integrated video, audio, data, and Web capabilities, The Polycom Office is the only
solution that offers an easy way to connect, conference, and collaborate any way you
want. iPower system collaboration tools is the Polycom commitment to making distance
communications as natural and interactive as being there. Work faster, smarter, and
better with iPower collaboration tools and The Polycom Office.
Polycom, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets a full range of high-quality, easy-to-use and
affordable voice and video communication endpoints, video management software, web
collaboration software, multi-network gateways, and multi-point conferencing and network access
solutions. Its fully integrated end-to-end solution, The Polycom Office, is supported by the Polycom
Accelerated Communications Architecture, and enables business users to immediately realize the
benefits of integrated video, voice data and web collaboration over rapidly growing converged
networks. For additional information, call 1-800-POLYCOM (765-9266) or +1-408-526-9000, or
visit the Polycom web site at
Polycom, the Polycom logo and ViewStation are registered trademarks and iPower, Pro Motion, Siren 14,
People+Content, ImageShare, and The Polycom Office are trademarks of Polycom in the U.S. and various
countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2002, Polycom, Inc. All rights
reserved.
www.polycom.com.
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