Telepresence Interoperability is Here!

Bob Dixon, Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet)_

Internet2 Fall member MeetingOctober 7, 2009

San Antonio, Texas

Schedule of Events

• Introduction of Speakers• Overview of Video Conferencing Interoperability• Description of Yesterday’s Live Demos• Playback of Recordings from the Demos• Presentations by the Speakers

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Our Presenters

• Stefan Karapetkov - Polycom• Bill Rippon - IBM Research• Jim Goodyear - LifeSize• Gabe Moulton - Ohio State University• Robbie Noble - Ohio State University

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• Web Conferencing– PC and small camera – Collaboration tools such as Skype, Elluminate, WebX.... – Fair quality

• Standard H.323 Video Conferencing– Most common type today– Good quality

• High-Definition H.323 Video Conferencing – Like HDTV– Excellent quality

• Telepresence– HD, plus appearance of being in the same room

*Note there are a few other systems that do not fit into these categories

The Four Levels of Videoconferencing

Telepresence Systems Generalities

• Most telepresence systems are expensive. – Typically $250K and up, per room.

• Some are proprietary or do not use the standard H.323 protocol, and hence are not interoperable with other telepresence systems.– HP, Cisco.

• Some require special or vendor-managed networks. • Some are H.323 standards-based and can become fully

interoperable with one another.– Polycom– Tandberg– LifeSize

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Typical Telepresence Systems

• For reasons of brevity, I will illustrate only one typical model of telepresence equipment from each vendor.

– They all have other models also.

• Photos are from the company web sites.

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Tandberg Telepresence

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Polycom Telepresence

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LifeSize Telepresence

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Who Uses Telepresence?• Typically corporate execs, for whom cost is less important.• So far little used in education. A recent poll shows <10 in

USA.• Reasons for little education use:

– High cost, including purchase, installation and operation.– Typically not suitable for more than a few people at once, such as classrooms.– Incompatibility with each other, and existing video conf equipment.– Will not dedicate a room to something that is rarely used.– High bandwidth and network quality required.– Requires multiple rooms.

• Standard high-definition video conferencing can do many of the things that telepresence does, with less cost and complexity.

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Videoconferencing Interoperability by Level

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• Web Conferencing– Very little interoperability, with each other or with industry

standard.– A few now provide interoperability with standard H.323. (Elluminate

VCS, RADVision Scopia Desktop, Vidyo…)– Skype/H.323 gateway being evaluated by Internet2.

• Standard H.323 Videoconferencing– Complete interoperability.

• High-definition Standard H.323 Videoconferencing– Complete Interoperability.

• Telepresence• Few vendors claim interoperability.• Tandberg and Polycom can interoperate thru their MCUs.

Desktop Collaboration Tools

Collaboration tools have traditionally had stone walls between each other.

Standard Video ConferencingHigh-Definition Standard Video Conferencing

Desktop Collaboration Tools

Collaboration tools have traditionally had a stone wall between themselves and industry standard video conferencing.

Standard Video ConferencingHigh-Definition Standard Video Conferencing

Desktop Collaboration Tools

Standard definition and high definition video conferencing work well together.

Standard Video ConferencingHigh-Definition Standard Video Conferencing

Desktop Collaboration Tools

Some collaboration tools have now blasted a hole thru the wall separating them from industry standard video conferencing.And they have begun to penetrate the walls between themselves.

Standard Video ConferencingHigh-Definition Standard Video Conferencing

Desktop Collaboration Tools

We are now seeing interoperability between some collaboration tools and industry standard video conferencing

Tele Presence

Telepresence systems have had stone walls between each other.

Standard Video ConferencingHigh-Definition Standard Video Conferencing

Tele Presence

Some telepresence systems have had gaps in the wall between themselves and industry standard video conferencing.

Standard Video ConferencingHigh-Definition Standard Video Conferencing

Tele Presence

Most telepresence systems now interoperate with industry standard video conferencing. And they have reluctantly begun to penetrate the walls between themselves.

Standard Video ConferencingHigh-Definition Standard Video Conferencing

Tele Presence

Desktop Collaboration Tools

UNIVERSAL INTEROPERABILITY !

Polycom TPX 3-screen TP San Antonio, TX

LifeSize Room1003-screen TP At OARNetColumbus, OH

Telepresence Interoperability Demo for Internet2 ConferenceOct 6, 2009. San Antonio, Texas (updated 2 Oct 09)

Polycom RPX2-screen TPAt Iformata Dayton, OH

Tandberg T33-screen TPLisbon,Portugal

Polycom RPX4-screen TPAt IBM ResearchArmonk, NY

Tandberg T33-screen TP atTandberg, viaIBM ResearchLocation TBD

Polycom RSSRecorder inBerrein Springs, MI

Bob Dixon

Tandberg T33-screen TPOporto,Portugal

Cisco CTS3000 3-screen TP atIBM ResearchHawthorne, NY

Either/Or

Either/Or

TandbergRecorder atIBM ResearchAlmaden, CF

Polycom TPX3-screen TPAndover, MA

Tandberg TP Server(MCU) at IBMYorktown Heights, NY

Polycom RMXMCU at OSUColumbus, OH

Polycom Simulated3-screen TPat IBM RsrchYorktown, NY