Specifications

VIRTU
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
CONFERENCE CANADA | 51
VIRTU AND VIDEOCONFERENCING
VIRTU has been designed to accommodate all the latest in videoconference applications, and can
be reconfigured with off-the-shelf components as needs and office technology change. The
following are the fundamental principles of videoconferencing that were incorporated into the
thinking of creating VIRTU – which we feel successfully supports a multitude of
videoconferencing environments.
VIDEOCONFERENCING DEFINED
Videoconferencing is the use of audio, video and data communications to enable groups to
interact without being in the same geographic location. Many companies have found they cannot
afford the down time and considerable cost of mobilizing their staff for face-to-face meetings. To
optimize the videoconferencing experience, the right environment must be created to support both
the participants and the technology.
VISUAL COMPONENTS
Cameras that are used to convey images are very sensitive to movement. When too much
motion is captured, it creates a backlog of images. These images are then compressed which
causes the system to drop frames and/or compromise the spatial resolution in an effort to keep
up with the participants. This leads to a disjointed broadcast and pixilated images.
To prevent this disruption several things can be done. First, ensure that the camera is situated
on a flat, stable surface. Next, eliminate all extraneous motion. This means everything from
clocks to people walking in the background. The only backdrop to videoconferencing should be
a blank wall of neutral colour.
Since eye contact is an important part of the videoconferencing experience it is vital that the
camera not be placed too far away from the participants. In a group setting the technology
being used today mandates that users not be more than 10 feet from the camera. This fact will
limit the size of the room being used for group meetings: a 12 or 13 foot long room allows for
optimal visuals and provides enough room for six or seven participants to be seated around a
conference table. Furthermore, sitting too close to the source will lead to a fisheye effect and
a distorted image.
All participants should be visible to the camera, so a traditional seating arrangement
(rectangular, straight line) will not work. To ensure that all group members are included in the
telecast, a table that staggers the sight line of the camera is suggested. The ideal shape has
one end narrower than the other and is long enough to place the person seated at the back no
more than 10 feet from the camera.
EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2008 A PRICE INCREASE OF 5% WILL APPLY TO ALL PRODUCTS IN THIS PRICE LIST