Factors to consider before investing in a video collaboration system

Marcos Fernández de Christie comments in this forum on the five key aspects that, in your opinion, must be taken into account to implement professional video collaboration solutions, effective and high impact, in security environments.

In recent months, Having a secure and efficient video collaboration system went from being something “that was not bad to have”, to become an indispensable technological solution, allowing teams to feel more connected to remote locations and collaborate with members working remotely.

The restrictions on mobility and social distance that limit face-to-face meetings today force, more than ever, to resort to face-to-face video communications in safe environments. In these moments, There are system integrators from all over the world updating technologies against the clock to support their users.. But before contacting an integrator to update your video collaboration system or investing in a new one, There are a number of factors to consider. Five key aspects that will guide consultations with the systems integrator.

The goal

Before anything, Expectations must be defined based on experience as users of the system. Is it enough for us to “see” and “hear”, or we want a communication tool that truly connects us with our interlocutors, brings us closer to them and facilitates a more productive dialogue? Who uses the system and where? For what purposes do we use it?? Son, all of them, pertinent questions when approaching the design of a system.

Personally, like most of my clients, what I want is an experience that is as realistic and natural as possible. That my interlocutor feels as comfortable as if we were talking in a shared physical space. Be part of an exchange so fluid that we forget the technology that connects us from a distance.

display technology

There is a wide range of high-performance display solutions suitable for video collaboration and control room environments., be it in the form of projection systems, flat display panels or video walls.

In the case of specific applications for video collaboration, All technologies have advantages and disadvantages. There is no one that prevails over the others in all applications, and the good integrator or partner must be able to prescribe, impartially and dispassionately, the best solution for the environment.

Some visual factors to consider are, among many others, the size of the display, the distance of the viewer in relation to this, its aspect ratio, viewing angles, ambient lighting inside the space, the color of the walls around the screen and behind the participants or the effect of the windows on the space depending on the time of day.

Many of these factors - which go beyond the simple technical information found in the product description -- can affect the overall performance of a specific display more than another, and the saying “cheap is expensive” is usually confirmed.

Processing and content management

A system is much more than the mere physical display. Content must travel from the source to the screen without losing a bit of quality. We need to focus on content, in managing the signal that we see on the display and in processing the various sources of different resolutions and/or formats in one or more systems.

Content is brought to the screen using a video extension, a switch or video processing device. And the quality of the content streaming to the display will be crucial for it to look the way it should be seen..

An intuitive processor expressly adapted to a security environment, control room or command and control must provide great flexibility to the end user.

Fuentes

Content is what makes a video collaboration system truly useful and what contributes to the overall experience.

It is necessary that the content comes from the sources themselves, and if this is not consistent, the result, inevitably, will disappoint.

Network connectivity

To connect one location to another or multiple locations, remotely, You must have a good network that makes the connection possible. Elements of a quality system, a reliable infrastructure with sufficient bandwidth, Security aspects and an efficient network architecture and management will have to work in close harmony so that the user enjoys the desired experience..

Without all that, we will suffer the very frequent- latency problems we've all had, unfortunately, experienced and that will deprive us of a truly immersive experience, alive and natural. Today it is more important than ever to have video collaboration solutions in organizations that help develop the business and achieve objectives..

My advice is to consider a system in which even its weakest point is of impeccable quality.. It will be enough to neglect a single aspect of the signal path (be the display, be it the processor or the source) so that the impact of the entire system is negatively affected, robbing users of the illusion of proximity, to share the same space.

Manufacturers that produce complete ranges of display solutions and products are those that can guarantee the effectiveness of each element along the entire transmission path, sending a high-quality signal to the screen and offering an immersive and effective video collaboration solution.

Marcos Fernandez

Director of Christie for Spain and Portugal