Despite significant advances in peripheral devices like webcams and audio head-sets, real-time collaboration is not close to being real. It's not entirely surprising - the bar is still quite high in terms of what the user is expected to do in order to have a good audio/video conversation. There are many issues beyond the user's primary control - bandwidth, network latency, incompatible or insufficient system setups, poorly designed and expensive devices, background noise etc.
Apple has figured out one solution using its
iChat software. Offer a full featured audio and video experience only if ALL participants in the conference meet ALL the requirements. For starters, everyone needs to have at least a G3 Mac! If participating in video, everyone needs to have an
iSight camera (most Macs now have it built in). Take a look at the requirements. Of-course it will work! Given that Apple's core clientele (albeit very small) is comprised of high end consumers who demand the best, this high bar of setup requirements is not much of a problem and works for them.
HP has recently introduced a new tool called '
Halo' which is considered a breakthrough in virtual conferencing. This new tool allows remote teams to "meet" in a half-virtual, half-physical room. Developed by special-effects wizards at DreamWorks Animation SKG (the studio behind Shrek) and HP, the Halo "studios" are used by Pepsico, Procter & Gamble, and Novartis, among others. The eerily realistic system allows for more frequent collaborations, reduces travel costs, and increases productivity.
But is there a tool for the masses? I think that one that does stand out (in current and relative terms) is
Macromedia Breeze. Macromedia (now Adobe) has done a wonderful job of integrating the various conferencing ‘channels’ – audio, video, presentations, polling, text chat, white-boarding, attendee management, meeting recording etc. Breeze also takes care of audio mixing. I’d highly recommend everyone to try out this application. On the consumer end, both
Yahoo! and
MSN have brought high-quality audio-video communication to the masses. Their recent
interop announcement bridges two huge networks at the text-messaging level.
I hope to see the following trends in the near future that will help lower the bar on RTC.
- PC companies will take a cue from Apple and do tighter device integration with their hardware.
- Broadband adoption will continue to rise. This will make bandwidth a non-issue.
- New RTC related standards (like the DOD’s ISWG) will emerge that will compel vendors to interop at some level. It may start with messaging and will work its way up.
