Telepresence Interoperability is Here! Bob Dixon, Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet)_ Internet2 Fall member Meeting October 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

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

The Four Levels of Videoconferencing 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

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

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.

Tandberg Telepresence

Polycom Telepresence

LifeSize Telepresence

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.

Videoconferencing Interoperability by Level 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. 11

Desktop Collaboration Tools Collaboration tools have traditionally had stone walls between each other.

Standard Video Conferencing Desktop Collaboration Tools Standard Video Conferencing High-Definition Standard Video Conferencing Collaboration tools have traditionally had a stone wall between themselves and industry standard video conferencing.

Desktop Collaboration Tools Standard Video Conferencing High-Definition Standard Video Conferencing Standard definition and high definition video conferencing work well together.

Desktop Collaboration Tools Standard Video Conferencing High-Definition Standard Video Conferencing 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.

Desktop Collaboration Tools Standard Video Conferencing High-Definition Standard Video Conferencing We are now seeing interoperability between some collaboration tools and industry standard video conferencing

Telepresence systems have had stone walls between each other. Tele Presence

Tele Presence Some telepresence systems have had gaps in the wall between themselves and industry standard video conferencing. Standard Video Conferencing High-Definition Standard Video Conferencing Tele Presence

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 Conferencing High-Definition Standard Video Conferencing Tele Presence

UNIVERSAL INTEROPERABILITY ! Desktop Collaboration Tools Standard Video Conferencing High-Definition Standard Video Conferencing Tele Presence

Telepresence Interoperability Demo for Internet2 Conference Oct 6, 2009. San Antonio, Texas (updated 2 Oct 09) Tandberg T3 3-screen TP Oporto,Portugal Polycom TPX 3-screen TP San Antonio, TX Polycom RPX 2-screen TP At Iformata Dayton, OH Tandberg T3 3-screen TP Lisbon,Portugal Either/Or Polycom RSS Recorder in Berrein Springs, MI Tandberg TP Server (MCU) at IBM Yorktown Heights, NY Polycom RMX MCU at OSU Columbus, OH Tandberg T3 3-screen TP at Tandberg, via IBM Research Location TBD LifeSize Room100 3-screen TP At OARNet Columbus, OH Either/Or Cisco CTS3000 3-screen TP at IBM Research Hawthorne, NY Tandberg Recorder at IBM Research Almaden, CF Polycom RPX 4-screen TP At IBM Research Armonk, NY Polycom Simulated 3-screen TP at IBM Rsrch Yorktown, NY Polycom TPX 3-screen TP Andover, MA Bob Dixon