Vidyo has beefed up its telepresence portfolio with a solution called VidyoPanorama that delivers 1080p HD video at 60fps (frames per second), supporting multiple screens. The company estimates its new video communications system costs are up to 90% less than competing telepresence alternatives.
Readers may recall that Vidyo also uses a software-based, switched video based on H.264 SVC standards, removing the need for a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) to support multiple screens. Current compression techniques allow the VidyoPanorama system to use (on a per-screen basis) about 500Kbps for 720p video at 30fps, ranging up to 2Mbps per screen for 1080p video at 60fps.
IN DEPTH: Vidyo telepresence will let more sites join in
The company’s VidyoPanorama system works with other Vidyo products so users can participate from a “VidyoMobile” device, a “VidyoDesktop” or a ” VidyoRoom” two-screen system. All Vidyo products are designed to work over the public Internet, and the VidyoPanorama system uses off-the shelf HDTVs as monitors. VidyoPanorama supports up to nine screens today, with plans to enable up to 20 screens in the future, providing customized video layout and application sharing. The solution consists of an application that controls the decoding of video across multiple screens, an executive tablet, an off-the-shelf high-definition camera and audio system.
In a prepared statement, Ofer Shapiro, CEO and co-founder of Vidyo, said, “VidyoPanorama breaks [is] the first to deliver the screen real estate required to have full interaction in large group meetings at full 1080p 60fps with immersive interactions and seamless flexibility to engage from telepresence rooms, desktops or mobile devices running over every day networks.”
U.S. list prices for VidyoPanorama range from $40,000 for a 720p /60fps four-screen system up to $60,000 for a nine-screen system with 1080p /60fps. The new solution will be in beta trials with customers and partners starting in August and will be generally available in Q4.
