State-of-the art information and communication technology (ICT) makes it increasingly easy for people the world over to communicate in real-time. Perhaps the pinnacle of communication technology is Video Conferencing (VC) which enables virtual interaction to take place between business colleagues from different sites or remote sites, as if they are situated right next to each other.

1. WHITEPAPER
Video Conferencing – bringing together
business colleagues from across the world
By Ludwig Sabor, Project Manager, EES
State-of-the art information and communication technology (ICT) makes it increasingly easy for
people the world over to communicate in real-time. Perhaps the pinnacle of communication
technology is Video Conferencing (VC) which enables virtual interaction to take place between
business colleagues from different sites or remote sites, as if they are situated right next to each other.

2. ABOUT EES:
Established in 2001, EES provides management, engineering and auditing services.
As an ISO 9001:2008 certified company, we specialise in the integration of mul-
tiple system infrastructure including ICT, Data Centres, Audio Visual, Life Safety,
Security and Building Automation Systems. With over 180 successful projects to date,
EES operates predominantly in the Renewable Energy, Oil & Gas, Financial Services,
Infrastructure, Utilities, Telecoms and Mining sectors.
EES is committed to proactively assisting clients reduce their carbon footprint and
facilitate the development of a ‘green’ commercial environment. With offices in
Johannesburg, Cape Town and Stellenbosch, EES plays a key role in mission criti-
cal environments in Africa. Having successfully delivered on numerous international
projects, our clients, partners and stakeholders benefit from the company’s global
knowledge and expertise.
CONTENTS
Page 2 What Does Video Conferencing Involve?
Page 2 What is Required for VC?
Page 2 Automation in the VC Room
Page 2 Technological Advances
Page 3 Local Bridge vs Hosted Bridge or Virtual Meeting Room
Page 3 A VMR Addresses
Page 3 A Typical VC Installation for a Small Meeting Room
Page 3 The Fully Immersive VC Experience
Page 3 Conclusion
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EES Cape Town office:
G11 Silverberg Terrace
3 Silverwood Close
Steenberg Office Park
Cape Town 7945
PO Box 31322, Tokai 7966
Western Cape, South Africa
Email: info@eeslive.com
Tel: +27 (0)21 702 8340
Fax: +27 (0) 86 532 4481
EES Johannesburg office:
Block A, Wedgefield Office Park
17 Muswell Road
Bryanston
Johannesburg 2021
PO Box 68383, Bryanston 2021
Johannesburg, South Africa
Email: info@eeslive.com
Tel: +27 (0)10 590 6270
Fax: +27 (0) 86 532 4481
EES Stellenbosch office:
18 Tegno Road
Techno Park
Stellenbosch 7599
PO Box 31322, Tokai 7966
Western Cape, South Africa
Email: info@eeslive.com
Tel: +27 (0)21 200 5939
Fax: +27 (0) 86 532 4481

3. VIDEO CONFERENCING - Bringing together
business colleagues from across the world
October 2013
What Does Video Conferencing Involve?
VC utilises audio and video technology to bring people in
different locations together for a meeting or conference.
This meeting can be between two individuals (point-to-
point) or between multiple parties (multi-point). VC is
the logical step after Teleconferencing, introducing the
aspect of video to this virtual meeting. The added di-
mension of video introduces the ability to share content
such as documents and computer-displayed information
in the conferences. VC infrastructure can vary from be-
ing as simple as an application for use with a desktop
computer to entire auditoriums fitted out with multiple
displays, cameras and microphones. Each application,
with its different requirement (broadcasting, recording,
presentation etc.) will have a unique solution, which will
determine amount, complexity and orientation of equip-
ment and software.
Key reasons many companies have moved into VC:
• VC cuts down on travelling costs by allowing
meetings to happen remotely
• With content sharing, it transcends merely
displaying a face on a monitor, by making it
possible for either party to share documents with
all participants
• It enables flexibility. The ability to dial in from a
fixed line, cell phone, tablet etc. allows participants
to make a voice-call into the VC environment,
making it “backwards compatible” i.e. it can work
in conjunction with an older product or technology
What is Required for VC?
Camera: This will record and transmit images over the
network. Built-in webcams for laptops are sufficient for
one to two people, but for more participants, better
quality cameras will be required. Other factors to con-
sider are lens angle, zoom functionality etc, which is in-
fluenced by room size, intended amount of participants
etc. Position and orientation of additional cameras is also
a key factor to consider, depending on the functionality
of the installation, for example additional information to
be displayed. Cameras are available in standard defini-
tion and high definition.
Display: A display is required to view images, broadcasts or content from
remote parties. Depending on the content and number of participants, ad-
ditional displays may be introduced. These can be used to display multiple
participants or additional inputs and content such as documents or pres-
entations. Displays can be projector driven or monitor based depending on
the size and light quality of the room.
Speakers: For most point-to-point sessions, a USB headset from a laptop
can suffice, but depending on requirements, additional speakers may be
required. These are normally catered for in custom-built VC rooms. Ceiling
speakers ensure a spread of sound allowing directional sound systems to
provide life-like audio.
Microphone: Microphones and speakers are selected based on session
requirements, size of venue and acoustics. Single point microphones place
at the front of a room is the cost effective solution for small rooms. Alterna-
tives are mobile microphones or noise cancelling distributed microphones
installed either on the desk or in the ceiling.
Codec: For purpose-built rooms, a video coder/decoder (codec) is re-
quired. This is software running on physical hardware dedicated to: i) en-
code/decode audio and video, ii) compress/decompress audio and video
and iii) transmit/receive data from connected parties. The algorithms on
codecs improve by the day as research in the field of compression is quickly
adopted. These codecs support ISDN, IP or both.
Internet connection: With improving technology and increasing
bandwidth, the quality of calls is increasing. Better compression ratios
and codecs have been responsible for increased performance and reduced
bandwidth usage, which translates directly into better call quality.
Room: The architectural nature and interior design of the room contribute
significantly to the ease with which connected rooms can integrate. Factors
to consider are acoustic design, lighting, furniture heights, room depth and
signage.
Automation in the VC Room
Automation enhances functionality in the VR room and enables complete
control of all electrical equipment. Not only does this include equipment
such as a power-driven projector screen, projector, camera and audio re-
ceiver, but also encompasses facilities such as automated blinds and light-
ing. All these electronic devices can be operated by means of a single re-
mote control unit, touchscreen, touch panel or iPad. At the touch of a
button VC equipment comes to life and lights automatically dim, and your
conference room is ready for VC. Automation allows greater flexibility. It
enables conference participants to concentrate on the subject at hand, and
in so doing facilitates increased collaboration and productivity.
Technological Advances
H.264 AVC protocol is the most commonly used format for recording, com-
pression and distribution of high definition video and is widely accepted
as the industry standard. This “standardisation” also addresses issues with
vendors designing proprietary protocols, effectively limiting their clientele
to using their specific equipment. Furthermore, standardisation allows a
broader community of experts in the industry to develop technologies on
the same platform.
Depending on the codec, it is possible to record, stream and broadcast VC
sessions, creating the capability and flexibility of remote training.
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4. VIDEO CONFERENCING - Bringing together
business colleagues from across the world
October 2013
Local Bridge vs Hosted Bridge or Virtual
Meeting Room
VC calls can be created as a point-to-point system. If
additional functionality is required, the basic configura-
tion of the codec becomes inadequate and a bridge is
required. VC calls can be connected via a local bridge,
where the physical hardware is installed at one of the
participants’ premises, or via a hosted bridge, where a
third party manages and maintains all equipment re-
motely, and participants connect to the bridge via ISDN
or IP. A remotely-operated, hosted bridge reduces con-
gestion on the host’s network. It also mitigates the risk
to the VC, as the local host’s network stability presents
a single point of failure in the case of a local bridge. A
company which manages and maintains a multipoint
hosted bridge or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), will have
staff, equipment and facilities dedicated to the upkeep
thereof. They perform a managed service.
A VMR Addresses:
• Vendor compatibility issues. All participants dial in
irrespective of hardware or software versions.
• Connectivity quality issues. By providing traffic
shaping, everyone connects at the best quality
that their line speed can handle, not at the slowest
participant’s speed. This also reduces overall latency
and deteriorated call quality experienced by the
bridge host due to local congestion, as the bridge is
hosted remotely.
• Reduced maintenance. As it is a remotely hosted
and managed solution, the client does not need to
have staff dedicated to manage and maintain
VC equipment.
A typical VC installation for a Small
Meeting Room
The following technology is needed:
• Camera – The VSX 6000 camera is best suited for
a small conference room. The system incorporates
the use of an integrated PTZ camera and midrange
speaker, a digital tabletop microphone and built-in
IP network connectivity.
• Visual Concert VSX – This unit allows for PCs
and laptops to share digital content with
participants via LAN.
• Presentation Switcher/Scaler – This device
scales the video, embeds the audio and outputs to
various formats such as HDMI, RGBHV on BNC
connector and VGA, as well as resolutions such as
1024 x 768, 1600 x 900, 720p, 1080i/p simultaneously.
• Media Controller – The media controller is
the heart of the automation environment, controlling
inputs from and outputs to the various systems,
which include AV, VC, air-conditioning, blinds etc.
This unit is furnished with two built-in COM ports,
for IR/Serial ports, four, I/O Versiports, four isolated
relays and Ethernet for control of video projectors,
plasma displays, switchers, DVD players and screens.
Additional control ports may be added by using
expansion modules or by slaving additional
control processors.
The Fully Immersive VC Experience
The next step is the fully immersive video conferencing and telepresence
experience. It combines the highest quality voice and video technology
to provide a real-as-life collaboration experience with support for a wide
variety of viewing devices, including the ability to view full high definition
from a PC. Telepresence has already been introduced by many big compa-
nies with great success. Because of the big capital investment associated
with the implementation of a system such as this, service providers are also
making this available by offering the rental of equipment and facilities. The
requirements for a telepresence room are far more stringent than that of
a VC room.
Conclusion
VC has made huge inroads into business, education, medicine and media.
Whether it is used in board meetings, university lectures, surgery tutorials
or production meetings, VC provides eye to eye contact across a virtual
desk with remote participants, who feel as though they are communicating
and collaborating while sitting at the same table in the same room.
Written by Ludwig Sabor
Technical Engineer & Project Manager
EES
Tel +27 (0)10 590 6270,
Email info@eeslive.com
Ludwig has been involved in the field of LV Electrical
Engineering in several key projects over the past 7
years, and has recently expanded his knowledge
base into the realm of Project Management.
Qualifications:
- National Diploma (Electrical Engineering)
- Heavy Current (CPUT)
Additional Certificates:
- Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP)
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