22. HDX 9004 Video Outputs (4) Video Inputs (5) Analog Audio I/O (3 IN / 2 Out) Digital Audio (4 Mic Arrays) RS 232 (2) POTS Bay for Circuit-Switched Modules ENET AC Power USB 1394 IR Receiver
23. Polycom: HD Without Compromise * No HD systems available at this time.
Assumes the audience has been introduced to UltimateHD with the other presentation – so just briefly touch on the fact that each component is critical to a true HD experience. If not, then…. Another way of describing true HD without compromise – is Ultimate HD. Let’s look at the components of UltimateHD. HD Voice – Audio is considered by most users to be the most critical aspect of any video conference. If participants are seen clearly, but can’t be heard or understood, the video conference will most likely be shut down. HD voice includes all aspects of the audio experience and ensures that everyone in the room is heard clearly with minimal background noise – and that any media played is integrated seamlessly into the conference. HD Video – HD video has been defined by the ATSC as a minimum of 720p at 24fps, using the H.264 standard. But this isn’t the only video aspect that is important. Users need to be able to attach multiple HD cameras and other HD sources – and it all needs to be standards-based so that when the system is not in an HD call, it can call any other video conferencing system on the network HD Content – for some applications, content in HD is even more critical than video in HD. Examples include distance learning where the content is a space shuttle launch or tour of a museum, telemedicine where the content is a brain-scan, or x-ray, enterprise where the content is an intricate blueprint or piece of textile with specific colors and patterns. In all of these examples, the content being shared is critical and can only be shared over video conference IF it is being shared in HD. HD Infrastructure – a point-to-point HD solution will not provide an UltimateHD experience – the MCU and other components in the network also need to be able to handle HD traffic and work seamlessly with HD solutions. Recording HD calls will be very important in some applications like telemedicine, education and judicial arraignment – just to name a few. The ability to archive and show those recordings in HD is also important. And lastly – it is critical that any vendor creating and selling HD video conferencing solutions has a full suite of HD services including assistance with network planning and design, deploying and integrating HD solutions, servicing and maintaining those solutions, and training the end users on the features and benefits of those solutions.
Twitching eyes; quivering lips
Polycom offers a wide range of video conferencing systems from the desktop to performance grade products. The Office and Conference Room segments feature our brand new product lines with the V500 and VSX product family. Shown here are three distinct system categories and the associated products. Desktop: Frodo is our software solution designed to install on any PC and pair with a Web Cam for quality video calling. ViaVideo II is our desktop system designed to plug into any PC’s USB port and is perfect for travel and portability. Office : V500……. VSX 3000….. Conference Room: Entry: VSX 7000……… Mainstream: VSX 7400………….. VSX 7800 Performance : VSX 8400 ………………. VSX 8800 It is important to understand that, although the VSX product family is the primary product line up for the Conference Room, Polycom continues to offer the ViewStation 128 as an Entry level product, the ViewStation EX and FX continue to be available in the Mainstream category and theVS4000 and iPower 9000 Series are still good solutions for Performance minded customers.
Video Input 1: I would recommend removing the DVI format, as our current cabling solutions do not expose this format to any camera other than EagleEye. It is possible in the future that we could build a cable that supports this, but right now we don’t have one. If it is important to indicate support for digital HD input even if just from EagleEye, then perhaps we should for now call it something like “Polycom Digital HD” or something like that to make it clear that it is only via the EagleEye camera that you get digital video in on this port. Video Inputs 1-3: There is a footnote at the bottom that says that Input 3 can be controlled via the serial port. It should probably also be noted that inputs 1 and 2 have dedicated serial control ports built-in to the HDCI port, so in practice inputs 1-3 support cameras with controllable PTZ. Video Input 3: Note that the current back panel lists this as “VCR/DVD” Video Input 3: there is no RGB support on this input- remove it. Video inputs 4-5: Component input has been dropped from first release, so should be removed from the table.
Fade and add another line at the bottom: End-to-end HD solution – Polycom is the only one checked.
While Tandberg claims to deliver 720p – the truth is that they are delivering 1280 x 720 at less than 15fps, which is not 720p. 720p is specifically defined as 1280 x 720 at 24-60fps – and this is considered HD video quality. Lifesize can deliver 720p, but does not have a complete HD solution. Only Polycom will deliver UltimateHD now at 720p, 30fps and in the future at higher frame rates and higher resolution.