When businesses want to add video conferencing capabilities within their organization to allow for more “face to face” collaboration, cameras are usually on the top of the list of most important “must-haves”. And rightfully so. A good video experience is essential to effective communication. It quickly becomes confusing, however, for business owners to sift through the plethora of manufacturers, each claiming to have the “best” solution for any given application. With so many factors to weigh, such as size of room, panning and zooming capabilities, lighting and more, even the savviest technology decision maker can benefit from seeking the services of a professional AV collaboration system professional who understands what equipment will work best for their application.
VIDEO CAMERAS COME IN ALL FLAVORS
When looking at specifications you will see terms like “POV” (Point of View), “PTZ” (Pan, Tilt, Zoom), Field of View, Digital or Optical Zoom, intelligent zoom, along with many others. Each plays an important roll in determining the best camera for your application and how the users will interact with it. All cameras are good at showing an image with people in it, but not all cameras provide the same results.
SEEING EYE-TO-EYE
The objective of the collaboration systems designer is to create a video experience that provides a natural view of all participants on the call. When people “feel” they are sitting at the same table, collaboration over video is most impactful and generally enjoys a much higher acceptance rate over systems that have poorly matched camera systems. Participants need to see each other’s faces with detail, so they can determine reaction and emotion, which is the most powerful attribute of video collaboration over audio calls. Just seeing that someone is on the other side of the call is not enough!
Systems designers will consider room size, distances of participants from the camera, degree of the furthest right and left of the camera, viewing angles, camera connectivity, and the expected user experience to determine the best camera for the requirement. Additionally, the system the camera is connecting to also determines if a camera needs to have USB or direct video connectivity. If so, extenders may be required to ensure full video resolution and operation. The notion of “plug and play” really is not a reality in creating the optimal experience in a meeting space.
The good news is, video cameras of all types have come down in price making it affordable to have the right camera for the right application while providing the best user experience. Your video collaboration systems pros here at Logic Integration can provide you with the best camera for your application! Ready to make your meetings more productive? Let’s get started!