Is it possible that high definition doesn't make everything better?
Possibly, yesterday Polycom unveiled their new videoconferencing platform to a decidedly unimpressed reaction. Even though users of their existing videoconferencing equipment will only need a software upgrade to support high definition (1280x 720, 30fps) video, and ahead of their competitors, even the company's own executives are nonplussed. Apparently being able to see your boss across the country in stunning high definition first thing in the morning isn't quite the killer app, not to mention knowing your boss can see you and the sleep in the corner of your eye. Also, the necessary 1 MB/s bandwidth is a bit hard to come by for most, but those with Internet2 hookups can spare it, so look for universities and health care facilities will probably be the first to make use of it.The real problem is that not everyone is as forward thinking as I am, they will see the error in their ways when the hot chick in the office decides to start telecommuting.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
shafique @ Oct 20th 2005 2:56AM
wow i would never want to see my boss's pock-marked nasty face in the morning in crisp high-definition. come to think of it, i wouldn't want to get up close like that with anyone in my office. i'll stick to emails.
Buzzcut @ Oct 20th 2005 10:05AM
You guys aren't thinking right. The killer app is not corporate meetings. It's porn.
HD webcams and porn. Perfect together. Not that I know anything about this topic personally, of course.
James Varghese @ Oct 21st 2005 2:18PM
Buzzcut,
Do you realllllly want to see porn "stars" in high-def? I mean...the guy who was in charge of HD over at Playboy gave up on the job because apparently, the girls weren't pretty enough. If you figure that porn stars are people who for the most part couldn't get into playboy - well, that's not really a pretty picture.
Richard Lawler @ Oct 21st 2005 4:12PM
All three of you make very powerful arguments. I honestly have nothing to add.