DTEN D7 75”
Top of my wishlist for small/medium collaboration rooms is the DTEN D7 75. Basically a self-contained Zoom Rooms alternative that removes the need for a PC, credenza, and miscellaneous items in the room. Little bit spendy, though.
Scopia is one of the systems we have been using at work. When I am unsure of how to get something to work, this is where I go for documentation. Saving this here, just in case my book link gets lost.
Shindig
I (and two of my work colleagues) got a chance to see Shindig in practice last Friday. Shindig is a video collaboration service that is currently in beta. The user interface is particularly impressive – at work we use tools like this on a regular basis, and typically students and faculty need significant assistance to collaborate. Shindig was something that “just worked.”
However, Shindig is still in beta. I get the impression that the company is still trying to find its way, and work out the best way to make money. Thus, the company is now reaching out to education. This could be a tough sell – education does not have money to spare. There a some important features that Shindig does not have just yet, such as:
Additionally, some of the ways that the company markets itself via the website and YouTube sends the wrong message. I get the impression that the company is in a somewhat precarious position.
I hope they make it. I really liked the user interface and basic functionality. Shindig felt like a product where I did not need to crack open the manual.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JwZoQYnnKc&list=PLRhWiq5YAdTtyuCgLxq0-08jxrm1To-NM
http://youtu.be/ICsNKttfsOE
Blue Jeans
A colleague at work suggested I look at Blue Jeans, a web-based videoconferencing service (similar to Google Hangouts or Vidyo). I had never heard of the service until the suggestion. Blue Jeans looks interesting, and does 80% of what Scopia does (another service we use).
Cost seems to be about $50 per user per month. I don’t know if that would be a floating license. I think the service is worth testing, and will try and find some time to do so. Vidyo, their competitor, had a strong product when I looked at it last, so I am wondering how well it competes (in terms of usability and cost) with VidyoH2O for Google Hangouts.