Getting Rid of Meeting Jitters

PC-based videoconferencing used to feature participants as jittery, computerized talking heads. And the audio rarely was in sync with the video image. To solve that problem, some agencies have turned to videoconferencing technologies that rely on satellite transmission. But the steep price tag has been a barrier to widespread adoption of that technology.

Now, that's changing.

PictureTel Corp. has introduced more affordable videoconferencing products, including the iPower, which runs on high-speed networks. The iPower is a fully functional personal computer outfitted with a microphone and a video camera for videoconferencing.

The iPower 600 series is powered by a 566-MHz Intel Corp. Celeron processor. The 900 series is even more powerful. Both feature dedicated audio and video processors that run the show and take the jitters out of videoconferencing. PictureTel enlisted the help of Intel Corp. and Sharp Electronics Corp. to develop technology that delivers smooth video in sync with high-quality sound for the iPower, says Ned Semonite, PictureTel's executive vice president for marketing.

PictureTel hopes the iPower will become more than just a videoconferencing tool. The iPower can tap into numerous information sources, including other computers and the World Wide Web, allowing multiple users to share the same data at the same time. This means meeting participants throughout the world can simultaneously view a presentation. In networked locations, participants can use the iPower to search for quick answers on the Web or through e-mail during meetings.

Videoconferencing is a critical time- and money-saving tool for agencies. It can be used to avoid travel, Semonite says. "It helps eliminate downtime, thereby enabling executives to meet with people more frequently." Telecommuters who have extensive needs for collaboration and real-time information sharing can benefit from the iPower. It's powerful enough to be used as a primary computer. The iPower 600 series begins at $7,000, while the more sophisticated and powerful 900 series starts at $11,500.

Numerous government agencies have purchased the iPower, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA is using the technology to improve coordination among federal agencies, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations during emergencies.

HARDWARE

Apple Orchards

There was a time when computer users had to search far and wide to find software and hardware vendors that supported the Apple platform. But those days are over. Portland, Ore. based LaCie offers options for all the new iMac and Power Mac desktops.

LaCie makes numerous storage devices for Apple products. These include an external CD Rewritable drive-the PocketDrive CD-RW-that could be a boon to iMac users who lack such removable media as a 3.5-inch floppy drive.

A different flavor of the PocketDrive functions as an external hard drive. With storage ranging from 10 to 30 gigabytes, the PocketDrive is designed for mobile professionals as well as graphics users-who may need to transport large files that are unsuitable for e-mail.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling

The experts at monitor powerhouse NEC-Mitsubishi Electronics Display have figured out how to reduce the cost of manufacturing flat-panel monitors. And they are passing on those savings to customers.

Flat-panel, or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors, are made from two pieces of glass that sandwich a set of electronics. NEC-Mitsubishi has discovered how to double its glass manufacturing capacity.

The LCD1800 and LCD 1830 monitors have dropped in price from $1,899 to $1,149. NEC-Mitsubishi also has dropped the price of the LCD1530V, a 15-inch monitor that now goes for $549 instead of $749. These monitors have a viewable area comparable to the 17-inch cathode ray tube (CRT) behemoths that grace desktops in offices just about everywhere.

Al Giazzon, vice president of marketing for NEC-Mitsubishi, says the United States lags behind Japan and Europe in adopting LCD technology. Still, usage is growing in America. The federal government is one of the largest buyers of flat-panel monitors, Giazzon says.