We recently signed up for a Webex account which allows us to host online
presentations and teleconferences. We have also used Skype for video
conferencing and we've even tried it using our phones. The quality is not great
but it works.
Then I read yesterday about Cisco's TelePresence product. Here you have true
video conferencing capabilities where you communicate with life size screens
and surround sound audio that really looks like you could be in the same room.
There is a brief (very cheesy) video on their web site that's worth a look.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7060/index.html
Interestingly one of the big selling points so far is the green
credentials (or how much money is saved in air travel) that the big companies
around the world are now concerned with. Cisco estimate they will save $50
million in travel cost alone themselves by using the TelePresence product and
the executive have it in their homes. It is expected that similar (but much
cheaper) versions will be in homes in the next couple of years. Puts a new
imperative on working from home.