[AG-TECH] Polycom ViaVideo

[Gary Refka]

We've been poking around in this area but have not tried the Polycom device
yet but we have had success with some other devices that provide the echo
cancellation needed.  We use these devices for the single user system that
we offer and don't see these working in a full Access Grid environment.
These devices just don't offer the coverage required for the large spaces
that most nodes are in.  A Soundsation type device works but as you stated,
only for a smaller room or area.

Gary A. Refka
Senior Sales Engineer
INSORS Integrated Communications, Inc.
111 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1412
Chicago, IL 60604
Email: grefka at insors.com
On the Web: www.insors.com
(847)922-8950

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov [mailto:owner-ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov]On
Behalf Of David E. Bernholdt
Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2001 1:22 PM
To: ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov
Cc: bernholdtde at ornl.gov
Subject: [AG-TECH] Polycom ViaVideo


Polycom makes a USB camera with built-in audio, including echo
cancellation. This is sold as an H.323 device, but I was just curious
if anyone might be experimenting with this in an mbone/AG context?

With the built-in echo cancellation, it seems like it might be a
convenient device to use in "personal AG" nodes or similar small
setups. But I'm not optimistic, since I've seen nothing to suggest a
"software developers kit" or any APIs that might allow you to get at
the raw data streams.  Nor has web searching turned up any indication
of people messing around with these (i.e. nothing about Linux drivers,
etc.)

Is anyone experimenting with less expensive audio techniques (echo
cancellation) that might be suitable for small sites?  For example, it
seems to me that a good full-duplex conferencing telephone
(i.e. Polycom SoundStation) with a QuickJack card or something similar
might work.

Just curious.
--
David E. Bernholdt                   |   Email: bernholdtde at ornl.gov
Oak Ridge National Laboratory        |   Phone: +1 (865) 574 3147
http://www.csm.ornl.gov/~bernhold/   |   Fax:   +1 (865) 574 0680