EM VIDEO COMMUNICATION ith the excitement over personal video communication, group systems are easy to overlook. As personal conferencing systems accommodate single users at multiple locations, group systems accommodate multiple viewers in a single location. Personal conferees operate from a desk a mobile device; group- system viewers convene in a conference room. Set-top appliances and PC-based conference room systems have matured to dominate the video communication industry. Room-based video communication system sales are exploding at the departmental, small office, and branch location level. The reason is that they offer innovative technologies, useful operator features, ease-of-set-up and ease-of-use, reduced support needs, and lower price points. A Wainhouse Research survey found 75% of respondents to use appliance-based group systems, and less than 30% to use PC-based group systems. Appliance-based systems also edged out software-based systems at the desktop. For a few thousand dollars, one can buy a high performance, integrated, easy-to use group system. Systems commonly include powerful embedded web capabilities and integrated web-based presentation and collaboration systems. This is significant since most users say that they used presentations graphics software during a video conference. At the heart of a group system is the electronics module that supports the codec. This module also includes audio and video plug-in jacks, and provides an interface to the network. It is usually integrated with other components (a monitor, camera, speakers and a microphone) and either cabinet- or cart-mounted. In the past, systems integrators bought the codec and applied their expertise to tie in monitors, cameras, audio, PC-graphics, document presentation, and projection systems. Today, manufacturers largely integrate that into systems. Video Communications: The Whole Picture 605000 Figure 13-1. Roll-About System (courtesy of VCON). Cabinet- or cart-oriented systems with wheels are known as roll-abouts. Most group syste