HaiVision Launches MAKO-HD TelePresence Codec Version 8.1

Custom Search

What’s the difference between Video Conferencing and Telepresence?

Telepresence picks up where video conferencing left off. Telepresence IS real time, full-high-definition, immersible sound and vision. Telepresence IS most importantly: the feeling of being “there” when you’re “here”. Telepresence is lifelike, video conferencing is not. Telepresence is that hi-line Mercedes AMG, video conferencing is a Ford Escort - Period.

Why Telepresence now?

Video conferencing has been around a while now but has always lacked the feeling we spoke about above. Jumpy computer screens, broken audio and poor lighting add to the impersonal touches of video conferencing (ie slow motion camcorder on top of your computer monitor). Finally, technology, bandwidth, vision and sound have all converged on video conferencing to create the telepresence experience. It’s about time! Crystal clear surround sound and real-time full-high-definition visual effects enhance the feeling of being there – thus telepresence. That nervous twitch, roll of the eyes, sniffle, tap of the foot – things you see when you’re present and sitting across a conference room table – things you don’t see or feel from video conferencing, but do with telepresence.

Today, what “real” uses are there for Telepresence?

There is no short answer even possible here. We’ll name a few, more like we’ll put your imagination to work. Imagine a single specialist doctor in Canada treating patients in Haiti via telepresence. Robots in space doing the actual work while the telepresence operator dons his telepresence helmet and gloves at his workstation in Texas. Meeting your Russian company vice president while you’re in the executive telepresence room at the office in Denver. Just a few…

What are “real” savings of Telepresence?

Your imagination still working on the last answer? Don’t let up yet! What carbon footprint? Don’t need that airplane ticket to go check on your staff in Russia now do you? What lost life in the Iraqi war? Unmanned drones and soldiers via telepresence. Military and combat cost savings? Immeasurable. Less travel costs, airline frustration, fuel, lost time, carbon emissions, etc. Those are tangible, real savings to name just a very limited few.

You starting to see what telepresence can do that video conferencing can’t? We hope you see what we’re seeing! Telepresence – its time has arrived!

Check out the video thread in Section 8 of the Telepresence Forum where you can watch some Telepresence YouTube videos! If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video must be worth a million!

Ride on the "Next Plane of Existence" TM

(PRWEB) June 10, 2008 -- HaiVision Systems Inc. (Montreal, Canada), the world's leading vendor of performance H.264 network video codecs, today announces version 8.1 of its MAKO-HD codec technology for telepresence. In addition to its industry leading high definition performance of 70 millisecond latency for up to 1080p resolution, HaiVision has incorporated into the MAKO-HD dual stream technology, WXGA support, HiLo streaming, and graphics overlay to satisfy the most demanding telepresence and streaming applications.

With the new dual stream feature the MAKO-HD can now support both the inputs for HD video and computer signals simultaneously. The computer streams (full H.264) at up to WXGA 1280x768 and full motion 60 frames per second can be transmitted to multiple network locations either in multicast or unicast and, optionally, can be recorded synchronously with the video in real-time.

MAKO-HD version 8.1 also supports HiLo streaming whereby a single encoder can be set to simultaneously transmit a low resolution replica of its high definition stream for session monitoring and web based media distribution. This is particularly useful when bridging high performance video sessions to internet content delivery systems such as Flash web video servers by Wowza Media.

HaiVision has also incorporated a graphics overlay feature within both the encoder and decoder sections of the MAKO-HD codec. This allows for easy identification of source and destination streams and displays as well as elegant logo insertion.

"We are very pleased with the maturity of the MAKO-HD product," states Peter Maag, HaiVision's VP of Marketing. "With the MAKO-HD 8.1 features, we further enhance our capability within telepresence and pave the way for exciting new media distribution opportunities.

See MAKO-HD - The TelePresence Codec at InfoComm (Las Vegas, June 18-20) - HaiVision booth C2443.

For more information on the MAKO-HD and HaiVision's entire line of H.264 encoder and decoder systems, please visit HaiVision's download center at http://www.haivision.com/account/downloads/.

About HaiVision Systems Inc.

Based in Montreal, Canada, HaiVision Systems Inc. is a private company and a world leader in delivering the most advanced video networking technology. HaiVision's products are deployed worldwide within the foremost telepresence suites and boardrooms, in healthcare facilities for video collaboration and training, for continuous presence distance education and remote learning, and within broadcast for remote interviews, IPTV, and content distribution.

For further information, please contact:

Peter Maag                

HaiVision Systems Inc.    

Tel: (514) 334-5445            

Email: pmaag (at) haivision.com

Web: www.haivision.com

###