Technology Resources

The Advantages Of Bluetooth
By Tristan Bailey

If you have heard of Bluetooth technology but are not sure what it is or how it works you may be wondering why more and more people are using it in their everyday lives. There are many advantages to using Bluetooth technology which can make using electronic devices that little bit easier.

As you may already know, Bluetooth was created as an alternative to using cables and wires so that electronic devices can communicate with each other without linking them together. The advantages of using wireless technology are obvious as you will no longer need to worry about taking connection cables with you wherever you go.

Bluetooth has quickly become the universal wireless standard technology and because it operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which is license free, its available and compatible worldwide. This will allow you to use the technology all over the world no matter where you are.

The technology is also very easy to use because when any two or more electronic devices that are equipped with Bluetooth enter a range of up to 30 feet they will automatically start communicating with each other without any action needed to be taken by the user. There is no need to set up a connection, install any software, or push any buttons.

Although its an advanced technology, Bluetooth is actually inexpensive and easily affordable so anyone can take advantage it and start using it. It is also a standardised wireless platform and has a high level of compatibility which means that any two devices can connect with each other, even if they are different models.

Bluetooth has been designed to conserve energy and operate at low power levels which is essential for any wireless device that relies on battery power. It also uses a system called frequency hopping which improves security and allows it to avoid any interference from other devices that use the same frequency band.

The compatibility of Bluetooth allows devices to easily share data and voice communications which is perfect for things like mobile phones and headsets. It also uses a Personal Area Network or PAN which allows any device to connect with as many as seven other devices at the same time within a range of up to 30 feet.

To find out what is bluetooth just go here: http://www.what-is-bluetooth.com

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The Coming of Age of Video Conferencing
By Amy Linley

The art of meetings has come a long way. It started with two people standing face-to-face to talk. It progressed to people from different place sitting down together in a boardroom to people in different places talking on a conference call at the same time. The pinnacle - so far - is taking those people in different places in a conference call, and adding video through their computers so they can both see and hear each other.

What if you are already using conference calls to save money? Why would you want to add video as well? On a conference call, you can hear the tones and inflections of your participants and gauge their demeanor, mood, and attitude. If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is live video worth? You could be able to see the subtle expression changes in your participants and see what they really think. You could look them in the eye and know they will get the job done.

Another reason to do video conferences is to deal with a naughty human behavior trait almost everyone has: multi-tasking. When someone is talking on a conference call, the temptation is almost too great not to check your email, finish that memo, or look at your schedule for the day. We are probably all guilty of this at one time or another, but the tell-tale signs are there. We suddenly hear our name spoken on the conference call and are jerked away from an email and we say, “I’m sorry, could you repeat that? What was the question?”

While multi-tasking is an excellent skill to have, there is a time and a place for it. On a video conference, you can’t be looking away for long periods of time, or under your desk fixing those pesky wires. You - and your participants - are held accountable by video to stay in the moment and at the meeting. Studies have shown that video conferences extend participants attention span and allow much less distractions. This means that your meetings will be much more productive.

And let’s not deny it, having people from all around the world looking and talking to one another is just plain cool!

Once you’ve decided to take the next step to video conferencing, what equipment will you need? Of course there isn’t just one solution for every company. You’ll have to look at what kind of video conferences best serve your company’s needs.

The top of the line, full body or life-size from the chest up video conference experience fits nicely into the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” You will have the most realistic picture, no choppy pictures, no hang-ups and it will cost many thousands of dollars. Setups like these require dedicated T-1 lines, special equipment and monitors on ALL sides of the conference, and they cannot be moved.

Let’s look at other, more feasible options. If the quality and clearness of the view is your primary concern, you may want to consider a digital video camera. This would also be a good choice if you want to have an entire board room in your shots. These cameras are the more expensive choice, but electronics prices get more and more reasonable each day. Look for one that has USB or firewire outputs — faster than USB - and of course, can connect with online applications.

The final option for video conferencing is the webcam. Webcams are inexpensive - up to $200, but average is $30 - and easy to use. In fact, many laptops are being made with a webcam built-in. Your ideal webcam has 640×480 resolution, 30 Frames Per Second, and uses CCD technology. All of these specs will be listed on the side of the box. Webcams may be your ideal solution as their picture quality is good, they are inexpensive, and are easily transportable.

Video conferencing is not new, but the level of quality, expense, and ease of use are now such that it makes good sense to add it to your business arsenal.

Amy Linley gives practical and usable advice regarding video conferencing at AccuConference.

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