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| EMagazine Volume 4 Issue 6 December 1999 |
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Toys Article - December 99 - [HTI Home Page] |
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CATSTM
A/V Technology Used in State-of-the-Art Federal
Teleconferencing Center A state-of-the-art teleconferencing center built by the U.S. Govt. relies upon the CATSTM video and audio distribution technology from Pragmatic Communications Systems. The total system design for the teleconferencing center is provided by the PictureTel Corporation. |
MORE
INFORMATION Jim
Smith |
ABSTRACT
CATSTM , the revolutionary A/V and multimedia distribution technology from Pragmatic Communications Systems, Inc. will be used to distribute all video and audio signals in the new high-tech teleconferencing center for the US Government. The facility will be operated by the General Services Administration, Federal Technology Service Executive Conference Center (GSA-FTSCC) at WillowWood. The GSA-FTSCC is described as a technology showcase for the Federal Government. The goal is to demonstrate the capabilities of current interactive communication techniques while streamlining the business and planning processes. The facility will have significant capabilities to enable users to communicate powerfully, both locally and at a great distance. A major goal of the GSA-FTSCC is to provide a state-of-the-art teleconferencing facility using commercially available technologies. The design suitable for the new GSA-FTSCC is intended to be used as a “template” for future deployment of videoconferencing within the Federal Government. The capabilities of the room allow powerful presentations to be easily rendered and delivered via a variety of technologies. The opening date of the facility is scheduled for late January, 2000.
DESIGN TEAM
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FACILITY DETAILS
The GSA-FTS Executive Conference Center will support at least eight different conference rooms, including an executive board room. Each room can communicate in real time with any of the others. The board room has many special control and viewing options, including simultaneous interaction capability with up to sixteen remote locations.
The facility will support a number of activities:
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Videoconferencing - for interactive face to face communication
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Business presentations at multiple sites
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Educational meetings and presentations
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Strategic workgroup interactive meetings
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Local business, planning and government meetings
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Full multimedia presentation capabilities
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Production capability for “distance learning” content
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Hub site for streaming media presentations
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Document sharing ability
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Entertainment
There are no inherent limitations on the system regarding transport media. It is extremely important that the users perceive the room as simple to operate. The learning curve to operate the room must be kept to a minimum. There should be very little, if any, user or support technician intervention required to reconfigure the rooms for the typical applications. There should be multiple modes of operation of the space, again without the need for technician intervention.
SUMMARY
A state-of-the-art teleconferencing center built by the U.S. Govt. relies upon the CATSTM video and audio distribution technology from Pragmatic Communications Systems. The total system design for the teleconferencing center is provided by the PictureTel Corporation.
MORE
INFORMATION
Jeff
Springer
Pragmatic
Communications Systems, Inc.
408 542 0330
sales@wireless-experts.com
Jim
Smith
PictureTel Corporation
978 292 5510
smithj@pictel.com
