CISCO and us

Two of the main focuses of human history have been technology and communication. The former to enable us to do our tasks be it a hoe, pencil, and now computer uses such as word processing and the internet. The latter is to enable us to work together smoothly or exchange information.

Last week, most of our class gathered in front of a huge screen constructed and implemented by the company CISCO for an experimental chat. Another part of our class went over to a nearby location and we engaged in an exchange via this method. It's evident that CISCO has spent much time, effort and money on the visual clarity of their product. It was far superior to Skype and didn't have its jiggling or fuzziness. This is especially impressive considering how large the image was--which usually distorts at that size.

The sound was a problem though. One could only be heard by the other location when speaking close to a microphone. This immediatly limits the type of exchange that could happen with this set up. Essentially, one would need to be stationary, close to this microphone. There was also a substantial sound latency to make any sort of musically colloboration very difficult unless it was in a call and response style.

The set up functions well for how it was intended which was for a business conference in two locations. Or, it could be used as any sort of verbal exchange between two people or two groups. This could be good for teaching, classes exchanging ideas globally, and music lessons between a master teacher and an advanced student.

I feel that at its present state, it is not that conducive for simutaneous performance because of the stationary microphone and sound latency. Unless, as mentioned above, that it was an exchange.

We have to be thankful and acknowledge that CISCO has made huge strides for our society in both technology and communication.