How the Medical Field is Influenced by Broadband Internet
The internet and broadband is changing the way that we conduct a lot about our lives. One aspect that continues to evolve on an almost daily basis is medicine and its use of broadband technology. Today, doctors and patients don’t even have to be in the same room with each other in order to get a diagnosis. This can be especially important for those who live in rural regions who can’t take the time to drive into another city in order to see a specialist. In addition, being able to see a doctor through telemedicine saves time and money in terms of medical costs to the system.
However, the internet has also lead to a new semi crisis of more and more hypochondriacs. This is because of the proliferation of such sites as WebMD and countless others. Before, when someone had an ache or a pain, they turned to a doctor for help. Now, many people’s first instinct is to log onto the web and check their symptoms. However, recent studies have shown how easy it is for someone to look up something as benign as a headache and be connected to a site which suggests they are suffering from a brain tumor in less than a few short clicks. This is leading to more people calling doctors convinced that they have an incurable disease than ever before. As a result, doctors are cautioning people when looking at websites to take information with a grain of salt and if they really feel as though something is wrong to visit a doctor in person.
Other areas in medicine which have changed thanks to expansions in internet are in the fields of social media. For example, the Mayo Clinic has recently taken advantage of the services that Twitter provides. For the first time ever, the hospital tweeted about the release of a study concerning Celiac disease which is an immune system response to gluten. The Mayo Clinic then followed who retweeted their tweet and provided a few users which an embargoed copy of the report and allowed them to blog about it. In addition, the Mayo Clinic routinely uses sites such as Facebook and YouTube as a way to release explanatory videos on certain subjects.
Other hospitals and clinics are also turning to the internet in order to help those in need. Another good example is the Ann Myers Medical Center which is run by nurses and doctors. On their website, users can see just how to perform their own breast exams. In addition, the user can use an avatar to further familiarize themselves with the procedure. Other research shows that there are more than one hundred hospitals and clinics which are looking to develop a better online presence in order to do the same thing.
Video Conferencing Works Just Like a Phone Call
Desktop video calls and video conferencing is here and works well. This is High Quality and High Definition video calls from desktop to desktop with the convenience of a phone call. Video calls can be made to people inside and outside the organization without concern, and calls are completed by either dialing a 10 digit number or entering an email address. There are some different options and capabilities, and the Cisco desktop video devices provide a good way to illustrate.
By knowing the options and making an informed choice, using HD video calls in place of some face to face meetings can give many people much more time in a day. In order to be able to conduct video calls with the most people, the device has to be able to use multiple standards. This allows for calls between different vendor’s equipment. The standards are not that complicated, but it is important the devices support SIP and H.323. The image size is important also, because although right now most devices support 720p, just like HD television, as time goes on more video calls will be at 1080p. One thing to look out for is the actual screen size and quantity of frames per second that are supported by the device. The four most common are:
- w448p – 768 x 448 at 30 frames per second.
- 720p30 – 1280 x 720 at 30 frames per second.
- 720p60 – 1280×720 at 60 frames per second.
- 1080p30 – 1920 x 1080 at 30 frames per second
The higher the resolution and the higher the quantity of frames per second, the better the pictures looks. As long as the devices have compatible modes, they will negotiate to the best resolution. The downside of a higher resolution video call is that it uses more network bandwidth, so in some cases system are limited when they make calls over the Internet or wide area network to remote offices.As an example, the Cisco E20 video phone is an inexpensively priced video phone, and it’s highest resolution is w448p. The call looks good, but it is not near the quality of the higher end Cisco desktop video devices like the EX-60 or EX-90. The EX devices normally come with the option to conference at 720p30, and require an additional capabilities license to use the higher definition 720p60 and 1080p30 video resolutions. Other manufacturers have similar limitations and licensing options, so always ask about additional options that are available and ask about the video modes before making a purchase.
There is a big difference between video calls and video conferences. Video calls involve two endpoints and are straightforward point to point calls. Video conferences involve mixing video and audio streams using a codec, which gets more complicated. The location that has the codec ends up having two-way video streams from each of the other endpoints. There has to be enough capability to mix the streams and enough network bandwidth for a good quality video conference. Some video devices have a built-in codec. For example, the Cisco EX-90 can be licensed to conduct four party video conferences at High Definition with its built-in codec. The Cisco EX-60 does not have this capability. External codecs can be used either from a hosted service like Cisco Callway or a video infrastructure system like the Cisco Video Infrastructure.
In addition to dedicated desktop devices, a PC or Mac can be used as a High Definition video device. The video quality of a call using the Cisco Movi client at 720p30 is completely different than the jerky, low resolution calls made with Skype of Google Talk. The Cisco Movi client is a great client, and it does not operate independently, so it has to part of a larger system that the user logs into. Most of the workstation clients are like this, so the systems should either be deployed as part of a hosted system like Cisco Callway or as part of a video infrastructure deployment.
The desktop HD video conference devices that are making their way into the organizations are fully capable of having calls with room size High Definition and Standard Definition systems as well. Many businesses have video conference rooms built out with larger cameras and screens, and now that HD video calls are more common these rooms will be used more often. In order to ensure the video calls and conferences both inside and outside the organization work well, part of the budget planning may involve purchasing more network bandwidth.
Desktop High Definition Video calls and conferences are growing in importance as more and more of these systems are installed. When budgeting and planning the use of these systems, work with an expert that has experience and knows the details of the systems so your organization can realize the full potential of these new systems.
Easy Video Conferencing With Proper Tools
Originally, web cameras were simple tools you could hook up to your computer and use with your instant messaging program. However, technology has enables our webcams to be a more effective tool in conjunction with video conferencing.
When choosing webcams the first thing to pay attention to compatibility with the computer’s operating system, because many models are compatible with only Windows. Web cameras should include the following components: CCD, lens, optical filter, video capture card, video compression unit, the central processor, and built-in web-server, flash memory, network interface, serial ports, alarm inputs, and outputs. Some models of cameras can perform a rotating video surveillance. One of the most important things is deciding how you want your web camera to work with you video conferencing program.
When choosing online camera, pay close attention to how it connects to your computer. Also make sure it’s compatible with you video conferencing program. It your web camera provides a microphone technology, it’s important to make sure it has exceptional sound quality. There’s nothing worse than hosting a video conference with poor sound. Built-in microphones are now in almost all web cameras but the quality in all of them are not equal. Sometimes you might need a dedicated microphone other than the one provided with your web camera. But, having most computer cameras come with audio features is convenient, especially those that do not need to connect additional devices. And, of course, saves you time. But, if you already have a good microphone, it is probably better to use it when hosting a video conference. Cameras with built-in microphone can also transmit audio. Probably one of the most impressive capabilities of some web cameras is their ability to transfer sound files.
Most webcams are equipped with a USB-connector, but, as we know, there are two versions of this interface, and they differ greatly in speed. If a web-camera version supports USB 1.1, then the video quality is not the best. This will affect the quality of the picture and might make your computer a little slow. You also want to ensure that the streaming quality of your video conferencing is optimal and a good webcam can ensure such results.
Expensive models of computer cameras have wireless interfaces. They are usually divided into two parts, a transmitter, and the receiver, which is also connected to the connector USB. It often is used for signal transmission technology Wi-Fi.
In addition to using your webcam for chatting and video collaboration, technology has enhanced many features. We can use the webcam for photographs, screen sharing, broadcasting information, video shoots, and more. There’s even software that allows you to edit your photos from your online camera. But, using your computer camera in conjunction with your internet meetings can be perhaps the most rewarding in allowing you to streamline your business and cut costs.
So, when considering the purchase of a webcam to use in conjunction with your video collaboration tools, don’t just look at the price, but look at the quality and what you expect your web camera to do.
An Introduction to Virtual PBX System
A virtual PBX system is simply a phone system used by a company or other entity that is housed and maintained by a vendor. The PBX routes calls to extensions based on caller selections, giving the caller a “self serve” experience. The PBX allows multiple calls to come in at the same time where the caller won’t hear a busy signal. This is because most businesses typically have more than one call going at a time.
A virtual PBX can offer a business owner significant cost savings over purchasing a phone system and maintaining it on-site. This is because the business owner will not have to pay to upgrade or maintain the existing infrastructure that includes things such as wiring, available data connections, circuits, or network bandwidth. Your service provider maintains the entire solution including circuits and hardware.
Since a hosted PBX uses voice over IP technology, your phone numbers can be from virtually any area code you desire. Any calls made to this area code are charged at a local rate. As an example, if your business is located in California but the majority of your clients are in New York, you can set up your virtual PBX with numbers in the New York area code. This gives your clients or customers the ability to call your business without incurring long-distance charges or you as the business owner having to purchase and maintain a one 800 number to encourage customers to call.
Another advantage to a hosted system is that the business owner does not maintain or support any hardware. Most smaller businesses do not have an IT department per se and as a result do not have the resources to troubleshoot a system when problems arise. The service provider is responsible for maintaining all of the hardware and communications associated with the PBX. In most cases, a hosted system has a web based interface that allows users to make changes and add phone extensions. This is typically simple to do and most average computer users can accomplish this with little or no effort.
A virtual PBX provides the business owner with a great deal of flexibility. Because of the nature of voice over IP technology, the business can move and expand with relative ease. The scalability of the hosted system is such that as the business grows the service provider simply increases capacity to accommodate the new business growth. Moving a business to a new location requires virtually no changes on the part of the business owner. The same phone numbers are used so that both employees and customers can continue to use the same numbers they’ve always used and the call will complete as expected. This is not the case with an on premise system. The hardware would have to be broken down, moved to the new location and then set up at a significant cost to the business owner.
Many of these hosted systems have advanced features that increase productivity and provide users with a seamless way to move from location to location. Call forwarding has become quite a common feature used by many businesses today. Phone numbers are forwarded to cell phones and land lines so that employees can take their extensions with them regardless of where they’re at. Many businesses are now taking advantage of a mobile workforce. Having a virtual PBX facilitates the implementation of this new business practice and this type of system allows the business owner to have employees virtually anywhere without having to have a traditional brick-and-mortar presence. This results in significant cost savings when expanding the business into new markets. Without a building to maintain a business test a new market at a very minimal cost.
Another cost savings benefit to a virtual PBX is that of the auto attendant. This negates the need to hire personnel specifically designated to answer the phones. The system can route calls based on entry of the last name or an extension and is automatically routed without human intervention.
Perhaps the largest benefit to any business is the “big business” appearance that a virtual PBX can provide. Having a phone system that answers calls with professionalism gives customers confidence traditionally reserved for larger businesses. You might have only five departments, but your customers feel like they’re making contact with a larger business. This puts your business on an even playing field with those companies that are large and have well-known names. Being able to compete with these companies is a big advantage for small businesses.
If you’re trying to decide on the best communication solution for your business, consider a virtual PBX. Not only cost-effective, this phone system can offer versatility and ease of use. Without support or maintenance worries, your staff can focus on expanding your business and your bottom line.
