Telepresence World March/April Edition

MAR/APR 2007

TELEPRESENCE IN THE

OPERATING ROOM THE NEW

EXPLORERS VISUALIZING

COLLABORATIVE WORLDS

TELEPRESENCE WORLD 2007 CONFERENCE | JUNE 4-6, 2007, SAN DIEGO, CA

TEL E P R E S E NC E W O R L D CON T E N TS Letter from the Publisher 4 Editorial Riding the Telepresence Wave 5

Feature Articles Telepresence in the Operating Room 6 Steven Holstein

Virtual Exploration 9 Using Telepresence to Bridge the Gulf in Distance Learning 13 Suite Dreams 17 Art and Collaboration in Virtual Worlds 20

Inside Telepresence 23 Cisco’s Vision of the Future In the News 25 FAQs 27 Telepresence World 2007 Conference Advance Program 28 Conference Calendar 38 On the cover: In a stunning example of telepresence and telerobotics in action, the panoramic camera on the Mars Rover Spirit captures the scene on the surface of Mars. This is a portion of an image, called the “McMurdo Panorama,” taken by Spirit during its winter campaign at “Low Ridge” (April – October 2006). The view is looking east, towards an area called “Tyrone” (the whitish area at the top of the image). The area proved difficult for Spirit to get to, so the rover was commanded to traverse to “Low Ridge.” Note the light-colored material in the wheel tracks generated as the rover drove to the site. Several rock and soil targets are shown that were investigated with instruments on the rover’s robotic arm, which can be seen in the lower portion of the image. For more information on virtual explorers, see “Virtual Exploration” on page 9 of this issue. Photo reprinted courtesy of NASA (www.nasa.gov).

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Instructions for Authors 39 Telepresence World Advertising Rate Card 40 Looking Ahead 41 Index to Advertisers 41

LE T TER FR OM THE PUBLISHER Welcome to the premier issue of Telepresence World. If you have seen our preview edition, you are aware of our goal to provide you with up-to-date coverage of the evolution (and revolution) of telepresence technology, whether it is used in the boardroom, the ball park, the laboratory, or on the surface of Mars.

In this issue, we are pleased to bring you articles that examine topics such as medical telepresence, virtual exploration, and creativity in collaborative worlds, to name a few. Also in this issue is expanded coverage of the Telepresence World 2007 Conference, to be held at the University of San Diego, California, June 4 – 6, 2007.

Mark Barounos, Publisher

As we start this “voyage of discovery,” we hope that Telepresence World will become a dialogue with you, our readers, and invite your comments and ideas regarding this amazing collaborative tool.

For the fastest service, visit us online at www.telepresencemagazine.com and click on SUBSCRIBE; OR write, fax, email or phone to:

2007 TELEPRESENCE WORLD MARCH/APRIL 2007 Volume 1, Issue 1

PUBLISHER Mark Barounos EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Anne Meltzer, MS ASSISTANT EDITOR Anne Feldmann CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Monica Bush TECHNOLOGY EDITOR John S. Read, MS DESIGNER Chanie Pritchard PRODUCTION Sage Media Design

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EDI TO R I A L

TELE P R E S E N C E W O R L D

Riding the Telepresence Wave By now, we have all heard about telepresence. An article on telepresence by one of TPW’s contributors, Howard S. Lichtmann, telepresence guru and entrepreneur (see “A Brief History of Telepresence,” in our February 2007 preview edition, available at http://telepresenceworld.idigitaledition.com), made the November 2006 cover of Killer App Magazine. The February 26, 2007, edition of Business Week pronounced telepresence “nothing less than a conference room equivalent of Star Trek’s Holodeck.” We see the term telepresence applied to everything from video conferencing to remote surgery to the Martian Rovers. Telepresence has shown tremendous momentum over the last 14 months.

In 1968, American Artist Andy Warhol stated that “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” So, we must ask, even with all the press and in keeping with the title metaphor, is the telepresence wave cresting only to wind up crashing on the beach? Or is the technology here for the long run?

Since the 19th century, man has dreamt of being able to project himself to remote environments. Telepresence has been a favorite subject and plot contrivance of famous authors such as H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. When television came along in the mid-20th century, it only partially fulfilled our desire to experience new places and strange worlds. Seeing someone, something, or someplace is not nearly as powerful an experience as the feeling of being transported to that place and interacting with a remote environment.

Thanks to the hard work of a number of enterprising companies TELEPRESENCE WORLD

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and researchers, technology and infrastructure have finally been developed that not only allow telepresence to become a reality but makes it available to mainstream corporate and R&D entities. Yes—many popular review articles have noted that the cost of implementation seems a bit high right now; however, the price tag of many new products rolled out during the last century (and now considered necessities) were initially out of reach for most consumers and businesses. In 1997, only 18% of American households had a web connected computer.

By 2003, the percentage had risen to 55. This growth rate reflects not only the decreasing cost of equipment but the increasing availability of broad band network infrastructure and the proliferation of software and internet applications and resources that have made the computer a truly useful tool.

We feel that the growth of the telepresence industry will take a similar path. For corporations and organizations that can afford the technology early on—you have the advantage of making use of this amazing product without delay. Based on your practices, you will also have the opportunity to chart a course for the future of telepresence. Application developments and infrastructure deployment will be modeled on your usage.

Early adopters will have the privilege of ushering in a new age of communication, exploration, and research, which will ultimately lead to reductions in the cost of ownership and enhanced opportunities for collaboration.

Men and women do not dream about something for centuries only to abandon their vision because of cost. Make no doubt about it, telepresence is here to stay.

Telepresence in the

FEATURE AR TICLE

Operating Room

By Steven Holstein

Practice makes perfect. It’s a saying that applies to many professionals. Athletes. Musicians. Pilots.

It is also a very important concept when it comes to training and educating healthcare professionals. And at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, it is an adage that has been taken to the next level through the Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center (ASTEC).

The fully integrated system enables instructors to see two or three different views of what is happening simultaneously

One of the busiest medical simulation centers in the United States, the ASTEC provides medical students, residents, paramedics, attending physicians, and nurses with hands-on experience in trauma, critical care situations, and laparoscopic surgery. Practicing, practicing, and practicing in a setting where there are no risks to real patients.

The lab features a state-of-the-art simulated operating room that is designed, equipped, and supplied to be identical to any modern hospital operating room where surgeries are occurring every day. But there are a few notable exceptions.

As a for instance…the patient. In this case, the operating table is occupied by life-like, computer-controlled mannequins (adult and pediatric) whose pupils dilate, chests expand and contract, and that can be programmed to simulate a wide range of symptoms and will respond, for better or worse, based on the treatment and care that is given. Students not only learn medical procedures, but also how to assess, diagnose, make critical decisions, and work as a team.

A better educational experience Allan J. Hamilton, MD, UA professor of surgery and ASTEC executive director says, “Research studies have shown that skills learned in the virtual-reality environment lead to more efficient and effective learning and have the potential to reduce errors, ultimately saving thousands of lives every year.”

Much of those learning enhancements can be attributed to yet another departure from the typical operating room – cameras.

Students at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, attend a computer-controlled mannequin in the operating room.

Lots of cameras. Cameras mounted high, low, and inside medical instruments. They’re key for everything from virtual reality laparoscopic surgical trainers to telecommunications for broadcasting lectures and demonstrations to other medical schools and hospitals.

Phoenix, Arizona-based ExhibitOne has been and continues to be instrumental in equipping ASTEC with not only cameras, but microphones, digital recording capabilities and Ericsson’s Virtual Presence Systems (ViPr).

TheViPr is a system that integrates camera, monitor, microphone, and sound into a highly advanced desktop communications

system that produces DVD-quality video. The ViPr desktop terminal displays full-motion, fullcolor video on a 17-inch (diagonal) widescreen display with 1280x768 (16:9) resolution, 500Nit brightness, and wide viewing angle. The display is enhanced with an extremely rugged, easily cleaned glass capacitive touchscreen.

The terminal features an integrated digital video camera with progressive scan, 3:1 zoom plus macro focus, manual pan and tilt, and a privacy shutter. The integrated phased array microphone with dynamic beam-forming enables clear, hands-free audio. And with all of this, perhaps the greatest hallmark of this sophisticated equipment is its ease of use. It’s as intuitive as a telephone.

Better than the real thing

Expanding to a global theater

Another tool that has made a strong impact on the learning experience came online when ExhibitOne expanded the system’s capability to include digital video recording

With all of this technology, the most important aspect to creating a virtual presence within a simulated operating theater is ExhibitOne’s ability to integrate it all into a very unobtrusive and seamless system that strengthens the learning experience both right there in the lab and as far away as…let’s say…Kosovo or Senegal.

The virtual presence environment that has been created within our operating room provides extraordinary benefits to both students and educators,” said ASTEC’s Senior Program Coordinator and Curriculum Development, Alyson Knapp.

“We have found that remote training can be even superior to proximal training in some cases.”

So, rather than having an instructor breathing down everyone’s neck during a procedure, s/he can be outside of the operating room – whether that’s in ASTEC’s control room, in an office down the hall, or completely off campus. This not only allows students to proceed unencumbered – but it gives the instructor a MUCH better view of what is actually going on.

The fully integrated system enables instructors to see two or three different views of what is happening simultaneously: perhaps an overhead view showing everyone working, a closer view of the actual procedure being performed, and potentially a view from the perspective of the medical equipment being used. Talk about an out-of-body experience!

This capability also enables us to better leverage our instructors’ time,” Knapp said. Ordinarily, an instructor would need to be physically present as a student is practicing. But, by being available remotely, an instructor can be in an office attending to other matters and yet, for example, when the student gets to the point of tying off his/her sutures, the instructor can see what the student is doing, provide any needed advice, and both can continue on with their respective activities. With more than 170 medical students and health professionals using the lab a month, leveraging an instructors’ time can have a huge impact.

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Another tool that has made a strong impact on the learning experience came online when ExhibitOne expanded the system’s capability to include digital video recording. That has created a number of new advantages. Better than a football official stepping off the field to watch an instant reply, it enables instructors to view, review, and closely analyze student performance. It also allows their work to be viewed by an even more critical group of observers – the students themselves.

Soon, this remote monitoring capability will expand as ExhibitOne installs a ViPr unit at the University Physicians Healthcare – Kino Campus (also in Tucson), to enable emergency physicians there to provide lectures and observe and critique students as they learn and practice procedures in the virtual lab.

UPH – Kino is a small matter of six miles from ASTEC. However, 6,439 miles to the east is the Serbian province of Kosovo. This spring, ASTEC and the Arizona Telemedicine Program will be linking up with a hospital there, enabling students to see and hear exactly what the students and instructors at ASTEC are seeing and hearing.

And plans are under way to extend this virtual presence into Senegal this fall.

Practice is good only when the skills and techniques are being practiced in a correct manner. With all of the different factors that need to be monitored in an operating room, it can become difficult, if not impossible, for an instructor to see everything. However, through an integrated system of cameras, microphones, video recorder, and Ericsson’s Virtual Presence System, instructors at the Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center can see it all as medical students and others practice to be perfect. ______________________________________________________________

Steven Holstein has been active in the telemedicine industry since 1993 when he became involved with the development of emergency telemedicine applications for people in remote environments. He is currently a strategic business development advisor for companies, agencies and institutions wanting to introduce or expand telehealth-related services and products.

For more Information ASTEC -- www.ASTEC.arizona.edu ExhibitOne-- www.exhibitone.com/audiovisual_medical.htm Ericsson -- www.marconi.com/Home/customer_center/ Products/Enterprise%20Networks/Video%20Conferencing

FEAT U R E A R T I C L E

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) as seen from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) in June of 2000. Photo reprinted courtesy of NASA.

Virtual Exploration

Going Where No One Has Gone Before (Or Wants to Go) The eyes of God: exploring the universe The most spectacular (and expensive) use of telepresence in exploration is undoubtedly NASA’s program of space probes.

Mankind has projected its fragile biological self to places and environments impossible to visit in person. We now know what it would be like to wander the red desert of Mars, plunge into the toxic atmosphere of Titan, and look back at the tiny blue dot of Earth from the orbit of Jupiter. Our powerful, orbiting Hubble virtual eye can see objects so far away that they appear as they did when the universe was born.

The human race has developed very sophisticated “endpoints,” or remote robot agents. These endpoints can have capabilities far beyond those of a human observer. The Mars Orbiter, for example, carries nine sensors including: (1) a high resolution visible light imager; (2) an imaging spectrometer, which makes images at 560 different wavelengths, that can be used to measure the composition of the surface; and (3) a radar imager that can map subsurface objects up to a kilometers deep with a resolution of 10-20 meters vertical and 100-300 meters alongtrack These devices produce information far superior to what a human astronaut, peeking out a window or even walking on the surface of Mars, could hope for.

A pair of solar observatories, STEREO 1 and STEREO 2, are now moving into place in orbit around the sun at a distance of 93 million miles. They are in the same orbit as the Earth, with TELEPRESENCE WORLD

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one leading and the other trailing. This setup will allow us to see a stereo image of the sun (actually a movie) with a frame rate of about 250 frames per day. At the optimal 60-degree angle between the two satellites and the sun, we will have a view of the sun from eyes that are 93 million miles apart. This godlike view will allow scientists to use their own built-in human stereoscopic vision systems to gain new quantitative and qualitative understanding of the phenomenon of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). (Earthlings are very interested in CMEs-also called Solar Flares--because they can disrupt our lives by destroying or disabling communication satellites, causing blackouts, and killing astronauts in Earth orbit, for example).

The extension of the concept of telepresence to robotic exploration involves making the coupling of the teleoperator to the endpoint so natural that the teleoperator feels that s/he is actually at the remote location. If the endpoint is equipped with super-human sensors, it will be necessary to present a compatible virtual environment to the teleoperator that integrates these inputs from the sensors so that s/he can work effectively and naturally, even in such a supernatural environment. In the case of the STEREO project, the sensation of telepresence will be quite intense just because of the stereo viewing. However, a great deal of additional information will be available, such as velocity, radio burst intensity, temperature, or imaging in x-ray and ultraviolet. This data can be combined with the stereo imaging, possibly with false color or sound to yield a virtual environment of great power.

Of course, the main problem with very remote interactive telepresence will always be latency (at least until the speed of light can be increased). Whenever teleoperators need to directly control the endpoint, the delay between command, response, and feedback of the result of the command can be prohibitively long. In the case of the Mars rovers, there is a round-trip delay of about 26 minutes. NASA gets around this in two ways: first of all, Spirit and Opportunity have the capability to carry out many simple commands without further interaction from Earth; and second, a complex series of commands can be uploaded to the Rover which will then run the program without further intervention. Another suggested approach to the latency problem is to run a realtime simulation of the endpoint in operation. This gives instant feedback to the teleoperator. The command stream is sent to the remote system which executes the motion commands, but with a delay. If the endpoint detects that the simulated result has diverged from the actual result, i.e., the rover has not wound up in the location predicted by the simulation, it stops acting and phones home with the bad news. This stops the simulation so it can be reset.

ones. Scientists now are producing datasets of enormous volume as a result of research into genetics, bioinformatics, and the detailed simulation of complex phenomena such as nuclear explosions or weather systems. Interpretation of these huge datasets can be enhanced by interactive exploration of the data pictured as virtual environments. This has been called “Tele-Immersion” by some writers. Humans are able to detect patterns and causal relationships that escape the most sensitive mathematics. Since many data sets are of more than three or four dimensions, some ingenuity is required to represent the data in a comprehensible space. One approach has been to partition the data out to multiple users, each responsible for a subset of dimensions. The technology of “Massively Multiuser Online Games” could be a model for merging the high-quality audio and video of Virtual Presence with the ability to jointly examine and evaluate data. In these games, activity in a virtual world such as Second Life persists whether or not a player is online. One can imagine a virtual laboratory where researchers can come and go, but the results of the collaborative result persists, and work continues whether or not an individual scientist is present.

Scientists at universities and national labs have established very high speed optical “supernetworks” such as the National LightRail or the Global Lambda Information Facility (GLIF).

These networks provide institutions all over the planet with private point-to-point multigigabit channels (lambdas) which can connect to other lambdas at extremely high bandwidths. Much like the original ARPAnet, these networks are intended to be testbeds to support new applications in scientific collaboration that can take advantage of the availability of a “Victoria Crater” on Mars as photographed by Mars Rover Opportunity, October 16, 2006. network with enormous bandwidth. To Photo reprinted courtesy of NASA get a feeling for the power of this kind of bandwidth, consider that it would be Exploring nearby but dangerous locales possible to transfer an entire DVD in about 10 seconds.

Virtual exploration is now being used for less exalted purposes as well. Remotely-piloted aircraft seek and destroy enemies, and remotely-operated vehicles storm into buildings too dangerous for human soldiers or police. Police departments in the Baltimore, Maryland, area use a softball-sized device called “Eye Ball R1.” When police are faced with a situation where they must enter a possibly dangerous locale, they can throw the Eye Ball in through a window. The robot rights itself, then transmits images and sounds. It can rotate 360 degrees to see what’s what before risking lives.

Perhaps the day will come soon when other perilous occupations like fire-fighting or coal mining can be performed via telepresence. It is primarily a matter of improvement in endpoint technology, a much simpler proposition than the development of self-guiding robots now being used in manufacturing.

Exploring data We can also think of the value of telepresence in the exploration of landscapes of data, rather than geophysical

The Scripps Oceanographic Institute, for example, has developed software to visualize strain and stress in the San Andreas Fault. In a demonstration in 2005, 100 Megapixel tiled displays were used to visualize, in 3D, the course of movements of the strain field over time, using data stored in Chicago, San Diego, and the Netherlands. Researchers in Rhode Island and three locales in Illinois collaborated on developing a 3D visualization of a hydrodynamic simulation of the entire human arterial system. Microscope endpoints equipped with high definition cameras permit remote scientists to zoom in on brain tissue and superimpose digital data such as electron microscope imagery. While these applications show great promise, the progress in supernetworks so far has been primarily in development of the infrastructure to easily share visualizations and integrate high-quality conferencing.

Exploring the very tiny Nanotechnology, currently the subject of much research as well as hype, may eventually produce a new realm of telepresence at the opposite end of the cosmic scale from the space probes.

However, the fantasy of submicroscopic machines wandering

through layers of the earth transmitting back images of seams of coal or pools of oil is probably unlikely. Engineers posit that the power of a machine is proportional to its volume, while the friction it encounters in operation is proportional to its surface area. Therefore, scaling a machine down reduces its power much faster than its friction. Tiny mechanical moving robots are therefore impossible. However, much more subtle techniques are becoming available from the world of biology and chemistry rather than physics and engineering. Molecularsized probes such as Green Fluorescent Protein are already being used to spy on biological processes in living cells and report back optically.

What’s next?

Humans are a compulsively curious species. We must always know what’s over the next hill. Soon we will be able to find out what’s over that hill without actually going there. Some would say that this is a loss, that getting there is half the fun and we won’t really know unless human feet have been there. On the other hand, getting over the hill lets us get a look at the next hill, which might be even more interesting. Why waste time on the dull hills? Stay tuned for further developments.

Topographic images generated from high resolution radar data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission in 2000. Photos reprinted courtesy of NASA.

Selected bibliograpy California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technologies Web site, www.calit2.net.

Electronic Visualization Laboratory Website, www.evl.uic.edu/cavern.

Ian Grimstead, David Walker and Nick Avis, Collaborative Visualization: A Review and Taxonomy. Proceedings of the 2005 Ninth IEEE International Symposium on Distributed Simulation and Real-Time Applications (DS-RT’05) IEEE Computer Society.

2005.

NASA’s Visible Earth Web site, http://visibleearth.nasa.gov.

Special section on iGrid2005: Future Generation Computer Systems. The International Journal of Grid Computing, Volume 22:8 pp. 849-1054; 2006.

The Sun and Heliosphere in Three Dimensions: Report of the NASA Science Definition Team for the STEREO Mission. Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel MD, December 1, 1997.

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FEAT U R E A R T I C L E

Using Telepresence to

Bridge the Gulf in Distance Learning

When selecting preferred educational delivery methods, distance learning used to be considered a remote second choice to live, in-classroom training. With the advent of telepresence, however, remote learning can now offer experiences and interactions never before possible, even with traditional teaching modalities. This value-added aspect of telepresence has already led to a number of very creative and successful collaborative educational programs that have been designed to bring students and teachers from all over the world into the same virtual classroom.

Effective distance teaching and learning Any parent, teacher, professor, or tutor will tell you that the key to successful teaching is engaging and motivating your students. A passive classroom model in which delivery of concepts and information is one-sided rarely produces a level of interest that excites and stimulates a student to think

about a subject any more than necessary. Even on-campus lecture classes held in cavernous auditoriums seldom result in anything more than a good nap. Intimate colloquia and hands-on laboratory sessions where students can interact with teachers and other classmates can make impressions on people that will last the rest of their lives.

Distance learning, although noble in its attempt to bring knowledge to those who do not have convenient access, has traditionally been somewhat static in its delivery. On-line courses generally consist of slide-like graphics (some with sound) or asynchronous streaming media or video/audio presentations. Many schools make use of collaborative websites such as Blackboard and real-time video conferencing using small displays and phone technology, but the nature of these technologies often leads to students feeling isolated and disconnected.

With the advent of telepresence, remote learning can now offer experiences and interactions never before possible, even with traditional teaching modalities

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Telepresence technology, with its high-definition, life-sized images, clear audio, and real-time, interactive functionality, promises to breath some life into the standard distance learning models, perhaps even surpassing in-class teaching with its ability to allow students to experience situations far beyond the range of local field trips.

Many virtual reality researchers believe that the level of telepresence experienced by participants is linked to several factors: • • • •

Vividness Degree of interaction, social as well as sensory Number of other persons present/shared sense of space Transportation/sense of being in another place or having elements from a remote site present in your own surroundings

the best technology but to highlight the variety and creativity of such programs. Several examples are explored below.

OceansLive—The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary Program, in conjunction with the JASON Foundation for Education, The Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration, and the Mote Marine Laboratory established OceansLive with the intent of increasing public awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the 14 federally protected marine areas spanning the United States. The program began in 2001 with Mystic Aquarium’s “Immersion Theater,” which allowed visitors to the Connecticut facility the opportunity to see and control, in real-

Although it is possible to provide worthwhile interactive distance learning without expensive tools, displays, and networks, the more real-time perceptual cues exchanged between locations and participants, the higher the immersive quality of the experience.

Usability Ease of use is key to a high-quality telepresence encounter and this is especially so when dealing with learning environments.

Navigating the system should not be so difficult that it overshadows the educational experience. User interfaces should be tailored to the expertise level of the student and teacher. If a student has difficultly using the equipment, it may lead Ease of use is key to a to feelings of embarrassment or inadequacy, causing them to become high-quality telepresence reluctant to participate.

Research diver surveying USS Monitor at the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of North Carolina. Photo reprinted courtesy of NOAA.

encounter and this is The technology behind the telepresence session should be fairly especially so when dealing transparent so that participants do not feel self-conscious when time, a remotely-operated vehicle with learning environments interacting with remote locations.

(ROV) located in the Monterey Bay The screen positions and size, the National Marine Sanctuary’s kelp locations of the cameras and microphones, and the position forest. Signals are transmitted over of the students and teachers relative to one another should be fiber optic cable and Internet2 to large format video displays natural and comfortable so that the topic at hand is the most to an estimated 100,000 people a year. important aspect, not the facilities or interface.

OceansLive is being expanded to other marine sanctuaries, As in any educational setting, behavioral protocols and including the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary off guidelines should be established by the instructors so that of California, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the students can participate in an orderly and organized fashion.

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of North The experience should be all-inclusive so that each student has Carolina, and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National a chance to interact with the remote environment. Students Marine Sanctuary. The program is also working to expand should know what to expect prior to the start of an activity so the number of centers where visitors can view live images of they do not focus so much on the process as they do on the marine habitats and control onsite cameras. experience.

OceansLive currently maintains a telepresence education Educational programs that use telepresence web portal at www.oceanslive.org/portal, which carries a live camera feed from Monterey Bay Aquarium, along with other Many organizations already use telepresence to facilitate activities, recordings, and materials. aspects of their educational offerings. Our goal here is not to determine which installations are the most successful or use

MedPresence—The MedPresence Corporation (Tel 937.832.6900), located in Dayton, Ohio, specializes in products for the medical/surgical arena. MedPresence offers several products designed to facilitate medical education ranging from mobile units to entire lecture halls. Students are able to view surgeries and exams via an array of high-definition displays as large as 16 feet by 4 feet. Corresponding units are located within clinics or operating rooms so that medical staff can view and interact with students just as if they were in the same room.

MedPresence systems can integrate collaborative tools such as electronic white boards and document cameras and can even interface with some medical instruments so readouts can be viewed on screen in association with the exam, case review, or surgery.

The system, which was first installed at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, in February of 2006, has the potential to allow medical students from all over the world to participate in rare or high-risk procedures they might not see within their local medical community.

Center for Electronically Mediated Learning (NCEML)—estimate that the majority of these students do not finish high school on schedule and that almost all experience educational and social re-adjustment problems when returning to the classroom after long periods of isolation.

The PEBBLES Project’s use of telepresence lets recuperating students preserve relationships with familiar teachers, friends, and classroom venues during what might normally be a lonely and uncomfortable period of time. Maintaining these connections has been shown to positively impact a student’s socialization, education, and even physical well-being.

The PEBBLES unit was developed by Telbotics, a company located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in conjunction with IBM, Ryerson University, and the University of Toronto. It was first introduced to the United States in 2001 through a Department of Education grant and has been deployed at several sites, including the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital in Connecticut, the Miami Children’s Hospital in Florida, and a handful of private homeschool partnerships.

MedPresence’s remote operating room/classroom installation. Photo reprinted courtesy of the MedPresence Corporation.

PEBBLES units await deployment. Photo reprinted courtesy of Telbotics, Inc.

The Pebbles™ Project (Providing Education By Bringing Learning Environments to Students)—is a unique telepresence solution to an educational problem that affects over 600,000 children annually who require longterm hospitalization or home care and cannot attend school.

The PEBBLES Project uses two child-sized robots linked by a high-speed internet connection—one in the classroom and one at the child’s location—to transmit audio, video, and even documents to both locations. The in-class robot, which has a swivel monitor, camera, and robotic arm, is controlled by the student, who can even raise its hand to participate in classroom activities.

Traditionally, home or hospital-bound children have kept up with schooling via hospital classrooms or tutors. However, the two Connecticut-based organizations that administer the PEBBLES Project––the Learning Collaborative, Inc, a not-for-profit education organization, and The National TELEPRESENCE WORLD

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thereNow—Initially explored as “Project thereNow,” part of the dissertation research of Dr. R. Shawn Edmondson at the Utah State University, this program utilizes telepresence to deliver professional development to teachers through the use of classroom-based coaching. Dr. Edmondson found that traditional professional development offerings consisted mostly of short teacher workshops outside the classroom. These infrequent and “ex-situ” practicum usually resulted in the minimal transfer of newly-learned skills and methodologies to the actual classroom setting. thereNow and Digital Video Enterprises (DVE) have partnered to develop a telepresence model that facilitates individualized coaching on a regular basis. Core to the program is the Telepresence Center, an interactive conferencing installation that facilitates meetings of one to several people; the Virtual Teacher, which creates the impression of an instructor at a podium; and the Virtual Observer, a mobile unit that can be positioned in the back of a classroom to capture a record of an instructor’s performance.

This equipment allows trainers to interact with both students and teachers in order to develop better and more effective teaching strategies. All installations make use of DVE’s mutual eye gaze technology to establish a more intimate rapport with remote participants.

In 2005, the Weber School District in Ogden, Utah, with the assistance of thereNow and the Spectrum Education Group, received funding from the US Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement to investigate the efficacy of using this system to coach faculty and teach students, with more research projects scheduled to follow.

Selected bibliography

Does telepresence get a passing grade?

The Pebbles Project Web site, www.pebblesproject.org

Telepresence and the virtual university may never totally replace conventional in-classroom teaching but it is evident that this technology will play a major role in educational models of the future. Whether affording easy access to a medical authority across the continent or providing a window to an ecosystem far away, telepresence has the potential to bring remote resources and experiences to students and educators in an efficient, easy, and relatively cost-effective manner. NASA’s Educational Enterprise division even has plans to incorporate telepresence technology into its programs so that students can conduct their own experiments and direct their own observations of other worlds from an earth-based

The Telbotics Web site, www.telbotics.com

thereNow Web site, www.therenow.net Digital Video Enterprises Web site, “Distance Learning Telepresence,” www.dvetelepresence.com/solutions/distanceLearning.asp

Karen Campbell, “iStudent,” The Boston Globe, January 22, 2007, www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2007/01/22/istudent OceansLive Web site, www.oceanslive.org/portal NOAA Research Web site, “Marine Education in Urban Setting,” www.research.noaa.gov/spotlite/archive/spot_usc.html National Marine Sanctuaries Web site, http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education Mitchiko J. Martin, Tom Dudchick, David Bizot, Dawn Hayes, Cathy Sakas, Andrea McCurdy, Oceans to Classrooms with National Marine Sanctuaries,” American Meteorological Society Web site, http://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/103873.pdf The MedPresence Website, www.medpresence.com Nils Enlund, “The Production of Presence-Distance Techniques in Education, Publishing and Art,” www.learninglab.kth.se/documents/ Enlund.Prod.presence.pdf (accessed February 1, 2007: site now discontinued)

The Virtual Teacher.

Photo reprinted courtesy of Spectrum Consulting and thereNow.

classroom. However, while telepresence has the potential to bring exotic destinations, specialized speakers, and normally inaccessible events to the schoolroom, the key to providing a quality educational experience with telepresence is the same as it has always been with conventional teaching: thoughtful planning and exploration of academic topics so that every student is engaged and motivated.

. . . the key to successful teaching is engaging and motivating your students

F E ATU R E A R T I C L E

Suite Dreams Some ideas to consider when planning your telepresence suite The look and feel of your telepresence suite has a great deal to do with its intended use. By working closely with your vendor’s design team and communicating your goals for the space, it should be possible to create a synthesis of design and function that will maximize your investment.

Evaluate your options, anticipate your needs Whether you are planning new construction or refurbishing an existing conference area, one of your first decisions should be to determine what types of meetings will be conducted in the space you have identified. You may wish to consult with one or two telepresence integrators to find out the newest options and addons available. Unlike traditional video conferencing, which is used mainly as a conversation portal, today’s new telepresence configurations have a variety of enhancements that can enable you to perform many activities that were not possible only a few years ago. For example, meeting attendees now have the ability to: • • • •

take notes on virtual white boards for distribution at a later date copy, issue, and print existing documents at the touch of a button link to computers or equipment for presentations or to acquire real-time data view and manipulate models and prototypes with object cameras and collaborative visualization tools

Understanding how these enhancements can augment your meetings can lead to some very creative ideas for potential use.

The projected size of typical meetings will also influence space considerations. Will your area be used for small group meetings of 1 to 4 participants, conferences of 4 to 8+ attendees, or will it be a distance learning environment in which seminars for 16 – 32 people are routinely held? Many telepresence vendors offer modular room designs (a room within a room) where tables can be expanded, chairs added, and acoustical barriers re-arranged to suit various-sized meetings and activities; however you should have a main purpose in mind in order to minimize room breakdown and reconfiguration.

Once you have an idea of the functionality you want your space to provide, you are in a better position to produce a request for proposal (RFP). Even if you already know which vendor you would like to work with on your project, it is a good idea to put your requirements down on paper so that you and your vendor can address your needs in an organized manner and come up with a suitable proposal and estimate. Many customers find that their RFP is really just a starting point. Further discussions and demonstrations with vendors may cause you to update and expand the scope of your proposal.

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Design considerations The immersive quality experience provided by telepresence technology is dependent on the low-latency, synchronous transmission of high quality visual and audio data. You can optimize the transmission of important data by carefully planning your conferencing suite. Investment in a controlled environment ensures the same high-quality exchange every time it is used.

Room Size. The technological parameters of your new telepresence system will most likely be dictated by the manufacturer. They will have the best recommendation as to display size, number of displays, and placement. Depending on your requirements, a system can make use of one or two large displays, or multiple displays can be arranged to create semi-circular or wall-sized arrays. Obviously then, the size of your telepresence suite should be suitable for its purpose and should take into consideration the size of the displays you are purchasing. Meetings of one to eight people will require a smaller space than large, classroomtype activities; however, with modular components, it may be possible to structure your space so that you can conduct a variety of meetings in the same area.

Figure 1: Recommended distance from display to participant.

Many experts recommend that conference participants be positioned at a distance of two to six times the width of the screen they are viewing (see Figure 1). By using this formula, you can get a rough estimate of the space you will need to set aside, depending on the average number of participants you expect to be engaged in the conference.

Suite furnishings and decor. Seating and tables should be positioned so that each participant has a clear view of the video screens, and their relationship to other members of the conference is culturally comfortable. In order to achieve this, it might be necessary to think beyond the traditional square or oblong table shape. There are many table designs on the market today that utilize inventive angles and new materials to enhance conference dynamics. Many designs have the option of smaller displays at each seat to facilitate data presentation.

In many instances, if a large percentage of meetings will be between specific sites, rooms can be designed so that each terminus is identical, or mirrored, thus re-enforcing the idea that the meeting is taking place in the same location (see Figure 2).

Keep in mind that you may want to use the space for conventional meetings, independent of telepresence, and select furnishings that can be adapted for many uses.

The wall surfaces of your conference room should be covered in acoustically optimized materials and be neutral in color.

The telepresence camera is designed to transmit dynamic information—it will not re-transmit static data if it doesn’t have to. If the background is complex and the camera moves slightly or if there is video noise, the whole scene will be retransmitted even though the background didn’t actually change. By keeping the color of your room neutral and pattern-free, you will transmit only data integral to the exchange of information, thus improving transmission quality.

Video and audio equipment considerations One of the hallmarks of telepresence is its ability to create a seamless and natural meeting experience by concealing technological components from participants. Many people tend to become nervous or self-conscious in front of a camera or microphone. By hiding equipment, cables, and infrastructure, the feeling of an “in-person” meeting is heightened and participants are free to interact as they normally would if all members of the meeting were gathered in the same room.

Camera placement. Eye contact is an essential element of meaningful communication. The dilemma inherent in designing a video conferencing or telepresence meeting environment is that if you are looking at someone on a display, where do you place the camera to capture eye gaze without blocking views? It turns out that vendors have solved this problem in a variety of clever ways: some companies use beam-splitters and reflectance to create mutual eye gaze while others mount small cameras behind displays at eye level that function through tiny, unobtrusive openings in the image.

Functionality, placement, and concealment of cameras for optimal effect are primarily a vendor design decision; however, it is important to be aware of the principles and issues involved.

Audio. Although image clarity and definition are very significant components of an immersive experience, of even greater importance in conferencing situations is audio quality.

A meeting is of little value if the participants cannot understand one another. In an engineered telepresence installation, the majority of microphones and speakers are ceiling-mounted and hidden. Because the space is being created specifically as a telepresence environment, ceiling height can be optimized to 8 to 10 feet and the proper acoustical materials can be incorporated into the ceiling, walls, and partitions to produce a CD-quality sound system. Microphone and speaker placement, as well as audio processing components, should also be designed so that participants can have “side conversations” and can “talk over” each other’s conversations as they might normally do during an in-person meeting.

To ensure high audio quality, the physical location of the room should be selected so that is isolated from vibrations or sounds coming from other spaces or mechanical equipment.

The thickness of the room walls should be sufficient so that sound from adjoining spaces do not leak in. Glass does not absorb reverberation well and windows should therefore be eliminated or kept to a minimum. Carpeting should be used for the floors because hardwood or tile may reflect and distort sounds. Depending on your building’s heating and cooling

Figure 2: Cisco’s design configuration using a mirrored environment. Photo courtesy of Cisco Systems, Inc.

system, sound-dampening materials may need to be applied to the air registers if the noise level impacts the quality of your audio transmissions.

Lighting. Planned lighting (or studio lighting as it is sometimes referred to) that has been optimized for video is a very important component of the telepresence experience.

Harsh lighting that produces stark shadows on furnishings and attendees will detract from the natural setting you are trying to create and can be distracting, especially if participants feel that they are being portrayed in an unflattering manner. Most systems work best with fluorescent (rather than incandescent) fixtures that provide indirect, evenly distributed lighting, and render flesh tones accurately. A combination of wall and ceiling fixtures should be used to equalize the ambient light and provide fill. Avoid placing lights behind participants (to prevent silhouetting) or over displays (to discourage glare).

Try to minimize reflective surfaces and window openings to maintain better control over lighting schemes. It is important that the color temperature of the bulbs used in fixtures in both the local and remote sites be consistent to optimize video transmission and to unify the environment.

Controls

come in at around $300,000 to $400,000. The final price will depend on the desired size and purpose of your meetings, and the amount of equipment you require, including displays, microphones, cameras, speakers, fixtures, and furniture. You may incur extra costs if a large number of modifications are necessary to your existing building facilities. In addition to upfront installation charges, there will also be a monthly maintenance fee for some systems, which may include network and hardware maintenance, concierge services, hardware and software upgrades, and system checks. Depending on the vendor, these recurring fees could run anywhere from $8,000 to $18,000 per month. While this may seem like a great deal of money, you may find that the system eventually will support itself by reducing corporate travel time and expenditures, and facilitating collaboration, creativity, and efficiency.

Unlike traditional video conferencing, telepresence solutions are designed to be extremely user-friendly so participants can concentrate on content rather than logistics. Scheduling and coordinating telepresence exchanges can be done through a graphical user interface (GUI) console which makes use of online calendaring and messaging utilities. Many companies offer concierge-level services, which include setting up meetings for you, monitoring and diagnosing equipment and networks, and interfacing with legacy equipment. Control systems are customizable but are vendor-specific. Make sure you go over your needs with your telepresence design and implementation team to get a solution that is tailored to your needs.

If you are considering a telepresence solution for your corporation, it is important to determine how you can benefit most from the technology. Once you have identified your goals, you are in a better position to calculate the bottom line dollar value of achieving these goals, whether it is to save time or expenses, create more marketing opportunities, reduce your company’s carbon footprint, or stimulate teamwork.

The design of your telepresence suite is only one part of your decision making process; however, by acquainting yourself with the physical planning requirements necessary to create an appropriate environment, you will be able to make informed decisions that will keep costs from exceeding your expectations or budget.

Cost and return on investment

Selected bibliography

It is not inexpensive to implement a telepresence solution. As we have discussed, a great deal of planning, attention to detail, and some very pricey high-tech equipment are involved.

Room configurations that include technology for very small meetings (one or two people) start at approximately $80,000.

Infrastructure for meetings between three to six people may

John Gregory and Lisa Horan, “ABCs of Videoconference Rooms,” Architecture Week, April 2002, www.architectureweek.com/2002/0403/building_1-2.html.

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S. Ann Earon. “Interactive Telepresence: A Review,” www.triinc.com/articles/interactive.pdf. 2004.

FEATURE AR TICLE

Art and Collaboration in

Virtual Worlds

Artists have always been stimulated by new modes of expression. As soon as an exciting new technology or medium shows up, artists have explored ways to use to realize their artistic concepts. For example, during the Renaissance, the “new” science of optical perspective inspired artists such as Donatello, da Vinci, and Giotto to produce a seemingly miraculous virtual reality on a simple flat surface. The focus of an artist’s expression can be the paint surface, the imagined space represented on the canvas, a 3D object as in sculpture, or there can be no focus at all, as in conceptual art. Clearly, the virtual world of telepresence offers a rich medium for artistic expression.

Skipping ahead a few centuries from Leonardo, we now have video, audio, computer, and communications technologies that have developed to the point where they are interesting to serious artists. The computer, which has been called the “prosthesis for the brain,” allows us to visualize and explore realities not apparent to our biological selves, including the distribution of “dark matter” in the universe, the processes that form a hurricane, and the geographic distribution of statistical data. Increasingly, even the Internet is being used in ways that its early sponsor, the Department of Defense, never dreamed of. An artist is duty-bound to produce a vision that is unlike all that has gone before, and the potential that new media offer is irresistible. As the photographer Jeff Wall said regarding the relationship of an artist, his medium of choice, and his

environment, “you can’t be someone not of your time.”

Artistic license and the collaborative paradigm Examples of how artists are exploiting the new technology of collaboration are everywhere. A phenomenon that perhaps lies somewhere between “conceptual art” and a silly prank is the “Flash Mob,” in which a group conspires on-line in a chat room or other venue to appear at a precise time and place and perform a certain activity. For instance, two hundred people might all suddenly appear on a street corner and, without a word, simultaneously start to tap-dance and then, after a prearranged interval, just as suddenly disappear.

MMOGs and avatars Art blends rapidly into commerce. Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) such as World of Warcraft, There, and Second Life are becoming increasingly popular and profitable.

Approximately 15 million people worldwide have spent some time in one of these virtual worlds. Second Life is an idyllic virtual environment in which hundreds or even thousands of players from all over the world collaborate and interact with each other. Each player is represented by an “avatar” (from the Sanskrit word denoting a visitor from a higher plane of existence), which he has personally designed. A player can see the other avatars and interact with them on-screen, buying and

selling items to improve his or her position. The currency used is convertible to and from real cash. In the case of Second Life, approximately $1.5 million in real cash changes hands every month. Ironically, it’s not clear whether these systems should be classified as games, since there are no discernable rules and it’s also not clear who the winner is in some cases.

MMOGs are works of art in the sense that an architectural design is a work of art. The game designer (“Game God” or Admin) creates an environment that places certain constraints on and gives certain opportunities to the inhabitants. Participants in the game can act in any way consistent with the rules of the environment (End-User License Agreement or EULA) and with the laws of physics as established by the game software. For example, in some MMOGs, a player can fly. He may also be able to steal and murder (according to the laws of game physics) but he may be prohibited from doing so by the EULA or other “Rules of the Game.” Therefore, ethics, morality, and the rule of law come into play in these worlds since players can make choices between good and evil. Since some activities in the MMOG have consequences in the “Real World” (conversion to real cash, for example), legal implications become difficult to sort out. Some MMOG philosophers such as Edward Castronovo believe that there should never be any “Real World” consequences of actions in the MMOG--that the virtual world should be closed inside a “golden circle” lest it stop being a game and no longer a priceless refuge from the predations of the “Real World.”

Figure 1.

Mateusz Herczka’s Life Support Systems: Vanda from the Prix Ars Electronica 2005.

Electrical signals from the Vanda Hybrida orchid are used to create a virtual organism capable of self-organization and adaptation to its surroundings. Photo reprinted courtesy of Ars Electronica (www.aec.at).

Real “real world” applications But what if we want to use the technology of the MMOG not as a refuge or game, but as an enhancement and extension of the “Real World?” As Castronovo points out, the idea of virtual people has a long history: today we call them corporations. Corporations were created so that people could loan money to the corporation’s business without being liable to prosecution if the corporation did something wrong (although they could lose the money loaned). There is nothing to prevent establishment of legal fictions in the virtual world.

One can envision a future teleconference in which a participant is represented by an avatar with an enhanced ability to retrieve information, reason, and display state of mind. Perhaps the human behind the avatar would act as a director, bringing emotion into play as appropriate, but relying on the supporting computer power to assist in rendering the actions of the avatar. Even today, there are chess playing programs that can defeat almost any human player. The avatar participates in a meeting in a virtual space where all of the participating avatars are visible. Some avatars may be composites representing conglomerates of participants. In addition, a number of graphical meeting aids may be available: perhaps a display showing the aggregate attitude of the assembly regarding a particular issue or combination of issues, or the dollar value TELEPRESENCE WORLD

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Figure 2: Keith Armstrong’s Intimate Transactions from Prix Ars Electronica 2005.

Photo reprinted courtesy of Ars Electronica (www.aec.at).

that each avatar assigns to a suggested outcome. This kind of virtual meeting might prove to be much more informative than high resolution images of the beads of sweat on participants’ brows. Since this virtual space would be subject to monitoring and regulation by legal bodies, openness of corporate decision making would be ensured.

On a more prosaic note, the communications bandwidth needed to support MMOG-type technology is far less than that required to support real-time high definition imaging.

Information regarding the content of the virtual world is contained in a server computer operated by the “Game God.” The computer at each participant’s location would have a database describing the scene on its screen, containing the

virtual world and everything within view of that participant.

The actual rendering of the scene to make a picture is done by the local computer. When something changes, only the changes to the database are transmitted from the server to each local workstation. This is much more efficient than transmitting updates to a moving high-resolution image.

Avatars and art The artist Mateusz Herczka is exploring ways to take the avatar idea further. In his work Life Support Systems he imbues the avatar (in this case, of an orchid) with the essence of a biological creature that transcends appearance (Figure 1).

Selected bibliography Ars Electronica Website, www.aec.at Hannes Leopoldseder et al. Ars Electronica, 1979-2004. Al. Ars Electronica, Linz 2004.

Oliver Grau. Virtual Art: From Illusion to Immersion. MIT Press, Cambridge 2003.

The State of Play: Law, Games and Virtual Worlds. Jack M. Balkin and Beth S. Noveck (eds), New York University Press, New York.

2006.

On a less threatening note, Keith Armstrong and the Transmute Collective have created an installation called Intimate Transactions (Figure 2).

This work allows two people in geographically separate spaces to interact simultaneously across a network by moving their bodies. Each participant lies upon a physical interface called a “Bodyshelf.”

By gently moving their bodies on this “smart furniture” they instigate “intimate transactions,” which influence an evolving “world” created from emergent digital imagery, multichannel sound, and tactile feedback.

These installations, as well as many others, have been shown at the annual Ars Electronica Festival held in Linz, Austria.

Undoubtedly, as the boundaries that separate art, technology, and the environment continue to blur, collaboration in virtual worlds will influence our behaviour in the real world.

Developers interested in the value-added applications of telepresence may wish to look to on-line gaming and to the works of leading edge artists for inspiration.

Developers interested in the value-added applications of telepresence may wish to look to online gaming and to the works of leading edge artists for inspiration

INS I D E T E L E P R E S E N C E

The fully integrated system enables instructors to see two or three different views of what is happening simultaneously

Cisco’s Vision of the Future A conversation with Randy Harrell, Director of Product Marketing for Cisco’s TelePresence Systems Business Unit On October 23, 2006, Cisco, a world leader in network infrastructure and applications, announced its entry into the telepresence technology arena with the “Cisco TelePresence Meeting Solution,” a remarkable product that creates an inperson meeting experience utilizing an efficient 10mbps to 12 mbps of bandwidth for a typical 4 to 12 person conference, while still sharing network traffic across the enterprise.

In November of 2006, Cisco and the Oakland Athletics revealed their collaborative efforts to build the world’s most technologically sophisticated baseball park in Fremont, California, to be named, appropriately, Cisco Park.

And, in January of 2007, Cisco released its new Digital Signage System, a solution for managing and distributing live and/or prerecorded digital media on networked displays.

With these three announcements, Cisco, led for the past 12 years by CEO John Chambers, is poised to transform the way humans communicate with each other and our relationship to events worldwide. The significance of this news is not limited to the conference board room, sports park, or colorful digital TELEPRESENCE WORLD

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billboard, but extends to how business and social relationships, along with our access to entertainment and news, will change in the future.

According to Randy Harrell, Director of Product Marketing for Cisco’s TelePresence Systems Business Unit, “We are at the beginning of a journey” that will redefine how society functions and interacts. In the case of telepresence, Harrell says that while the traditional return-on-investment rationales such as corporate travel and expense reduction are valid, the Randy Harrell, Director number one benefit of utilizing of Product Marketing for Cisco’s Telepresence Systems telepresence in the business world Business Unit. will be “putting the executives and company representatives in front of the customer” to offer guidance, discuss implementations, negotiate, and cement deals. Cisco currently has 45 telepresence end-point installations globally but expects 120 sites to be functional by the end of July 2007 in areas as remote

as Moscow, China, and South America. He points out that multi-national corporations expanding to less-industrialized parts of the world will no longer have to worry about finding qualified support and management personnel to relocate to these areas since knowledgeable staff can be available 24

definition video files from the network.

With Digital Signage, announcements can be automatically distributed and updated almost instantaneously over networked displays. Cisco’s vision is to make the signage intelligent, meaning that it can display information based on local feedback.

For example, a customer in a store might take a product up to an LCD kiosk and, based on the products’ RFID, the screen would display video support or installation advice for the specific make and model of the device, providing an unsurpassed level of customer intimacy in the retail environment.

Plans are already underway to use this new digital signage technology at the proposed Oakland A’s ballpark in Fremont, CA. Patrons could call up player stats and run instant replays at the touch of a button. Displays could direct patrons to use the least congested exits based on attendee traffic patterns. If you would prefer to spend part of the game dining at an onsite restaurant or having drinks with friends at the ball park bar, telepresence technology would allow you to keep up with the game by displaying the action in highdefinition on life-sized screens with surround sound audio.

We are at the beginning of a journey hours a day via telepresence. Already, some Cisco executives have telepresence systems installed at their homes so that they and their unique expertise can be available to customers around the world without the time lost to travel.

Harrell notes that Cisco’s goal is to “drive telepresence to the telephone model,” where infrastructure and ease of operation put telepresence technology on par with other utilities like lighting, heating, or the phone. The integration with the Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly called Call Manager), which “gives scheduling and call launch back to the user” is at the center of this drive. Unlike conventional video conferencing systems, which are so complex and unreliable that each meeting usually requires IT intervention, Communications Manager combines scheduling, connectivity, and contact into an easy-to-use, one button interface that makes calendaring and call launch as straightforward as operating a phone. Communications Manager integrates with traditional calendaring software like Outlook or Groupware with Session Initiated Protocols (SIP) to seamlessly link traditional phones, legacy video conferencing systems, and voice-over IP, multimedia, and presence-based applications.

Cisco’s Digital Signage, which enables enterprises to publish, play back, and manage digital media on a network of digital plasma or LCD displays, will also change the way we do business. The system comprises the Digital Media Manager, which offers web-based management of the display network, and the Digital Media Player, a small box that attaches to the display and plays rich media, including mpeg and high

In the future, Harrell sees these two technologies creating opportunities for entertainment and socializing anywhere in the world. By using a telepresence technology and digital media streaming, virtual hospitality venues could host the Kentucky Derby in the morning, a baseball game in the afternoon, and Nascar racing in the evening, depending on customer interests. Harrell predicts that in five years, virtual hospitality rooms may even be available for installation in the home, so that people can experience their favorite sport, or even a theatrical play or museum exhibit as if they were there, without ever leaving their house. It may even be possible for families living on two different continents to have dinner together on a virtual third continent, just as if they were in the same room.

Central to the success of all these new applications is Cisco’s comprehensive solution architecture and its commitment to its customers. Cisco envisions a future where networked elements can be interconnected and intermixed with relative freedom in a highly flexible infrastructure. And the best part? All of this technology will be nearly transparent to the customer, allowing them to focus on content rather than process. Observes Harrell, “Quality and simplicity are everything to the user.”

IN T H E N E W S

Telepresence World’s In the News section features news items and technology updates relevant to telepresence, presence, and unified communications. If have a news item that you would like listed, please email a brief announcement to meltzera@hemisphereinc.com. Telepresence World is not responsible for information listed or omissions.

San Diego, CA –– Telanetix Announces Interoperability Between Its Digital Presence System and Existing Video Conferencing Systems.

Telanetix, Inc., a leading developer of telepresence technology, announced plans to offer a new interoperable digital presence platform by the end of the first quarter of 2007. The new platform will give Telanetix users the option to participate in telepresence meetings with standard H.263 and H.264 SIP enabled video conferencing systems currently being offered by video conferencing providers such as Polycom, Inc., and Tandberg.

“The Telepresence market currently has a large number of organizations that are using a mixed suite of conferencing products and services,” stated Rick Ono, Telanetix Chief Operating Officer. “In an effort to offer our users the most advanced digital presence solution, Telanetix has created one of the first truly interoperable platforms for telepresence. As video conferencing continues to become a mainstream application for businesses, our powerful solution offers all the benefits of telepresence without requiring our customers to abandon existing systems. Our interoperability platform shifts the market in a new direction and will have significant impact on the telepresence industry for years to come.”

Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc., publisher of Telepresence World, has joined forces with the Interactive Multimedia & Collaborative Communications Alliance (IMCCA), a nonprofit communications organization headquartered in Syosset, New York, to promote Telepresence World 2007, which will be held June 4-6, 2007, on the University of San Diego campus in San Diego, California.

According to Mark Barounos, President of Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc., the alliance is a significant step in bringing together the many global entities who are independently researching, evaluating, and implementing telepresence and presence solutions to facilitate interand intra-corporation collaboration, enhance distance learning and exploration, expand healthcare options, and limit their company’s ecological impact by reducing travel.

The IMCCA, whose members share a common interest in fostering and promoting people-to-people and business-to-business communication and learning through the use of technology, will participate in Telepresence World 2007 through speaker sessions, exhibits, and by publicizing the event to its membership via its website, publications, and email. Members of the IMCCA will be able to register for Telepresence World 2007 for a special discounted fee.

“IMCCA is continually striving to enhance its value to the membership,” said Carol Zelkin, Executive Director of the IMCCA. “Telepresence World 2007 fosters our goal to provide comprehensive and meaningful services and opportunities to our members and we look forward to working with them.”

New York, NY –– Teliris Receives $40 Million Investment From Fidelity Ventures and Columbia Capital.

The interoperable platform will be offered as an option to Telanetix’s Digital Presence System. The platform is a combination of hardware and software components that facilitate seamless connectivity directly with the core of the Telanetix System.

Steamboat Springs, CO –– Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc., and the Interactive Multimedia & Collaborative Communications Alliance (IMCCA) Team Up to Promote Landmark Summit on Telepresence Technology.

Teliris, a leading provider of telepresence solutions, has received a $40 million majority equity investment led by Fidelity Ventures and co-lead Columbia Capital. Additionally, Teliris announced that Fidelity Ventures partner, Anne Mitchell, and Columbia Capital partner, John Siegel, have joined Teliris co-founder and CEO, Marc Trachtenberg, on the Teliris Board of Directors.

Teliris will use the additional funding to capitalize on its market leadership, accelerating the company’s visibility and business opportunity via global expansion of its sales and marketing capabilities and InfiNet network.

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“With six years of experience and a fourth generation solution now in the

marketplace, Teliris has helped more businesses reduce costs, increase productivity and address business continuity challenges than any other telepresence provider,” said Trachtenberg.

“Teliris has done an excellent job of building a pre-eminent position in the telepresence market,” said Mitchell. “With deployments in 18 countries, the company has the largest installed base of global Fortune 500 companies and the deepest experience in serving businesses in the pharmaceutical, industries.”

“We have seen tremendous interest in the telepresence sector from both the enterprise market and several potential distribution channels. We believe Teliris has the unique mix of technology leadership and a servicefocused delivery model to drive widespread adoption,” said Siegel. “In our

image equivalent to a 105-inch screen viewed at twelve feet, in fullcolor stereovision. Its high-speed headtracking provides full 360-degree viewing, enabling users to look around and move in the virtual world much like they do in the real world. It features two OLED microdisplays with 800 x 600 resolution in more than 16 million colors.

Completing the near-immersive experience is an integrated, audio system with stereo earbuds and a noise-canceling microphone. At the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show, the Z800 3DVisor won the CEA Innovation of the Year award in the digital display category and a Design and Engineering Innovation Award for the electronic gaming category.

Washington, DC –– FCC Expands Eligibility to Include National Lambda Rail’s Backbone in Rural Health Care Pilot.

large market need and positions the company for long-term success.”

Duxbury, MA –– New Market Study from Wainhouse Research Analyzes

The Federal Communications Commission expanded eligibility in its new rural health care pilot program to include connections to National

Wainhouse Research has released a new report titled, “Telepresence 2007 - Taking Videoconferencing to the Next Frontier.” Designed to provide guidance for prospective telepresence system buyers, this 66page report includes an overview of features and

backbone provider that, like Internet2, serves government research and academic institutions, as well as public and private health care institutions.

Launched by the Commission on September 26, 2006, the Rural Health

and a detailed product comparison matrix. tuned technology; it is the result of a mixture of high-performance capabilities that, when properly integrated into the right environment and combined with easily accessible and well-conceived support services, The report explains the various elements that comprise a telepresence (HP), Polycom, Tandberg, Telanetix, and Teliris.

“Telepresence 2007” is available at no cost to pro-level subscribers to Wainhouse Research’s PLATINUM research portal or can be purchased separately for $2,495. More information, including an executive summary and table of contents, is available at www.wainhouse.com/.

Bellevue, WA –– eMagin 3DVisor an Imaging Solution of the Year.

3DVisor, as implemented in Chatten Associates’ head-aimed remote viewer (HARV), is one of Advanced Imaging’s Solutions of the Year. The award recognizes imaging applications that solve “involved problems using sophisticated imaging technology.” popular VR display into a controller for remotely driven vehicles -- the kind used to scout dangerous terrain for roadside bombs or perform reconnaissance duties. Chatten Associates believes its HARV brings vehicle.

By providing a compelling level of telepresence, HARV creates a severalfold increase in situational awareness and decision speed. Using eMagin’s Z800 3DVisor, its head-aimed vision process harnesses the natural visual processing capability of the human mind at an unconscious level.

The result is a 3 productivity.

About the Z800 3DVisor: The Z800 3DVisor provides superb 3D stereovision and headtracking for PC gaming, training and simulation, and other applications. It delivers a high-color, high-contrast virtual

provider, including, but not limited to, providing network redundancy, which will improve the health care community’s ability to respond in a national crisis.

HANNOVER, Germany -TelePresence Service with Cisco Cisco has announced that Regus, the world’s largest provider of outsourced workplaces, has enable Regus’ clients to book a virtual meeting at any of 50 selected locations globally. The new service will allow multiple physical rooms to be linked simultaneously, either using other Regus TelePresence locations or linking to external TelePresence facilities at third party locations. The service will be made available both to existing Regus tenants as well as the general public, and can be utilized as a by-the-hour or extended service. Cisco will also use the service to provide more geographically convenient facilities for Cisco’s customers, “We have long believed there was a gap for a premium electronic meeting room solution. There is a desire to eliminate unnecessary global travel due to the congestion of airports, cost of travel, demands on time and focus on green issues,” said Mark Dixon, CEO of the Regus Group.

“As business becomes increasingly demanding, we need to be more productive. Electronic and virtual meetings are key to this.”

The new service will take advantage of Cisco’s Secure Business-toBusiness (B2B) technology to support connecting Regus TelePresence locations with end points located outside the Regus corporate network.

The new Cisco TelePresence Multipoint switch solution will underpin the ability to link up to 36 geographically distant sites together in one single virtual meeting.

The Cisco Select Operate Service will provide remote network monitoring network elements of the Regus service. In addition, the Cisco Remote Assistance service will provide real-time administrative support for Regus and customers in setting up and managing meetings.

set up menu. Many companies offer 24/7 “concierge” service, which can handle all technical aspects of the meeting, even monitoring equipment to prevent, detect or troubleshoot problems.

FRE Q U E N T LY A S K E D QUE S T I O N S

Which companies are currently developing and deploying telepresence systems?

Today, a number of companies have ventured into the telepresence arena. Unfortunately, at this time, some systems are proprietary and do not natively work with other proprietary systems but one of the goals of the telepresence industry is to develop standards which will allow all systems, including legacy video and audio conferencing systems, to work together transparently, dramatically improving consumer return on investment (ROI). The following is a partial list of vendors who are actively involved in telepresence research and development. For further information, check out their websites.

Telepresence: A Primer A Short Guide to the Technology

What is telepresence?

A human/machine system which uses advanced communication technologies such as low-latency, highspeed internet connectivity, high definition video, largeformat dislays, and CD-quality audio to produce an immersive interactive experience with other users or objects in a remote environment.

What are some examples of how telepresence can be used?

• Conferences and meetings • Exploration of hostile, inaccessible, or distant environments • Research and collaboration • Remote operation of robotic machinery or tools • Distance learning • Telemedicine • Entertainment and the arts What is the difference between telepresence and video conferencing?

Telepresence has been compared to high-quality video conferencing, but it is very much more than that. Because traditional video conferencing routinely runs over low-speed, high latency networks (ISDN or Internet 1), it has consistently failed to produce a satisfactory interactive experience. Image and sound quality is often lacking, resulting in a shaky, nonsynchronized and thus unrealistic encounter. Telepresence, on the other hand, combines high-definition (HD) video and audio, life-size displays, dedicated networks, and customized surroundings to more closely replicate an in-person experience.

Do these new telepresence technologies mean that I will have to call my IT department every time I want to have a meeting?

One of the disadvantages of traditional video conferencing is that it is difficult to use. Complex controls and the unreliability of ISDN or IP connectivity mean that, in most instances, someone from the IT staff has to be on hand to get the system to work. New telepresence systems are much easier to use, often simplifying call scheduling, initiation, and control via a touch sensitive graphical user interface (GUI) or an intuitive TELEPRESENCE WORLD

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Audio Tek/ATK Services (www.atkservices.com) Cisco (www.cisco.com) DVE-Digital Video Enterprises (www.dvetelepresence.com) Hewlett-Packard/Halo Collaboration (www.hp.com/halo) Life Size (www.lifesize.com) MedPresence (www.MedPresence.com) Polycom (www.polycom.com) Tandberg (www.tandberg.com) Telanetix (www.Telanetix.com) Teliris (www.Teliris.com) What do these systems cost?

The cost of these systems can be significant—it is possible to spend over $300,000 on the installation of a telesuite, and monthly maintenance, depending on the number of sites, may run into tens of thousands of dollars. However, the cost may be offset by the money and time saved by reducing unnecessary business travel and by increasing profits through ease of collaboration and improved customer contact. Fuel costs, which are directly linked to global politics and availability of resources, continue to rise. In addition, by reducing travel and the consumption of fossil fuels, the use of telepresence has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and mitigate global warming. For example, in November 2006, Teliris became the first telepresence provider to have their current family of offerings—VirtuaLive—certified by The Carbon Neutral Company to help reduce the “carbon footprint” of its customers. Many governments are developing regulations and tax incentives to mitigate the effects of corporate activity, including travel, on the environment, making ecological responsibility not just socially prudent but financially attractive as well. In the future, the cost of implementing telepresence systems is anticipated to decline as the technology becomes more mainstream. And, as the threat of terrorism causes travel to become increasingly risky, the use of telepresence insures against the loss of one of the most valuable corporate assets— its employees and executives.

Where can I find the latest information on new telepresence applications and technologies?

Increasingly, articles on telepresence are featured online, in journals and newspapers, and on television. We recommend that you use Telepresence World as your centralized source for news of the latest developments in this rapidly-changing field!

ADVANCE PROGRAM

University of San Diego KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

June 4-6, 2007

Globalization at the Speed of Light Managing the Global Enterprise Mobile Productivity & Unified Communications Bob Hagerty CEO & Chairman of the Board of Directors Polycom

Confluence of Visual Collaboration Networks The Pioneers Speak Purchasing and Deploying Solutions Are you Carbon Neutral?

Assessing your Travel Risks

Marc Trachtenberg Chief Executive Officer Teliris

The Virtual Employee Telepresence in the Laboratory

www.TelepresenceWorld.com Connect. Any Way You Want

ALIGNING IT & BUSINES S

Telepresence World 2007 Conference University of San Diego San Diego California June 4th – 6th, 2007 Telepresence World 2007 invites you to be a catalyst for change by attending this first-of-its-kind landmark summit on the emerging technologies of telepresence, presence, and unified communications. Dedicated to bringing together corporate leadership and top technology providers from around the globe, Telepresence World 2007 will allow participants to learn about and evaluate the revolutionary hi-tech developments that have brought telepresence from the realm of science fiction to the reality of everyday business.

Who should attend:

Partner Pavilion info:

• CEO/CFO/CMO/CTO/CIOs • Collaboration Executives • Brand Managers • Conferencing Managers • Telemedicine Providers • Videoconferencing Managers • Telepresence and Videoconferencing Industry Participants

www.telepresenceworld.com

From the following fields: • Healthcare / Medical • Judicial / Legal • Banking / Financial • Industry / Business • Oil/Gas • Events/Conferences • Manufacturing/Technology • Education / Distance Learning • Government /Defense • Public Access • And Others

ABOUT THE VENUE Located on 180 acres overlooking the city of San Diego, Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean, the University of San Diego campus is a community treasure, with Spanish Renaissance-inspired buildings and beautiful landscapes.

3 easy ways to register!

Online: Go to: www.TelepresenceWorld.com and click on Register

By Fax: Registration form with credit card info to: 1-781-394-7982

By Mail: Registration form with payment to: Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc. Attn: TPW07 Registrations PO Box 773813 Steamboat Springs CO 80477 TELEPRESENCE WORLD

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To demonstrate the power of telepresence, presence and unified communications to bridge distance and bring people together, Telepresence World 2007 will include a concurrent Partner Pavilion.

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Conference at-a-glance DAY 1

Global Business at the Speed of Light – Off to the Races

7.30 am 8:30 am 8:45 am 9:30 am 9:50 am 9:55 am 10:15 am 10:35 am 11:15 am 11:35 am 11:55 am 12:00 pm

Registration and Continental Breakfast Welcome ~ Opening Remarks Keynote Opening Addresss: Globalization at the speed of light Managing the Global Enterprise - Lessons from the Front Lines Discussion Mobile Productivity and Unified Communications On the Horizon: The Confluence of Visual Collaboration Networks Break-Partner Pavilion Tour A Pioneer Speaks – History & Future of Telepresence Finance, the Markets, and the Virtual Dealing Room of the Future Discussion Lunch

BREAKOUT SESSIONS TRACK 1

TRACK 2

TRACK 3

1:30 pm

RPX Revealed

Even Better Than the Real Thing

Room with a View

2:00 pm

Surveying the Field

Stock, Lock & Barrell

Not Just Video Conferencing

2:30 pm

Seeing is Believing: Life-size What Every CFO Should Know Meeting Experience

3:00 pm

B R E A K

www.telepresenceworld.com

E nterprise

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R eal - time M arket D ata

T O U R

Collaborative D esign

”Value-added” Aspects of Telepresence

P A R T N E R

P A V I L I O N

3:30 pm

Platform Interoperability

Mobile Data

Avatars: The Real You

4:00 pm

Designing your Telepresence Environment

Empowering the Investors

Telelattepresence

4:30 pm

Beyond the Technology

Unified Communications: One- Stop Shopping

Unified Communications and the White Board of Tomorrow

6:00pm

Welcome Reception

DAY 2

The Virtual Future of the Virtual Society in our Not-too-Distant Future

7.30 am 8:30 am 8:45 am 9:15 am 9:35 am 9:40 am 10:00 am 10:05 am 10:45 am 11:05 am 11:25 am 11:30 am

Continental Breakfast Opening Remarks Keynote Opening Address: The Essence of Telepresence Are you Carbon Neutral? How Telepresence Can Help You Go Green AND increase Productivity and Profits Discussion Assessing your Travel Risks - Physical and Information security, Productivity, and Quality of Life Maximizing your IT Resources with Telepresence Break The Virtual Employee: Telecommuting and Telepresence: Creativity and Telepresence Discussion Lunch

BREAKOUT SESSIONS TRACK 1

TRACK 2

TRACK 3

E missions M ergers & Acq uisitions

Communications T E C H N O LO G Y: G overnment / M ilitary

1:00 pm

It’s Not Easy Being Green Mid-Market Firms Miracles

Our Town: New Town Hall Meetings

1:30 pm

Global Warming: How Hot is It?

Streamlining the M&A Process To Infinity and Beyond Creating M&A Data Rooms

2:00 pm

What is Your Carbon Footprint?

Creating the Virtual Data Room

2:30 pm

B R E A K

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T O U R

P A R T N E R

R&D Redefined P A V I L I O N

3:00 pm

Ecological Design

Multiple Listing Services in M&A

Post 9/11 Progress

3:30 pm

The Business of Being Green: In Crisis There is Opportunity

B2B: What Should You Be Looking for in a Telepresence System

Saving Your Tax Dollars at Work

4:00 pm

Update on the Kyoto Protocol & the International Emissions Trading Market

ROI: Expectations and Achievements

Remote Debriefing

Conference at-a-glance & SPEECH ABSTRACTS DAY 3

Distance Learning and Medicine

7.30 am 8:30 am 8:45 am 9:15 am 9:35 am 9:40 am 10:00 am 10:05 am 10:45 am 11:05 am 11:25 am 11:30 am

Continental Breakfast Opening Remarks~Announcements Keynote Opening Addresss: The State of and Future of Telepresence Distance Learning and Education/TBA The Future of Medical and Surgical Education Discussion Improving Quality of Care and Patient Interaction Potential Impact of Telemedicine on Hospital Business Models Break Fostering Academic Collaboration using Internet 2 and Telepresence Technology EduPresence & Education: The Universal University Discussion Lunch

BREAKOUT SESSIONS TRACK 1

TRACK 2

TRACK 3

D istance E ducation

I nteractive M edicine

Virtual Studio Collaboration

1:00 pm

Bringing Outdoor Learning to Urban Campuses

Telemedicine Gets Legs

Digital Video/TBA

1:30 pm

The Adult Student

Telepsychiatry

Mystic Aquarium

2:00 pm

Virtual Degrees

The New Anatomy

2:30 pm

B R E A K

3:00 pm

From Kindergarten to College

Global Medicine: Africa, Asia & Middle East

Coming to a Telepresence Screen Near You

3:30 pm

Engaging Students through Telepresence

Specialized Diagnostic Tools for Telepresence

Dreamworks and Telepresence: More than Wallace & Grommit

4:00 pm

Going to Mars Virtually First Class

Telesurgery with Robotic Devices

Far and Away

SPEECH ABSTRACTS

www.telepresenceworld.com

DAY 1

TELEPRESENCE WORLD

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T O U R

P A R T N E R

Actors Studio: Tele-Direction P A V I L I O N

Global Business at the Speed of Light – Off to the Races 8:45 AM - 9:30 AM

Keynote Opening Address: Globalization at the Speed of Light

The only constant is change. The challenging technological needs of business are evolving at a rapid pace. Information technology must also evolve and adapt to meet those complex needs. In the 21st century, technology is poised to surpass the limits placed on it by conventional thinking.

9:30 AM - 9:50 AM

Telepresence Phenomena and Research: The Big(ger) Picture 9:55 AM - 10:15 AM

Mobile Productivity and Unified Communications

Communication is key in this age of cell phones, blackberries, and instant messaging. These types of devices are designed to make life easier, but they often wind up being addictive and counter-productive. Learn how mobilizing your data and streaming communication can instantly enhance how your business interacts with clients and customers.

10:15 AM - 10:35 AM

On the Horizon: The Confluence of Visual Collaboration Networks

This dynamic session will provide an overview of the complexities of visual collaboration networks and how they enable companies to share, modify, and disseminate visual information/content quickly and seamlessly – both internally and externally.

Long distances and different time zones are no longer insurmountable obstacles.

11:15 AM - 11:35 AM

A Pioneer Speaks – History and Future of Telepresence 11:35 AM - 11:55 AM

Finance, the Markets, and the Virtual Dealing Room of the Future

Today’s world of financial management is on the verge of a breakthrough: virtual dealing rooms can provide access to real-time market data without the sometimes costly delays of conventional information gathering. Learn how technology can supply corporations and customers with the current data they need to make critical financial decisions.

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DAY 2

The Virtual Future of the Virtual Society in our Not-too-Distant Future

8:45 AM - 9:30 AM

Keynote Opening Address: The Essence of Telepresence 9:30 AM - 9:50 AM

Are You Carbon Neutral?

An Update on Global Warming and How Telepresence Can Help You Go Green AND Increase Productivity and Profits From the ozone layer to the depleted rainforests, the environment is one of the primary concerns facing the world today. As research mounts showing the extent of man’s impact on Earth’s natural resources, conservation issues are becoming flashpoints in both political and corporate arenas.

Companies today are being strongly urged by the public and governmental regulatory agencies to improve their environmental records. See how utilizing telepresence technology can help your company fulfill environmental responsibility without sacrificing profit.

9:55 AM - 10:15 AM

Assessing Your Travel Risks - Physical and Information Security, Productivity, and Quality of Life

The financial and physical costs of attending dozens of meetings around the globe have become a huge liability. Flight delays, security risks, and the absence of key staff members during trips are just a few of the problematic issues related to corporate travel today. Recent breaches of security involving loss of critical personal data only serve to compound these risks. Examine travel-related hazards and and hear solutions from our experts.

10:15 AM - 10:35 AM

Maximizing Your IT Resources with Telepresence

More than just your average help desk, IT departments today are by far one of the most vital components of any business. Discover how your information technology resources can be strengthened and enhanced with the technology of telepresence.

11:15 AM - 11:35 AM

The Virtual Employee: Telecommuting and Telepresence

Balancing meetings, kids, career, and family in today’s ultra demanding workforce can be nearly overwhelming. Businesses are continuously looking for innovative ways to retain valuable employees and reduce turnover. Telecommuting and virtual work environments are quickly becoming viable alternatives that satisfy both the needs of the employees and business. Learn how these options can help you improve ROI and keep indispensable employees.

11:35 AM - 11:55 AM

Creativity and Telepresence

Creativity has been the driving force of industry for thousands of years. This session will focus on efforts which involve various types of remote collaboration and telepresence approaches using high speed optical networks to carry high definition images, motion pictures, and digital audio for cinema, scientific visualization, and media education.

DAY 3

Distance Learning and Medicine

8:45 AM - 9:30 AM

Keynote Opening Address: The State of and Future of Telepresence Distance Learning and Education/TBA

SUMMIT Lab/Stanford University

9:30 AM - 9:50 AM

The Future of Medical and Surgical Education Medical advances made within the last few years have changed the face of patient care. Everyday, physicians, academics, and clinicians alike strive for solutions to debilitating diseases and conditions that continue to plague our world. Sharing of knowledge and ideas is key to productive research and improved treatment modalities. Attendees will hear about technology already in place to facilitate medical training worldwide and hear about plans for future endeavors.

www.telepresenceworld.com

9:55 AM - 10:15 AM

Improving Quality of Care and Patient Interaction

This informative session will touch on the inadequacies patient and physicians encounter in the current healthcare system and how utilizing interactive technology can immensely improve the quality of care that patients receive. Dr. Partovi will also focus on creative, innovative solutions that assist in re-establishing the important doctor-patient relationship.

10:15 AM - 10:20 AM

Potential Impact of Telemedicine on Hospital Business Models

Running a hospital today is more than just filling beds with patents. Administrators must ensure expert patient care with state of the art medical technology while maintaining a solid economic bottom line. Learn how telemedicine is doing just that by advancing knowledge and teaching physicians new surgical techniques and best administrative practices in rural communities and remote third world nations.

11:00 AM - 11:20 AM

Fostering Academic Collaboration using Internet 2 and Telepresence Technology

The internet we all use is becoming increasingly crowded. Many academic and R&D institutions today are turning to Internet 2 for the bandwidth necessary for collaborative research. See how Internet 2 and telepresence are teaming up to provide enhanced access to data and colleagues.

11:20 AM - 11:40 AM

EduPresence & Education: The Universal University Distance learning is quickly becoming the most viable educational solution for many in the workforce. With the demands of career and family, taking time to actually go to a classroom is often not an option. See how the advantages of virtual education are impacting the student of today and the university of tomorrow.

SPEAKERS Bob Hagerty CEO & Chairman of the Board of Directors | Polycom Mr. Bob Hagerty joined Polycom in January 1997 as President, Chief Operating Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors. In July 1998 he was named Chief Executive Officer, and in March 2000 he became Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Hagerty came to Polycom to build on the vision of delivering a collaborative communications solution for customers interested in achieving quantum leaps in efficiency and productivity. During his tenure, Polycom has made a number of key acquisitions including Destiny Conferencing, Voyant Technologies, ViaVideo, Accord Networks, PictureTel, Meet you, ASPI and Circa Communications. http://telepresenceworld.com/images/marctrac.jpg http://telepresenceworld.com/images/marctrac.jpg

Marc Trachtenberg Chief Executive Officer | Teliris Marc Trachtenberg is a co-founder of Teliris, where he holds the positions of CEO and Chief Technology Officer. In this role, he supplies strategic direction and drives the vision for the corporation. Marc is the chief architect of the FACT framework, and is responsible for development of Teliris’ infrastructure. He also manages research and development of all Teliris’ future product and transport solutions. Marc has over 22 years of experience in leading-edge technology in the areas of infrastructure and transport systems. He architects global networks for international companies and works closely with communication carriers and infrastructure vendors to shape the services and devices of their next-generation offerings.

Carol Zelkin Executive Director | IMCCA As Executive Director of the International Multimedia and Collaborative Communications Alliance (IMCCA), Carol Zelkin’s wealth of experience and record of success have enabled her to help grow the non-profit industry trade association to its full potential. Her strong background in telecommunications as an Executive Board Member of the International Teleconferencing Association (ITCA), as well as serving as its President for two years, positioned her to play a key role in the formation and on-going management of the IMCCA. In her role as the IMCCA Executive Director, Ms. Zelkin is responsible for the Alliance’s industry relations, strategic planning, business development and international relations and business development. She has been successful in negotiating agreements with various related organizations, both nationally and internationally, which help to further the value of the IMCCA to its members. Ms. Zelkin’s credentials as an industry leader were formed during her time at Optel, a teleconferencing company she co-founded, as well as in her various capacities with the ITCA. She has expansive knowledge of the technology and a solid skill set of financial and marketing expertise.

www.telepresenceworld.com

Parvati Dev Director, SUMMIT | Senior Scientist, Stanford University Dr. Parvati Dev is the Director of the SUMMIT (Stanford University Medical Media and Information Technologies), a research and development lab in the Office of IRT (Information Resources and Technology) under the Associate Dean for Learning Technologies in the School of Medicine. In 1975, she completed her doctoral degree at Stanford on computer models of the brain. Since then, she has worked at M.I.T. and Stanford on projects using the computer to study the control of movement in animals and in patients with paralyzed muscles. Since 1982, she has led a medical imaging company in the development of three-dimensional patient imaging from computed tomography and magnetic resonance scans.

David J. Danto VP, Director of Global Multimedia Engineering | Lehman Brothers David Danto has spent 29 years in the audio visual and broadcasting industries. He has designed facilities for firms such as AT&T, Bloomberg LP, FNN, Morgan Stanley and NYU. He is currently the Director of Global Multimedia Engineering for Lehman Brothers and an Executive Board member of the IMCCA.

Barry D. Nalls Chief Executive Officer | MASERGY Currently the CEO of MASERGY, Barry D. Nalls launched the telecommunications network firm in 2000. He has an expertise in developing, designing, managing and marketing complex telecommunications networks. Under the leadership of Nalls, MASERGY received the 2006 Tech Titans Emerging Company Horizon Award for the overall progress of the company, and increased revenues of an average 30 percent each quarter for the past 18 months. Nalls received his MBA from Southern Methodist University. Prior to joining MASERGY, Nalls served in senior management positions in sales and marketing at Epoch Internet and GTE. Among his accomplishments are creating the Telecom industry’s first DSL proof-of-concept trial; building and managing the business product suite for GTE’s national CLEC; and managing the first business long distance program for a major ILEC. TELEPRESENCE WORLD

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SPEAKERS Matthew Lombard President, International Society for Presence Research (ISPR) Matthew Lombard, PhD, is Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media in the School of Communications and Theater at Temple University in Philadelphia. His research centers on individuals’ psychological and physiological processing of media presentations and experiences, with particular focus on the concept of (tele)presence. He co-founded and is president of the International Society for Presence Research (ISPR; http://ispr.info) and moderates the presence-l listserv, a cross-disciplinary discussion forum related to presence theory and research. His work has appeared in academic journals including Behaviour & Information Technology, CyberPsychology and Behavior, Journal of Communication, Human Communication Research, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication and Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments.

Marshall Eubanks CTO | Iformata Communications Marshall Eubanks is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Iformata Communications, a provider of networking services for video Telepresence. Until the recent acquisition of Destiny Conferencing by Polycom, he was CTO of that company, and prior to that he had the same role at TeleSuite Corporation, the first company to develop telepresence solutions in the marketplace. An entrepreneur with experience in several start-up corporations, Mr. Eubanks has also taken a leading role in the deployment of IP Multicasting and is a recognized expert in Internet Multicasting and its use for audio and video broadcasting and teleconferencing. Trained as a physicist, he has received various scientific awards and has an asteroid, (6696) Eubanks, named in his honor.

Larry Smarr Founding Director | California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology Dr. Smarr is a professor at the Jacobs School’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California at San Diego. He is also the founding Institute Director of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, which brings together over two hundred faculty from UCSD and UC Irvine and over fifty industrial partners to research the future development of the Internet. In 2002, he was named the Harry E. Gruber Professor of Computer Science & Information Technologies. His views on the future of the Internet, supercomputers, and computational science have been quoted widely in a variety of publications including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Nature.

R. Shawn Edmondson Co-founder and President | thereNow, Inc. Dr. R. Shawn Edmondson received his Ph.D. from the Research and Evaluation Methodology program at Utah State University’s Psychology department. He is President and co-founder of thereNow, Inc., a company researching the application of telepresence technology in the areas professional development, mentoring, and teaching. In his doctoral research, he presented the telepresence-enabled cognitive apprenticeship model of professional development and empirically demonstrated the potential of this application of telepresence technology. Dr. Edmondson’s experience in educational research, technology, and entrepreneurship also comes from his roles as Senior Research Associate for Spectrum Education Group, Board Member of DeepWell Data Services, Executive Director of the Evaluation Resource Institute, and co-founder and Chief Technical Officer for PM Gear.

Yulun Wang CEO | InTouch Health Yulun Wang, PhD, is chairman and CEO of InTouch Technologies. He founded Computer Motion in 1989, which pioneered surgical robotics. He was principal architect and inventor of the voice-controlled robotic arm AESOP, the 1st FDA cleared surgical robot, as well as the ZEUS robotic surgical system, which performed the world’s first trans-atlantic surgery. In 2002, Dr. Wang founded InTouch Technologies (dba InTouch Health), a company which pioneers remote presence robot systems that enable healthcare professionals to provide more effective and efficient healthcare. Dr. Wang has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

www.telepresenceworld.com

Kent Lowell VP and General Manager – Global Video Solutions | BT Conferencing Kent Lowell is VP and General Manager of Global Video Solutions for BT Conferencing. Mr. Lowell is responsible for the development, marketing, and delivery of global video solutions and solutions ranging from public bridging services to managed solutions that encompass video endpoints, network services, and overall management. BT Conferencing’s portfolio of video solutions is built from best-of-breed components and can be tailored to fit specific client requirements. Mr. Lowell joined BT Conferencing from BT Infonet where he was responsible for product marketing and business development of fully managed end-to-end solutions in voice and video over IP. Mr. Lowell received a Bachelor of Science in University Studies, a Master of Science in Managerial Economics from Brigham Young University and an MSIA from Carnegie-Mellon University.

SPEAKERS Steve McNelley Co-Founder | DVE Telepresence Steve McNelley is a Co-Founder of DVE Telepresence, a pioneer and leader in the new True Telepresence interactive visual experience. Early in his career, Steve secured several patents for communication technologies, which are now incorporated into millions of web cameras and wireless video-enabled cell phones. In the early 1990s, Steve joined his talents and patents with Jeff Machtig to create a new generation of Telepresence communication mediums. They formed an early pioneering company in the videoconferencing field -- Videotronic Systems, which for years served as a consulting and custom display company in the videoconferencing business. In the late 1990s, Steve and Jeff founded Digital Video Enterprises. DVE’s mission was to remain diligent in developing a new generation of turnkey products far superior in experience than anything ever done in the conferencing business. Over the years, DVE has delivered numerous Telepresence projects to leading corporations, universities, Hollywood studios, and several Wall Street financial firms. DVE is currently involved in designing, developing, and deploying numerous projects for leading corporations, defense applications, government, healthcare, and distance learning initiatives. Steve McNelley received a Ph.D. in Psychology specializing in the human factors of Telepresence and today is recognized as the leading expert in the subject.

Laurin Herr Founding Director, CineGrid | Founder & President, Pacific Interface, Inc. Laurin Herr is founder and president of Pacific Interface Inc., an international consulting company based in Oakland, California that facilitates research and business between Japan, America and Europe. For over 25 years, Pacific Interface has been analyzing trends in media, computing, video/graphics, displays and networking applications on behalf of clients worldwide wishing to explore new markets. In addition to Pacific Interface, Laurin is a founding director of CineGrid, a nonprofit international membership organization whose mission is to build an interdisciplinary community focused on the research, development, and demonstration of networked collaborative tools, enabling the production, use and exchange of very high-quality digital media over high-speed photonic networks. He has served as an advisory member of the Digital Cinema Consortium of Japan since its inception in 2001 and is a member of SMPTE and ACM SIGGRAPH. Laurin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University in 1972. He studied Japanese intensively in the US and Japan, and pursued additional graduate studies at Cornell and at Sophia University in Tokyo. He is also a long-time student of Aikido and holds the rank of 5th dan.

www.telepresenceworld.com

Howard S. Lichtman President | Human Productivity Lab Howard S. Lichtman is a productivity-focused technologist and consultant with specialties in Telepresence and Visual Collaboration and Organizational & Personal Productivity. He is the founder and President of the Human Productivity Lab, an independent consultancy covering the telepresence and effective visual collaboration industries. Prior to founding Human Productivity Lab in 2005, Mr. Lichtman was the Vice President of Business Development at TeleSuite, the world’s first commercially successful telepresence provider and an innovator in visual collaboration. Mr. Lichtman is also the author of Telepresence, Effective Visual Collaboration and the Future of Global Business at the Speed of Light (2006) on the emerging telepresence industry and was a contributing author to Emerging Technologies for Teleconferencing and Telepresence (2005). Mr. Lichtman is a frequent commentator on telepresence, videoconferencing and effective visual collaboration and his writings on and analysis of the industry have been featured by Reuters, Pro AV Magazine, Killer App Magazine, and CFO Magazine among others. Prior to TeleSuite, Mr. Lichtman was a founder, President, and Chief Product Officer at Powwow Networks, a visual collaboration start up looking to improve the human factors, effectiveness, reliability, and cost of both visual and data collaboration. Before he developed his interest in telepresence and visual collaboration, Mr. Lichtman started and ran the financial vertical sales organization at Savvis Communications which specialized in managed networking and managed service solutions for trading floor technology and market data applications for Wall Street.

Rich De Brino Chief Information Officer / Vice President | Advances in Technology As the former CIO of Compass Health and the CIO and Vice President of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Advances in Technology (AiT) Rich De Brino is responsible for not only the technical direction of the parent company but also for many of AiT’s clients as well. Rich brings over 25 years of IT experience to the table and holds degrees in both Electrical Engineering (EE) & Computer Information Systems (CIS). Rich is the current Vice President of Programs for Seattle SIM (Society for Information management) as well as an active member of the WSA and a graduate of the UCLA Executive education program. Rich has been working on Tele-Medicine solutions for Behavioral Health for the past 4 years.

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Registration Prefix (Mr., Mrs., etc.): ________ First Name: ______________________ Last Name: ___________________________ Job Title: ______________________________ Email: _________________________________________________________ Firstname/Nickname for badge: ___________________________________________________________________________ Company/Organization: ________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ City: ___________________________________________ State/Province/Region: ___________________________________________ Zip/Postal Code: _______________________ Country: _____________________________________ Work Phone: _______________________ Extension: _____________ Fax: _________________________________________ Cell Phone: _______________________________________________ Please create your own password below (6-20 characters long) so that you can access your registration online: This will ensure the security of your personal information. It will also enable automatic recall of your personal information the next time you register.

Password: ____________________________________________________________ Please let us know of any special needs you may have (eg. dietary restrictions, disabled access, etc): ___________________________________________________ Standard Registration fee $1,940.00 If you have a Promotional Discount Code, please enter it here: Code: _______________________________________________________________ Please select one breakout session track per day (or leave blank if you will not be attending a breakout session track on a particular day.)

Breakout Sessions: Day 1 - Enterprise Track - Dealing Rooms - Realtime Market Data - Collaborative Design Track Please select payment methd:

Breakout sessions: Day 2 - Emissions Track - Mergers and Acquisitions Track - Communications Technology - Govt-Military Check

Breakout Sessions: Day 3 - Distance Education Track - Interactive Medicine Track - Virtual Studio Collaboration Track

Credit Card

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Credit Card Number: ____________________________________________________ Expiration Date: ___________________________ Cardholder Name: ______________________________________________________ Enter exactly as it appears on the card Billing Address: ________________________________________________________ Billing City: _______________________________ Billing State / Province: __________________________________________________ (required for US and Canadian cards) Billing Zip / Postal Code : _________________________________________________ Country: _________________________________

3 easy ways to register!

Online: Go to: www.TelepresenceWorld.com and click on Register

By Fax: Registration form with credit card info to: 1-781-394-7982

By Mail: Registration form with payment to: Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc. Attn: TPW07 Registrations PO Box 773813 Steamboat Springs CO 80477

Payment Instructions: We gladly accept the following credit cards:

If paying by check, make checks payable to “Hemisphere Expo Services Inc� and send to: Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc. Attn: TPW07 Registrations PO Box 773813 Steamboat Springs CO 80477-3813 Registrations paid by check are subject to check receipt and clearance.

HOTEL INFORMATION The Organizers of Telepresence World 2007 have negotiated special hotel room rates for conference attendees at the following hotels. Daily complimentary shuttle bus transport to/ from these hotels and the conference will be provided. Please contact the hotels directly to make your reservations:

Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine

1)

3777 La Jolla Village Drive

San Diego CA 92122

Telepresence World rates:

Single Occupancy: $195

Double Occupancy: $195

To book your Telepresence World 2007 Hyatt Regency hotel rooms, call

Telepresence World – Hyatt Regency hotel booking hotline: (888) 421-1442 2)

San Diego Marriott La Jolla

4240 La Jolla Village Drive La Jolla CA 92037 Telepresence World rates:

Single Occupancy: $189

Double Occupancy: $189 To book your Telepresence World 2007 San Diego Marriott La Jolla hotel rooms, call Telepresence World – Marriot hotel booking hotline: (800) 228-9290

TELEPRESENCE WORLD MAGAZINE “Telepresence World magazine is an online iDigital publication covering the telepresence industry. TELEPRESENCE WORLD 2007 ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A FREE 6-MONTH TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION. Include the form below with your conference registration form to take advantage of this offer.

Name ___________________________________________________________ Do you wish to receive a subscription to TelepresenceWorld Magazine?

O Yes

O No

In lieu of a signature, we require a unique identifier used only for subscription verification purposes.

In what city were you born? _____________________________________________________

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Demographic Information (required for magazine subscription) What is your job title? (select only one) CFO Director of Finance Controller Business Manager President Executive VP CEO/COO CIO/MIS/IT

VP/Finance Treasurer Chairman Owner/Partner/Principal

Managing Director/Director General Manager VP or Senior VP Other (please specify)

What is your business or industry? (select only one) Manufacturing Transportation/Logistics Insurance/Real Estate Government/Education Wholesale/Retail Trade Telecommunications Technology Lawyer Investment Banking Other (please specify)

Finance/Banking Energy/Utilities Service Organization Financial Services M&A

Communications/Media Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals Accounting Collaborative Design

What is the number of employees in your company? (select only one) Less than 25 25-99

100-499 500-999 1,000-4,999 5,000-9,999 10,000 and over What is the annual sales volume of your company? (select only one) Less than $1 million $1-9.99 million

$10-49.99 million $50-99.99 million $100-499.99 million

$500-999.99 million $1 billion or more

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CONFERENCE C ALENDAR

Conference Calendar Telepresence World’s Conference calendar features events relevant to telepresence, presence, and unified communications and is maintained as a convenience to our readers. If you would like your conference, meeting, demo, webinar, or course listed in Conference Calendar, please email details to meltzera@hemisphereinc.com at least three months prior to the event. TPW is not responsible for information listed or omissions.

April 2007 15 – 18. Engineering Sustainability 2007: Innovations that Span Boundaries. Pittsburgh, PA. www.engr.pitt.edu/msi/2007conference/confmain.htm 15 – 18. Web 3D 2007 Symposium. Umbria, Italy. Web3D 2007 International Symposium will address a wide range of topics about 3D and Multimedia on the Web. Topics include human-computer interaction, mobile devices and innovative applications. www.web3d.org/web3d2007 19 – 21. Global Business Summit for the Environment (B4E). Singapore. www.unglobalcompact.org/NewsAndEvents/upcoming_events.html 18 – 22. Ninth Virtual Reality International Conference – LAVAL Virtual, Laval, France. The sector’s players will present their latest innovations in terms of solutions and services. www.laval-virtual.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 19 – 21. International HASTAC (Humanities, Arts, Science and Technology Advanced Collaboratory) Conference, “Electronic Techtonics: Thinking at the Interface.” www.hastac.org/informationyear/conference 22 –26. Gartner Symposium ITxpo 2007: Emerging Trends. San Francisco, CA www.gartner.com/it/sym/2007/spg9/spg9.jsp 23 – 25. Spring 2007 Internet2 Member Meeting, Arlington VA. http://events.internet2.edu/2007/spring-mm 29 – 4 May. DoDIIS Worldwide Conference, Hyatt Regency, Chicago, IL. DoDIIS will highlight cutting-edge capabilities currently deployed and explore innovative solutions designed to support the changing needs of the warfighter. www.ncsi.com/Dodiis07/index.shtml May 2007 2 – 4. Carbon Expo. Cologne, Germany. Exploring the carbon trading market. www.carbonexpo.com 2 – 4. VoIPWorld, Africa 2007, Johanesburg, South Africa. VoIPWorld 2007 will deal with converging technologies – how to succeed in a new era of business communications. www.terrapinn.com/2007/voipza 9 – 12. ICINCO 2007: 4th International Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation, and Robotics. Angers, France. www.icinco.org 10 – 11. First VideoFunet Conference, Tampere, Finland. Utilizing Video Technology in Teaching and Research. www.video.funet.fi/conference/index.php 20 – 21. EGPGV08. Eurographics Symposium on Parallel Graphics and Visualization 07., Lugano, Switzerland. www.egpgv07.org

20 – 24. InAAU 2007 International Conference, San Antonio, TX. The Evolution of Intelligent Communications. www.inaau.org/conference 20 –25. Interop 2007, Las Vegas, NV. Interop brings together IT and business leaders to see all of the latest technologies in action. www.interop.com 21 –25. International Symposium on Collaborative Technologies and Systems (CTS2007), Orlando, FL. www.engr.udayton.edu/faculty/wsmari/CTS07/homects07.html 23 – 25. ISPCON Spring 2007, Orlando FL. The Spring ISPCON event will center on “what’s hot” in the Internet Industry, including trends in virtualization technologies. www.ispcon.com June 2007 4 – 6. Telepresence World 2007, San Diego, CA. A landmark summit on the emerging technologies of Telepresence, Presence, and Unified Communications. www.Telepresenceworld.com 5 – 7. Wainhouse Collaboration Summit 2007, San Francisco, CA. www.wainhouse.com/sanfran07 11. Collaborative Technologies Conference, Boston, MA . www.dts.ca.gov/calendar/view.asp?key=53&id=1009 11 – 13. Edutainment 2007. The 2nd International Conference of ELearning and Games, CUHK, Hong Kong. www2.acae.cuhk.edu.hk/%7Eedutainment2007 12 –16. ICEISi2007. 9th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems, Funchal, Madeira-Portugal. www.iceis.org 15 – 21. InfoComm 07, Anaheim, CA. The largest event for the professional AV and information communications industry. www.infocommshow.org 18 – 21. NXTComm 2007, Chicago, IL. Global forum and marketplace for the business of information, communications and entertainment technology. www.nxtcommshow.com 18 – 21. Enterprise 2.0: The Collaborative Technologies Conference, Boston MA. www.enterprise2conf.com 24 – 27. NECC 2007, Atlanta, GA. 28th annual National Educational Computing Conference. http://center.uoregon.edu/ISTE/NECC2007

Telepresence World (TPW) is the official publication of Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc., and publishes articles and case studies about telepresence research, technology, and applications. The magazine, issued 6 times a year both by mail and digitally, welcomes original articles on all aspects of telepresence, presence, and unified communications, with particular emphasis on how telepresence solutions may be used to enhance business, enterprise, educational, legal, medical, and governmental collaboration. TPW also publishes news and technology updates, reviews, case studies, and editorials.

INS T R U C T I O N S FOR AU T H O R S

Our audience includes: Business executives, including CEOs, CFOs, and CIOs; telepresence solution providers; educators; scientists; personnel involved in the healthcare, finance, and legal industries; and those in the government and military sectors.

Article Submission: If you wish to submit an original article to Telepresence World, have an idea for an article that you would like to discuss, or would like to submit a news or conference event item, please contact one of the following Telepresence World staff: Mark Barounos, Publisher: barounos@hemisphereinc.com Anne Meltzer, Editorial Director: meltzera@hemisphereinc.com Anne Feldman: Assistant Editor: feldmanna@hemisphereinc.com Manuscript Preparation: In general, articles should run 1000 – 2000 words. References or a short bibliography section are acceptable if appropriate. It is preferable that submissions be sent electronically via email. If you have large manuscript or image files and cannot easily transmit your materials via email, please contact Anne Meltzer, Editorial Director: meltzera@hemisphereinc.com Formatting: Manuscripts should be submitted in a format compatible with modern word processing applications, such as Microsoft Word or Word Perfect. To expedite our review of your manuscript, please use minimal formatting when indicating titles, decks, subheads, outquotes, bulleted lists, paragraph breaks, and references.

Illustrations, Photographs, Graphs & Tables: References to illustrations should be included in the text of your manuscript; however, we prefer that graphics not be embedded in your text file but sent as separate attachments.

For best reproduction, original graphics should be sent as TIFF, EPS, BMP, or JPEG files at 300 dpi or higher. If you will be using material that has been featured elsewhere or is from a copyrighted source, please include a permission transmittal letter with your submission, along with an appropriate credit line for the illustration.

Please include a short caption for each illustration.

Author Bio: Please include a 40 – 50 word biography for each major author, including descriptions of current responsibilities, research interests, accomplishments and prior related experience. If you have a financial interest in the topic or technology you are writing about, please include it in this section. This short bio will be featured at the end of the article in a section entitled “About the Authors.”

The editors, editorial board, sponsoring organizations, and publisher do not accept responsibility for the statements expressed by authors in their contributions.

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Copyright: Copyright of all published material is held by the Telepresence World.

In assigning copyright, authors may use their own material in other publications provided that the TPW is acknowledged as the original place of publication and that Hemisphere Services, Inc., is notified in advance.

Please send requests to: By email: Info@HemisphereInc.com By phone: + 1 970.879.8140 By fax: + 1 781.394.7982 By mail: Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc. PO Box 773813 Steamboat Springs CO 80477-3813 Or you may use the contact form at the following URL: www.telepresenceworld.com/contact.html

Advertising Information Telepresence

World (TPW) is the official publication of Hemisphere Expo Services, Inc., and publishes articles and case studies about telepresence research, technology, and applications. Issued 6 times a year digitally, TPW welcomes original articles on all aspects of telepresence, presence, and unified communications, with particular emphasis on how telepresence solutions may be used to enhance business, enterprise, educational, legal, medical, and governmental collaboration. Our audience includes: Business executives, including CEOs, CFOs, and CIOs; trade associations,telepresence solution providers; educators; scientists; personnel involved in the healthcare, finance, and legal industries; and those in the government and military sectors.

DISTRIBUTION: Digital SIZE: 8.5" x 11" IMAGE RESOLUTION: No less than 300dpi

www.telepresencemagazine.com

DISPLAY RATES Positions

One Issue

Two Consecutive

4 Consecutive

Advertising is interspersed throughout text.

ARTWORK: Should arrive as uncompressed press-ready Adobe PDF files. Distribution method allows for interactive display of flash video files if appropriate. For ads with multiple pages, each page must be sent as a separate file.

Art may be sent by email attachment to TPWArtwork@telepresencemagazine.com if the file does not exceed 10MB. If over, artwork can be mailed on CDROM to Advertising Manager at address below or an upload site can be created. For the latter, please contact the Advertising Manager at Advertising@telepresencemagazine.com.

FREQUENCY RATES: Contract advertisers may purchase pages, in addition to the contract page or pages, at the consecutive rate. Failure to fulfill contract will result in a short-rate billing for all unearned discounts.

COMMISSIONS AND DISCOUNTS: 15% ad agency commission on space only. This discount is given to advertisers who use a professionally recognized ad agency and does not apply to in-house agencies.

Full Page

$2100

$1950

$1850

Half Page

$1750

$1650

$1550

2-Page Spread

$4500

$4300

$4100

Cover II

$3500

$3400

$3300

ISSUE DATES AND PUBLICATION DEADLINES Issue Date

Reservation

Artwork

March/April

3/2/2007

3/6/2007

May/June

4/25/2007

4/30/2007

July/August

6/25/2007

6/28/2007

September/October

8/21/2007

8/24/2007

November/December

10/16/2007

10/19/2007

January/February 08

12/20/2007

12/26/2008

ADDITIONAL CHARGES: Ad preparation costs will be billed at a minimum of $50 per item or hour.

INFORMATION: Contact the Advertising Manager at Advertising@telepresencemagazine.com

MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS Ad Size

Measurements

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS: Send insertion orders and/or CD-ROMs to Advertising Manager, Telepresence World Magazine, PO Box 773813, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477-3813

Full Page

8.5” x 11”

Half Page (horizontal)

8.5” x 5.5”

Half Page (vertical)

4.25” x 11”

Information is subject to change, updated February 2007.

Cover

8.5” x 11”

LOO K I N G A H E A D Coming in the May/June 2007 issue of Telepresence World: Medical Telepresence, Training, and Game Theory 3D Telepresence Telepresence-Enabled Professional Development Internet: The Next Generation Updated agenda and session information for Telepresence World 2007

INDEX TO ADVER TISERS Polycom……………………….. Pages 1 - 2 Teliris……………………………….. Page 8 Human Productivity Lab………… Page 42

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