Today we have a guest post from Roger Courville. Roger is the principal analyst and Global Training Guy at 1080 Group, LLC. Roger recently completed a study and checklist on video conferencing and shares his top 4 surprising insights from the study.

The possibility of being able to see the person you're talking with while on the phone is not new - it's literally been decades since the first commercial services have tried to deliver on that promise.

What is new, however, is multipoint video conferencing that is affordable, portable and well-integrated with systems and processes already in use (e.g., computers and web conferencing). But now that it's so widely available, we need the skills to use it effectively.

To better understand what's necessary for successful video conferencing, 1080 Group conducted a global survey of nearly 1,200 professionals that focused largely on the "how" (for example, "What are people doing right that we can mimic?" and "What are video conferencing users doing wrong that we can avoid?"). As a complement to the survey, here are a few thoughts on the "why" behind the results.

There's more to video conferencing than saving money

It's easy to posit: Video conferencing "saves costs of travel" for your organization. Out of eight different values, cutting travel expenses was ranked second.

The winner, interestingly, was that video conferencing "allows us to show something that is not easily shown from a computer screen."

The take-away message: Saving money is important, but productivity is our top concern.

Your mileage may vary

Curious about how survey respondents were experiencing value, we dug deeper. What we uncovered were statistically different opinions about where value is derived. For instance, Europeans were much more likely to appreciate being able to communicate more frequently than their global peers were. In some cases the differences varied by industry, such as financial services' inclination towards being green.

Message: The value of video conferencing depends on your own communication or organization needs.

Not everyone gets it

When we investigated what prevents organizations from using video conferencing, we discovered that the biggest challenges were largely people-based. "Inability or unwillingness to use new technology" and "entrenchment of the current way we do things" took the top two spots by a wide margin.

Perhaps of interest, "expense that is difficult to justify" came in dead last. For many this isn't a surprise, but it's an important reminder that the bottom line does not drive everyone in an organization.

Message: Capitalizing on new value-creating opportunities in your organization may have a cultural element.

Personal leadership is critical

Finally, a number of insights pointed to the experiential nature of meeting and collaborating virtually. Sadly, some people disparage the communication medium because they see someone else use it unsuccessfully. By analogy, this is like saying, "PowerPoint is bad," instead of, "Some people use PowerPoint poorly."

When we compared how video conferencing leaders (those who initiate and lead video conferences) say they perform against how attendees rate those leaders, we noticed some differences. The main gripe for attendees was that leaders "have distracting mannerisms or gestures."

Message: Turn your leaders into good examples for others to learn from.

The bottom line

The expected growth for video conferencing use is staggering - our survey respondents anticipate 211 percent in the next year. Interestingly, even those respondents who already categorize themselves as active video conference users expect 63 percent growth, a strong testament that they believe there's untapped potential.

The good news for all: While meeting and collaborating via video conferencing might be different, it's not hard. The question for many organizations may be "Are we going to lead, follow or get trampled on?" as this momentous shift occurs.

Photo Credit: Citrix Online

Have you ever tried to imagine what the future of technology will be like? Ignoring the perennial favorites (seriously, where's my flying car already?), nailing down those small-time changes that add up to a real culture shift is no easy feat. I recently got myself an HD webcam (to use in my GoToMeeting with HDFaces™ sessions), and it got me thinking about the future of workshifting tech. What's next? 3D? Holograms?

Turns out, 3D cams are already available, but you'll have to put up with those ever-popular goggles to see the full picture, losing any chance of being taken seriously in the process. So until we get holograms, we're stuck with good ol' HD, which I discovered in a recent meeting makes people look like bashful preteens when it comes to making good eye contact. I flick my eyes up to the lens, back down to the screen, back up, back down - and I wonder if I've been caught staring somewhere I shouldn't have (curse those off-camera distractions).

It made sense to me, then, that the next step for video conferencing is a technology that can further strengthen this visual human connection. But how? To answer that problem, I did what I always do when faced with a difficult question: I googled it. Here's what may be coming our way soon:

Potential video conferencing future # 1 - Periscopes

Have you ever used a periscope? Mirror magic lets you look somewhere and see something else. Now imagine having a mini-periscope covering your webcam and extending down to eclipse a portion of your screen. Sound weird? Well, apparently it solves the eye-contact problem. Despite its effectiveness, I'm having trouble picturing wide-spread adoption with this one, although the thought of periscopes popping up in cubicles like a sea of submarines does strike me as appealing.

Potential video conferencing future # 2 - Camera behind the screen

Take the webcam that sits on top and embed it into the middle of the screen. Then simply position the webcam video feed over the hidden camera and voilà - seamless eye contact! Seems like a simple concept, but as always, there are some pretty big complications. Light has to pierce through the Las Vegas glow of your screen to reach the camera lens. Apple's idea is to rapidly cycle the display between active and inactive, transparent and opaque, at such a rate that the camera can still get a good image while your eyes notice nothing.

Potential video conferencing future # 3 - LCD monitor-camera hybrid

Think outside the box with this one. Instead of having one central lens that collects visual information, try having thousands - as many sensors as there are pixels in your screen. That's Apple's other solution (surely another manufacturer must care about eye contact): weave in loads of light-sensitive receptors in-between the cells of an LCD screen and then combine the separate data feeds into one big picture. High-tech and futuristic, this solution is what I'd like to see. The image resolution would improve thanks to the larger "lens" - it'd be like looking through a window the size of your monitor.

Until the day when the people in my virtual meetings are projected as holograms onto my desk R2-D2 style ("Help me, Obi-wan Kenobi!"), I'll continue to eagerly make predictions about the future of workshifting tech. What do you think is coming next?

Photo Credit: Sean MacEntee

While video conferencing technology isn't exactly considered "new" technology, it has long been considered a potentially revolutionary solution for healthcare.

Why? Not only does it mean that patients can receive real-time access to specialists in metropolitan hospitals regardless of their location, but it also dramatically improves the way that GPs and clinicians share information and train staff across multiple practices.

Not only have the latest developments, such as the availability of high-definition group video conferencing, meant that this technology is now far more accessible, affordable and compelling for healthcare organizations, but the Australian government's decision to provide doctors monetary incentives for videoconferencing is sure to drive uptake. Check out the full article that appeared in The Australian here.

The great thing about this initiative is that it's a mandate. Introduced in July of this year, the new plan supplies doctors with a $6,000 incentive payment the first time they introduce a patient to a city specialist through a videoconference - just a part of the government's $620 million telehealth program.

What does this mean for Australians? For those living in regional areas, it means greater access to healthcare, which is really important for such a geographically dispersed country as ours. Video conferencing technology gives clinicians and patients in rural and remote areas real-time access to the specialist advice normally only found at city hospitals, and patients no longer have to travel long distances to consult city-based medical specialists; instead, they can receive the same level of care from the comfort of their own home.

One of the areas where video technology will have the greatest impact is in the care of young children, who may find a hospital environment stressful. It will also be useful for doctors working in rural practices or nursing homes. These government incentives will help regional GPs afford the necessary equipment and train their staff to provide these video consultations.

While it's too early to evaluate the success of the program, given that some specialists still do not use computers, it's definitely a huge step in the right direction. With the availability of proven, easy-to-use technology, more healthcare organizations will adopt desktop video conferencing, making consultations far more beneficial and cost-effective while encouraging specialists to adopt electronic communications with GPs.

One customer that has already reaped the benefits of video conferencing is Medibank Health Solutions, a division of Australia's largest integrated provider of private health insurance and health solutions. The organization has been using Citrix GoToMeeting with HDFaces, a high-definition group video conferencing solution to connect disparate remote staff for better collaboration and training.

In this short video, Dave Buckmaster, the technology manager for Medibank, describes how they're trialing the technology with its clients to improve their services.

Watch this space as we see more healthcare organizations enjoy the benefits of video collaboration!

Whenever I'm part of a conversation about workshifting, the topic of communication comes up. Business leaders know being able to find the right communication systems is an imperative. Any workshifting solution must address the issue of effective business communications.

That's why I wanted to share with you a recent article I found on the use of video conferencing in the workplace. The article, from Human Capital Magazine based out of Australia, talks about the advances and advantages of using video conferencing for business. As an HR pro, I found the article particularly interesting since it was written from an HR perspective.

Conceptually, we know that using video can save travel time and expenses. And, we've seen how technology advances have improved video quality while making it extremely affordable. So it was fascinating and perplexing to see the data from Citrix research indicating a low adoption rate with Australians. For example, here are some highlight statistics:

• Only 26% of Australians use shared phone lines to work, compared to 49% of British workers
• Only 13% of Australians use video conferencing, with almost half insisting on organizing face-to-face meetings
• 83% of Australians prefer to meet in person to build trust

Another statistic I found particularly interesting was that 45% of Australians insist on face-to-face team meetings. Only one country meets more often - Americans (51%). The article goes on to ponder how culture may have an impact when it comes to the adoption of business systems.

There's been a lot of conversation, particularly over the past couple of years, that technology advances are requiring us to stretch our minds and our skillsets. Is it possible that technology will also ask us to move away from or adapt our cultural beliefs?

Incorporating video technology will require considerations not only in terms of systems implementation and financial cost analysis, but an examination of culture. Educating participants on the dynamics of video and how to interpret an employee's participation (i.e., body language, facial expressions and voice inflexion) will be keys to the success of using video communications.

Are you using video communication in your organization? How does it compare to in-person communications?

Photo Credit: Citrix Online

This week my company, Citrix Online, launched HDFaces, which is high-definition group video conferencing, integrated simply with GoToMeeting. We've done everything possible to bring a telepresence-like experience to everyone. But it's not all about the technology, I could talk all day about HDFaces, that's not the point of this post. The point of this post is to discuss inhibitors to video usage and how we move past these to change the way we work for the better. How can you leverage video to be more effective? What behavioral changes are needed when shifting to video?

First, you have to pay attention again. I know, it sounds awful right? You mean I can't multitask on conferencing calls? I would argue that this is actually a positive thing. The problem with conference calls is that people invite everyone they can with the assumption that people can tune out if it's not relevant. With video, we're forced to think about who we invite to our meetings. This should be a positive for any organization. Less time spent in irrelevant meetings.

Secondly, commitments seem less meaningful at a distance. Any good salesperson knows that a handshake in person is worth 10 times as many commitments via email. Humans are social beings and make decisions based on trust. Video enables us to build trust from a distance. Whether a coaching conversation with a boss, a client meeting or a project team meeting, people make more honest commitments when they can see each other.

I've always talked about how online meetings reduce travel. It's still the #1 reason anyone chooses an online meeting solution. But video conferencing calls ALL travel into question. Over the past year, I've cancelled travel for board meetings, client visits and conferences and replaced them with video conferencing.

Historically, technology has also inhibited the adoption of video conferencing. Telepresence has been reserved for the few within enterprises, while consumer solutions like Skype leave much to be desired in terms of quality, usability and group collaboration features.

Expectations are high for video conferencing in the coming year. I can tell you personally that the use of video has changed the way I work. I've added personal connections to all business interactions, made stronger commitments and eliminated useless travel. To take a line from our new TV campaign: "Simple, high definition group video conferencing will change the way you work and possibly a whole lot more..."

Photo Credit: Citrix Online

One of the tools that makes our workshifting lifestyle possible is video. We already spend a good chunk of time using our webcams in video conferences and online meetings, but it's now becoming more commonplace for us to use video to enhance our blogs and websites or to facilitate remote knowledge transfer by producing training clips. Video is a wonderful medium because it allows us to communicate so effectively in so many ways.

I've been a television producer for more than 20 years. I've lived through the amazing transformation from a time when video was expensive and time-consuming to today, when anyone with a decent camera and a few spare minutes can produce content. Since we're using video so much nowadays, I thought it might be useful to pass along a few things I've learned in the video production business that can help to ensure your webcam video is the best it can be.

Lights, Camera - and More Lights!

The number one issue I see with most webcam video is lighting. You see, little webcams, as good as they are, don't respond well in low light. Yet, so often we see video where the only lighting source is the bluish glow of the computer screen or the dim orange hue of a light bulb. The one thing you can do to up the quality of any webcam video is to shed a little light on the subject - literally.

You don't need fancy production lights to achieve a nicely lit picture. There are a couple of options - if you're lucky enough to work in an office with a big window, turn your computer so that you are facing the window. If it's a bright, sunny day, diffuse the light a bit by using shears on your window so that you're not too squinty or shadowy. If you're like me and work in a basement office, then you'll need to rely on other light sources. I use a cheap lamp that has a bendable neck, which I position about 8 inches off to one side of my computer screen. It casts a nice glow that isn't too bright, making my video look a lot cleaner.

Watch Your Back

Another common mistake I see is that people shoot their video without paying attention to what's behind them. There could be a very cluttered, messy desk or bookcase, private photos you don't want the world to see or worse yet, a window. If you're looking to present a professional view of yourself in a client meeting, on a webinar or on your video blog, clean up your office area (or at least the part that will be in the background). Remove any photos or documents that you would rather people not see and definitely don't face your camera towards a window (unless it's nighttime or the drapes or blinds are completely closed), or else people won't see anything but a silhouette.

Frame It Up

Have you ever noticed how some people on webcams just look strange? It's usually because the shot is framed wrong. The camera is either too low, so we see up their noses, or it's too high, so we see down onto the top of their head. Other times there's either too much space in the area above their faces or the frame cuts the top of their heads off. The rule of thumb for good framing is this: make sure the camera lens is as close to your eye level as possible. If that means you have to mount your camera on some books or the top of your computer or put your chair up higher, then do it - it makes a big difference. And position your video frame so that your eyes line up to about 1/3 of the way down the screen - that ensures the right amount of space between the top of your head and the video frame (the pros call this "headroom").

Sound Clear as a Bell

Audio is just as important as video, so once you have your webcam shot looking good, make sure you can be heard clearly. Turn off the music and the washing machine. Put the dog in his kennel or outside so he doesn't decide to play with his squeaky toy during your webinar. Invest in a decent microphone (the one on your computer isn't always the greatest). You can opt for a headset microphone (get one in the $60-$90 price range, and you're doing well), or you can get one of the great USB mics that podcasters use. Having good sound will make all the difference in the quality of what you present.

Those are just a few tips from the pros that will help you make better webcam videos. Try these out and let me know how it goes!

Photo Credit: mofetos

A lot has happened in the past couple weeks since my initial post: Happy Trails. We've driven through 15 states and traveled almost 3,700 miles, from Santa Rosa, CA, to Atlanta, GA, and we are now heading north to Boston, MA.

It's been an amazing adventure so far. Some of the highlights include the snowcapped mountains of Utah, off-roading in Wyoming to see wild horses and staying in a historic mansion in Charlotte, NC.

The sights have been incredible but working while on the road hasn't been as easy as I'd hoped. Check out this short video to hear more about my experience so far.

Yes, you read that title correctly and no it isn't just title-bait to get you to click on this post. Have you ever wanted the freedom to just let go of work? Of the office? Of the 9-5 grind? A chance to restore work-life balance into your life. If you had the chance to do that, what would you do? Where would you go? Who would you see?

We've written extensively about work-life balance and hear stories every day from our community about the inability to take time away from work because of project responsibilities, financial concerns and sometimes just a lack of time to even plan a getaway.

We've heard you yelling from the rooftops and are coming to the rescue. If you didn't hear, earlier this week GoToMyPC launched their GoToMyPC for iPad app and we wanted to find a way to celebrate. Since the teams who worked so hard on this project, and are responsible for keeping the lights on around here, are already heads down back on new projects, we want to celebrate with YOU!

We're giving away $10,000, an iPad and a one-year subscription to GoToMyPC. What if we told you it only took 30-seconds to potentially win all of that and all you had to do was tell us what you would do if you had the freedom to let go. Sounds impossible, right? Wrong. Here are the contest details:

ENTER: Film a 30-second video sharing your "Freedom to Let Go" story, then post it on the GoToMyPC Facebook Page by 11:59 PM (EST) on March 18, 2011. It's that simple.

HOPE: We will pick three finalists and announce them on March 23. Then it's up to you and your friends to pick the winner.

CELEBRATE: All 3 finalists will receive an iPad. On April 1st, the video with the most votes by the public will win the freedom to let go with the grand prize of $10,000, an iPad and a one-year subscription to GoToMyPC.

If you can't see the video below, you can check it out here:

What are you doing still reading this post?!? Get your camera out and tell your story!

PS: Camera shy? We understand! Get creative and tell your story using puppets, drawings, animation, stand in's, your pets! We just need to see your story on video.

I never sought out a remote position- I actually loved working in the Santa Barbara office where my company, Citrix Online, is located! However, moving away and then working remotely ended up being such a great fit for my entire family. My husband was able to accept a great job offer in another city and I was able to continue working for a wonderful, successful and flexible company. And now, 6 years and two kids later, I'm still working away from my home office. As an experienced remote worker, a perpetual workshifter if you will, I am always looking for the latest and greatest way to connect with both my office and my peers, because there is always some new technology that can improve my workshifting situation. My current favorite thing is my iPad, and its various business apps.

Below is a video of my workshifting story:

What's in your workshifting toolbox?

Note: This is one of 5 real-life workshifting stories that we're sharing as part of Telework Week. If you enjoyed this story, make sure you check out the other stories.

Two more days for Telework Week! I hope you've given it a try. I started working at Citrix Online in 2010 in product marketing. I was so excited to start this job because of the company's great products, customer focus and the incredible team of people I would be working with - but also because it didn't matter where I worked. Even though Citrix Online is based in Santa Barbara, CA I didn't have to relocate my family from San Francisco and I had the flexibility to work from home. I've spent some time down in Santa Barbara getting oriented and I travel there occasionally to connect with the team. Some days, I'll go into the San Francisco office to meet up with other Bay Area workshifting colleagues. It's been great to have this job with no commute!

Here is my workshifting story:

Note: This is one of 5 real-life workshifting stories that we're sharing as part of Telework Week. If you enjoyed this story, make sure you check out the other stories.